After a 14 week summer break, the English Premier League returns to our lives on Saturday!

The gap between seasons always feels an eternity, although the magnificent World Cup in Brazil certainly helped our withdrawal symptoms – but now it is back to business for the 20 clubs in England's top flight.

Here we provide a team-by-team guide to each side complete with summer transfer activity and our picks of players to watch.

ARSENAL

Manager: Arsene Wenger
Last season: 4th
Key ins: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona, £35m), Calum Chambers (Southampton, £16m), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle, £10m)
Key outs: Bacary Sagna (Man City, free), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea, free), Nicklas Bendtner (released)
Star man: Mesut Ozil
One to watch: Calum Chambers
Strengths: Blessed with attacking players and style. There are goals aplenty in this side.
Weaknesses: Defensive frailty, and lack of belief. Need to be confident they can challenge for title rather than aim for top four.

ASTON VILLA

Manager: Paul Lambert
Last season: 15th
Key ins: Philippe Senderos (Fulham, free), Joe Cole (West Ham, free), Kieran Richardson (Fulham, free), Aly Cissokho (Valencia, loan)
Key outs: Marc Albrighton (Leicester, free), Nathan Delfouneso (Blackpool, free), Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg, loan)
Star man: Christian Benteke
One to watch: Jores Okore
Strengths: Ron Vlaar’s immense World Cup performances for Holland will lift hopes, as will Benteke’s return from injury.
Weaknesses: With the club up for sale and pressure on boss Lambert, the air of uncertainty could affect morale and results.

BURNLEY 

Manager: Sean Dyche
Last season: 2nd place (Championship)
Key ins: Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough, £1.5m), Michael Kightly (Stoke, undisclosed), Steven Reid (West Brom, free), Matt Taylor (West Ham, free), Marvin Sordell (Bolton, undisclosed)
Key outs: Chris Baird (West Brom, free), David Edgar (Birmingham, free)
Star man: Danny Ings
One to watch: Kieran Trippier
Strengths: The spirit and unity that got them to the top flight. A manager who has faith in his players.
Weaknesses: Lack of resources and quality to bridge the massive step up from the Championship.

CHELSEA

Manager: Jose Mourinho
Last season: 3rd
Key ins: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid, £32m), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona, £30m), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid, £16m), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray, free)
Key outs: David Luiz (Paris Saint- Germain, £40m), Romelu Lukaku (Everton, £28m), Christian Atsu (Everton, loan), Demba Ba (Besiktas, £4.7m), Ashley Cole (Roma, free), Frank Lampard (New York City, free), Samuel Eto’o (released)
Star man: Eden Hazard
One to watch: Kurt Zouma
Strengths: With the signings of Costa and Drogba, they now have quality cover in all areas. Fabregas will add flair.
Weaknesses: Over-confidence and focus. Will want to challenge for every trophy but need to set their sights on ensuring they win at least one.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Manager: Tony Pulis
Last season: 11th
Key ins: Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff, £900,000), Brede Hangeland (Fulham, free), Chris Kettings (Blackpool, free)
Key outs: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Cardiff, free), Danny Gabbidon (released), Jose Campana (Sampdoria, undisclosed), Dean Moxey (Bolton, free)
Star man: Mile Jedinak
One to watch: Dwight Gayle
Strengths: Survived against all odds last season through grit and tenacity.
Weaknesses: Need more depth and quality to cover for injuries and absences.

EVERTON

Manager: Roberto Martinez
Last season: 5th
Key ins: Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, £28m), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros, £4m), Gareth Barry (Man City, free), Christian Atsu (Chelsea, loan)
Key outs: Apostolos Vellios (K. Lierse S.K, free), Magaye Gueye (Millwall, free)
Star man: Leighton Baines
One to watch: John Stones
Strengths: Have a camaraderie and class with Ross Barkley and Stones emerging as world-class prospects.
Weaknesses: Struggled for options when injuries hit them last season. May lack a killer instinct.

HULL CITY

Manager: Steve Bruce
Last season: 16th
Key ins: Robert Snodgrass (Norwich, £8m), Jake Livermore (Spurs, £6m), Tom Ince (Blackpool, undisclosed), Andrew Robertson (Dundee Utd, £2.85m), Harry Maguire (Sheffield Utd, £2.5m)
Key outs: Cameron Stewart (Ipswich, free), Matty Fryatt (Nottingham Forest, free), Roberto Koren (released), Abdoulaye Faye (released), Shane Long (Southampton, £12m)
Star man: Curtis Davies
One to watch: Harry Maguire
Strengths: Solid experience and play to their strengths with a direct style.
Weaknesses: The Europa League could stretch their squad and defensively they are over-reliant on Davies.

