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english teams target man u

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring his second goal against Middlesbrough during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday April 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) ** NO INTERNET/MOBILE USAGE WITHOUT FAPL LICENCE - SEE IPTC SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FIELD FOR DETAILS **
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring his second goal against Middlesbrough during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday April 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) ** NO INTERNET/MOBILE USAGE WITHOUT FAPL LICENCE - SEE IPTC SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FIELD FOR DETAILS **

LONDON - Manchester United begin the defence of their Premier League title this weekend without the man Wayne Rooney calls the best player in the world and with four hungry teams snapping at their heels.

LONDON - Manchester United begin the defence of their Premier League title this weekend without the man Wayne Rooney calls the best player in the world and with four hungry teams snapping at their heels.

With Cristiano Ronaldo gone to Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will all be hoping it is their time to shine, while new kids on the block Manchester City are the latest to see if money can buy success. If United, who host Birmingham on Sunday, are to win their fourth straight title, they will also have to do it without Argentina forward Carlos Tevez, who has crossed the city divide to join big-spending Manchester City.

Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia have been drafted in to replace Ronaldo and Tevez but Alex Ferguson has yet to spend really big.

"Cristiano is the best player in the world," Rooney said. "If you lose him of course there are going to be questions asked. We might need to play a different style to try and keep winning games and trying to win trophies but I am confident we will manage it."

Liverpool, who pushed United closest last year, are chasing their first title since 1989 and have added Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani to their squad ahead of their opener at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Though Rafael Benitez led the side to Champions League victory in 2005, the fact that they have not won the title in so long still hurts. Though they have lost Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, in Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres they have arguably the best striking partnership in the country and there is growing belief on Merseyside that this could be their year.

Chelsea begin against Hull City tomorrow, with a new coach in Carlo Ancelotti, who will be itching to show that they are the true challengers to United's crown. The Italian has not strengthened his side significantly, but their spine is strong and with Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard having committed themselves to the side, they are sure to be contenders.

It is four years since Arsenal won a trophy of any kind but Arsene Wenger, as always, is sticking to his guns and believes the current crop of players at his disposal are good enough to compete.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure may be gone and they have yet to sign anyone of note, but they have Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo back from injury, Andrey Arshavin is playing his first full season and the likes of Jack Wilshere are coming through.

Wenger believes Arsenal, who take on Everton at Goodison tomorrow , can push for honours.

"I feel we are strong enough, but if we can add then we will," he said. "In England, people think all the problems can be sorted out by buying players."

The big four will all have neck-ache as they look over their shoulders at Manchester City. Owned by Dubai billionaire Sheikh Mansour, City have splashed out this summer on Tevez, Adebayor, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz and Toure, adding firepower to an already talented, if erratic side. "All the expectation will be on us, a hell of a lot of focus," City manager Mark Hughes said. "We had 12 months of it last year and that was when we didn't have players with the ability to get to those expectations.

"We've got a better chance and we have to live up to those expectations now." - Sapa-DPA

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