The season stretches over nine months but TODAY football correspondent Adrian Clarke gazes into the crystal ball and reaches into the deep recesses of his footballing mind to predict how the final standings will look next May.

BURNLEY

The Clarets were sensational en route to promotion, and in Danny Ings and Sam Vokes they discovered a strike duo that can inflict serious damage at that level. It’s a big step up for them this year though, and I worry that it’s too big. Sean Dyche’s men will show heart and win a lot of friends, but I’m not convinced they’re good enough to survive.

Prediction: 20th

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Albion are in the midst of a downward spiral and the appointment of unheralded Alan Irvine smacks of a lack in ambition. He may prove me wrong, but I just don’t see the Scot as a Premier League boss. The club have spent big on Joleon Lescott and Brown Ideye, but morale seems low at the Hawthorns.

Prediction: 19th

CRYSTAL PALACE

Tony Pulis dines out on the fact that he’s never been relegated as a manager, and he still hasn’t after quitting Selhurst Park 48 hours before the season opener. It’s up to the new manager to fire up the troops. And even with a Crystal Palace defence that is considerably tightened, do they have enough firepower? You can’t rely on clean sheets every week.

Prediction: 18th

ASTON VILLA

If you don’t spend money, you won’t survive and I wonder if this is the season that finally catches thrifty Aston Villa out. The new Paul Lambert-Roy Keane dugout partnership is a strange one, fraught with potential disaster, and player-wise they don’t have a lot of quality to get excited about. It will be a long season for the Villans.

Prediction: 17th

WEST HAM UNITED

Losing Andy Carroll to another serious injury in pre-season was a hammer blow (excuse the pun) for Sam Allardyce. He needs to sign a goalscorer fast. His public spat with the West Ham board has also become a distraction. Will he encourage more attractive football, as requested? Or will it be the same long ball stuff from the Irons? Following their progress won’t be dull.

Prediction: 16th

LEICESTER CITY

The Foxes aren’t small fry, so as a club they’ll expect to stay in the Premier League this season. Their boss, Nigel Pearson, may be a dour figure in the media, but he organises his teams with great discipline and gets players to work hard for him. Leicester will play neat, counter-attacking football this season and do okay.

Prediction: 15th

HULL CITY

Steve Bruce is doing a wonderful job with the Tigers, and in Robert Snodgrass he’s bought a class act who will strengthen Hull’s midfield nicely. From a defensive viewpoint they must do better, though. If they lose 21 times again this season, they’ll do well to stay out of the bottom three.

Prediction: 14th

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

QPR were a total shambles the last time we saw them in the Premier League, but their sensible approach to the new campaign should fill fans with optimism. Rio Ferdinand, Steven Caulker and Jordan Mutch are wise additions, and bringing Glenn Hoddle in as a coach too could be a masterstroke. I’m looking forward to seeing how they fare.

Prediction: 13th

SUNDERLAND

Who is going to score Sunderland’s goals? That’s what’s concerning Black Cats fans at the moment. Gus Poyet’s well-drilled side finished last season in fine fettle and shouldn’t get embroiled in another relegation battle, but until they add a proven goalscorer to their ranks, the doubts will remain.

Prediction: 12th

SOUTHAMPTON

Selling five of their best players appears, on the face of it, to have been a disastrous policy, but don’t underestimate new boss Ronald Koeman or the talents still in place at St Mary’s. Providing morale can be maintained, and that the new boys fit in okay, I believe the Saints will continue to surprise people.

Prediction: 11th

SWANSEA CITY

No one’s talking about Swansea, but I think the Welshmen have made two shrewd signings in Batefembi Gomis and Gylfi Sigurdsson. The team appear happier than ever with Garry Monk in charge, and they have a settled system and style that works well for them. I don’t see this as a season of struggle for them at all.

Prediction: 10th

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Alan Pardew has dusted the cobwebs off his wallet to buy nine new players this summer, and on paper at least, they look a more rounded outfit, even without top scorer Loic Remy. At home I expect them to shine, but they must improve on their travels. Losing 11 times on the road last term, Newcastle must change their defeatist attitude.

Prediction: 9th

STOKE CITY

You can’t accuse the Potters of playing anti-football anymore. In fact, since Mark Hughes took over the reins, they’ve developed an athletic, passing style that’s both effective and easy on the eye. Boosted by the likes of Steve Sidwell and Bojan Krkic, I can see Stoke City going one better than last season’s record 9th place. They’re a side on the up.

Prediction: 8th

EVERTON

It’s not easy juggling Europa League commitments with a busy domestic fixture list and that might be Everton’s undoing this year. Roberto Martinez is a brilliant coach and he will be delighted to have kept last season’s excellent side together — but does he have the squad depth to cope if injury problems mount? I don’t think so.

Prediction: 7th

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Mauricio Pochettino is a coach who’s going places, but unless Spurs invest serious cash between now and the end of the month, there may be a ceiling to what he can achieve at White Hart Lane. Tottenham will be fit, well-organised and hard to beat, but they don’t have enough match-winners to be considered title challengers.

Prediction: 6th

LIVERPOOL

Under Brendan Rodgers, the Reds will produce beautiful football, sweep many opponents aside and, once again, be right in the mix for honours. However, if they couldn’t win the league with Luis Suarez, I sense they have very little chance of achieving that goal now that he’s gone. I like the look of their new faces, especially Lazar Markovic, but expectations should be lowered at Anfield.

Prediction: 5th

MANCHESTER UNITED

I hope United’s rivals enjoyed it while it lasted, because there’s no way the 2013 champions will be a soft touch again this season. Louis van Gaal demands such high standards, and tactically nothing will be left to chance. It’s time for the Red Devils to rebuild and because they have such an outstanding coach and three superb forwards, I think they’ll sneak back into the top four.

Prediction: 4th

MANCHESTER CITY

Man City are a mercurial side. When they’re hot, they’re unstoppable. When they’re not, Manuel Pellegrini’s men are just as capable of dropping sloppy points to the stragglers. The key for City will be to keep star men Aguero and Silva fit and healthy. My only other question mark is over their hunger. How badly do they want to land back-to-back titles?

Prediction: 3rd

ARSENAL

Fresh from their FA Cup triumph and a summer that’s seen a world-class forward swell their ranks, the Gunners are full of beans ahead of the new campaign. The squad is the strongest it’s been in many years, and Arsene Wenger is now spoilt for choice with midfield and attacking options. Can they handle big-match pressure from a defensive perspective, though? That’s the question they need to answer in 2014/15.

Prediction: Runners-up

CHELSEA

It’s now Jose Mourinho’s team, and that means Chelsea have no excuse not to win silverware. The Blues were strong, as always, last term but without an on-song striker, they were always up against it to claim the big prizes. Diego Costa’s arrival should remedy that problem. I also think Cesc Fabregas is an ideal acquisition; with him they’ll instantly boast more class and creativity on the ball.

Prediction: Champions

Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of English football. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for publications around the world. Follow him on Twitter @adrianjclarke