Hansen Tips Chelsea Or United For Title

Alan Hansen says in his column on the New Football Pools website that the 2008/09 Premier League season promises to be another exciting campaign, but he can’t see any of the Big Four slipping up when the competition kicks off this weekend.

“I find it impossible to back against the big four opening their campaigns with all 3 points,” said Hansen. “Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all playing at home and between them lost just one game on their own patches last season, so for me they look extremely good choices to get a result.

“I don’t doubt Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth side will give Big Phil Scolari’s new team a serious test, but I certainly wouldn’t expect the Blues’ four-year unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge to end.

“The fixture list hasn’t been kind to poor old Tony Mowbray as I don’t envy his newly promoted side travelling to an often rampant Arsenal side at the Emirates. That’s a baptism of fire if ever there was one!”

Hansen continued: “Sir Alex may be without two of his most potent weapons in young Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo this weekend, but [United] still possess enough in their armoury to overcome Kevin Keegan’s side and who knows, they may well have another forward amongst their ranks by then.”

The former Scotland international centre-half is only backing one team to win away among his top tips for this weekend - his old club Liverpool. But he explained: “This has nothing to do with my old allegiances, but more due to the strength of their side now livewire Robbie Keane has joined.”

Looking at the bigger picture of the season as a whole, Hansen expects the ultimate title battle to be between just two sides - Manchester United and Chelsea.

“I don’t doubt Arsenal and Liverpool will push last season’s top two close but when examining the strength of Sir Alex and Scolari’s squads, you’ll see they both possess the numbers, the talents and above all the experience required. After all, you’d don’t win anything with kids, apparently. However, I have no great conviction either way on which one of [these] great sides will eventually triumph.

Manchester City face a tough opening day fixture at Villa Park where Martin O’Neill recently made a flurry of good signings, but Hansen expects new manager Mark Hughes to excel at City, despite the club’s problems off the pitch.

“I am in no doubt, he’ll have no problems whatsoever. After all, Sparky has proven himself to be a good Premier League manager at Blackburn and has all the attributes to be a success at Eastlands.

Hansen added that the team he is most intrigued by this season are Tottenham Hotspur. He said Spurs have made some interesting signings and the fans are expecting good things from Juande Ramos’ new-look squad.

“When you actually look at their first choice eleven it’s pretty good so I’ll be watching their progress closely though I only expect them to leave the Riverside [against Middlesbrough] with a draw on the opening weekend.”

Mark Hinton, Goal.com