It was a real roller-coaster of a season for Roberto Mancini’s men last term – they had won the league by Christmas, lost it by April, back in front going into the climax but then only claimed their first title since 1968 with two goals in injury-time against 10-man QPR.

However, the Citizens did have to deal with the pressures of expectation, given the vast outlay of the owners, but now they have got the monkey off their back, can they justify 5/4 favouritism to land another success.

A lot may depend on the transfer market, like for most clubs, but the simple answer is yes they can – they have the squad and they may well improve it over the next few weeks.

The Champions League could be a distraction of course but Mancini has assembled a strong squad that should at least be able to cope with the demands and they look the team to beat.

There are sure to be some comings and goings at the Etihad Stadium but it will not be to the detriment of the champions, although it could impact on their rivals’ fortunes – if reported moves for the likes of Robin van Persie come to fruition for example.

So the onus is very much on the chasing pack with Manchester United currently the second favourites at 9/4 to regain the trophy after they were denied on goal difference last season.

However, United have struggled to hit the heights of previous campaigns recently and although they were successful two years ago, many experts suggested it was with an ‘ordinary’ side.

Sir Alex Ferguson has no peers in the English game and seems to get the absolute best out of his squad time after time, and will be doubly determined to get back to the top after losing out to his ‘noisy neighbours’.

Two deals have already been completed by the United boss and it will be interesting to see how the highly-rated Shinji Kagawa handles the move to England, while Nick Powell’s acquisition is more of a move for the future rather than the upcoming season.

Nemanja Vidic will almost be like a new signing after missing the majority of last season, while Leighton Baines has been linked with a move, but if Ferguson does not address central midfield issues and continues to rely on veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, it is difficult to see United reversing the form.

Of course, there is sure to be one or two moves in the transfer market but, at the prices, they look too short to even finish second (City/United 13/10 Dual Forecast Market).

It may be foolish to back against Ferguson but Chelsea (9/2 Premier League Outright) could well be the one to side with and put up the biggest challenge to City in lifting the trophy.

Yes, the club is in a period of transition with Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Jose Bosingwa already departed and others perhaps to follow suit, but they have bought astutely with young and attacking play-makers Eden Hazard and Marko Marin joining the ranks.

Whether Hazard justifies the outlay, around £32m, remains to be seen but money is not the issue for Roman Abramovich, and he is sure to bring in more new faces – one being a striker to replace Drogba.

Last season’s success in the Champions League may not have been pretty or ‘deserved’ but it can only bring confidence to the players and has already acted as the attraction for new blood following Hazard’s arrival.

Roberto di Matteo turned the season around last term and can be more relaxed over his future this time around, although that in itself will bring pressure.

There is no doubt that they have a big enough squad to challenge but they need to sort out a new striker as the jury is still out on Fernando Torres.

Of the others, it is difficult to see Arsenal making the Premier League title the one to end the barren trophy drought, despite the marvellous work Arsene Wenger keeps doing for the club.

Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have been brought in but their hopes are going to hinge on van Persie, who almost single-handedly got the Gunners into the top four last term, and whether they can keep hold of him.

Andre Villas-Boas makes a quick return to the Premier League but Spurs have a similar problem to their north London rivals in the sense that Luka Modric is arguably their best player – and he looks set to leave.

So, ultimately, City look the side to plump with this term and it is a question of who will finish best of the rest with City/Chelsea on offer at 6/1 in the straight forecast market.

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Steven Gerrard

The Reds’ poor start to the season hit a new low on Wednesday evening when they were dumped out of the Carling Cup at home by League Two outfit Northampton on penalties.

The performance was way below what was expected of a side – containing six full internationals at the start – on a rain-soaked night on Merseyside and was the first time Liverpool have ever been beaten by a team from the lowest rung of the English football ladder in Cup competition.

First-team squad players Ryan Babel, Lucas, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Daniel Agger and David Ngog all started the game while they were selected alongside youngsters Danny Wilson, Jay Spearing, Dani Pacheco and Martin Kelly.

However, Roy Hodgson’s side barely deserved to claim a 2-2 draw against the minnows following 120 minutes of football and it was left to club captain Gerrard to try and take the positives out of a shocking night for the club (Liverpool 2/1 – Top 4 Finish).

“They will learn from this experience. Football isn’t just about highs,” he told the club’s website.

“Throughout my career I have experienced both highs and lows and probably learnt more from the lows because you look at yourself first, look at what went wrong and try to learn from your mistakes. The players are allowed to be down today but it’s up to players like myself to pick them back up because playing for this club there are big games every two or three days and we need to get everyone’s head focused on Sunderland now.

“There are still some positives underneath the frustration. Although we’ve gone out and everyone is down and disappointed, the experience that would have given the lads in the dressing room might be vital for the future.”

Gerrard says the players must not dwell on the result and everyone must pull together for the Black Cats clash – a game that is likely to see a completely different line-up chosen by Hodgson.

“The last thing we want now is for people to be sulking with their heads down because there’s a massive game in three days,” he added.

“No-one is hurting more than the players who played. We’ve all been there and all experienced it. Everyone is disappointed and down but it’s not the end of the world. It’s gone now, it’s important we move on and think about Sunderland and try to get the three points.”

“What I would ask all the supporters is to trust the players and what the players are saying. I’ve been reading and listening to what they’ve been saying and they’ve all said we’ll get it right in the end – and we will.”

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Roque Santa Cruz

This will be the fourth time in a row the nation has appeared at the finals of the tournament, their recent qualification record eclipsed only by the two powerhouses of South American football, Brazil and Argentina.

The Paraguayan league gets very few spectators coming to watch the games and matches are often played in front of just a few hundred people.

Despite the likes of Columbia, Chile and Peru having recognised leagues and as such more money to invest in their national team it is Paraguay who have somehow managed to turn out a decent side every four years in time for the World Cup.

In South Africa they will once again be up against nations with much better resources as they try to make a name for themselves.

Santa Cruz, speaking after scoring the winner for Paraguay in their 1-0 victory over North Korea, says it is miraculous Paraguay are able to compete with South American nations, let alone the world’s best.

“It’s a miracle, it’s something Paraguay has been blessed with and we are very proud, coming from such a small country, to be involved in such a great tournament,” Santa Cruz told reporters.

“It’s probably because we are so down-to-earth. The football is not the best, we don’t have a lot of resources, we have don’t infrastructure or stadiums like other countries have.”

The Manchester City forward will be leading his nation in South Africa this summer despite a difficult season back in England where injuries have restricted his participation.

The 28-year-old managed only three goals in the whole of last season as he struggled to hold down a first-team spot when he wasn’t in the treatment room.

However, Santa Cruz (100/1 Top Goalscorer) believes he is over his injury problems and is hopeful he will find the goal regularly enough to help Paraguay achieve their dream of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

“Fitness-wise I feel very good, and it’s good for me to have 90 minutes behind me,” he said.

“Paraguay have never been involved in the quarter-finals, that is what we want to achieve and see if we can go on from there,” he said. “It would be a good World Cup if we could do that.”

Paraguay will certainly fancy their chances of reaching the first knock-out round at the World Cup having been drawn alongside Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia.

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