LEICESTER CITY

Manager: Nigel Pearson
Last season: 1st (Championship)
Key ins: Leonardo Ulloa (Brighton, £8m), Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa, free), Matthew Upson (Brighton, free), Jack Barmby (Man Utd, free), Ben Hamer (Charlton, free)
Key outs: Lloyd Dyer (Watford, free), Neil Danns (Bolton, free), Sean St Ledger (released), Zak Whitbread (Derby, free)
Star man: Leonardo Ulloa
One to watch: Marc Albrighton
Strengths: Play flowing football. Good shape, trust in each other.
Weaknesses: Ulloa unproven at this level and goals will make all the difference come next May.

LIVERPOOL

Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Last season: 2nd
Key ins: Adam Lallana (Southampton, £25m), Dejan Lovren (Southampton, £20m), Lazar Markovic (£20m), Divock Origi (Lille, £10m) Emre Can (Bayer Leverkusen, £10m), Rickie Lambert (Southampton, £4m), Javi Manquillo (Atletico Madrid, loan)
Key outs: Luis Suarez (Barcelona, £75m), Luis Alberto (Malaga, loan), Pepe Reina (Bayern Munich, undisclosed), Iago Aspas (Sevilla, loan) Divock Origi (Lille, loan)
Star man: Steven Gerrard
One to watch: Raheem Sterling
Strengths: Strong at home and more numbers to add depth to the squad.
Weaknesses: A lot of change could be disruptive and the pressure will be on Sturridge and Lambert to fill Suarez’s void.

MANCHESTER CITY

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Last season: 1st
Key ins: Eliaquim Mangala (Porto, £32m), Fernando (Porto, £12m), Willy Caballero (Malaga, £6m), Bruno Zuculini (Racing Club, £3m), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal, free), Frank Lampard (New York City, loan)
Key outs: Jack Rodwell (Sunderland, £10m), Gareth Barry (Everton, free), Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland, free), Joleon Lescott (West Brom, free)
Star man: Yaya Toure
One to watch: Stevan Jovetic
Strengths: Abundance of talent and established cover for every position.
Weaknesses: Distractions and pressure of other competitions, namely the Champions League, and absence of Kompany and Aguero for long periods.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Manager: Louis van Gaal
Last season: 7th
Key ins: Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao, £29m), Luke Shaw (Southampton, £27m), Vanja Milinkovic (FK Vojvodina, undisclosed)
Key outs: Nemanja Vidic (Internazionale, free), Patrice Evra (Juventus, £1.2m), Rio Ferdinand (QPR, free), Ryan Giggs (retired), Alexander Buttner (Dynamo Moscow, undisclosed)
Star man: Robin van Persie
One to watch: Jesse Lingard
Strengths: The acquisition of Van Gaal is a definite plus, while United possess an attacking triumvirate of real quality. Keeping Van Persie, Rooney and Mata fit will be crucial.
Weaknesses: A defensive trio of Evans, Smalling and Jones lacks a leader and there remain concerns in central midfield despite Herrera’s impressive pre-season.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Manager: Alan Pardew
Last season: 10th
Key ins: Remy Cabella (Montpellier, undisclosed), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord, undisclosed), Siem de Jong (Ajax, undisclosed), Emmanuel Riviere (Monaco, undisclosed), Jack Colback (Sunderland, free)
Key outs: Mathieu Debuchy (Arsenal, £12m), Sylvain Marveaux (Guingamp, loan), Romain Amalfitano (Dijon, free), Loic Remy (QPR, end of loan), Shola Ameobi (released)
Star man: Moussa Sissoko
One to watch: Remy Cabella
Strengths: If the likes of Cabella, De Jong and Riviere click then Newcastle will score goals.
Weaknesses: Sissoko and Tiote will need to rediscover their best form, otherwise midfield is an area opposition teams may target.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Manager: Harry Redknapp
Last season: The Championship, 4th (promoted via play-offs)
Key ins: Steven Caulker (Cardiff, £8m), Jordan Mutch (Cardiff, £5m), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United, free), Mauricio Isla (Juventus, loan)
Key outs: Esteban Granero (Real Sociedad, undisclosed), Aaron Hughes (Brighton and Hove Albion, free), Stephane Mbia (released), Ji-Sung Park (retired)
Star man: Loic Remy
One to watch: Charlie Austin
Strengths: Like most Redknapp teams, QPR boast experience and if they can convince Remy to stay then they should score regularly.
Weaknesses: An ageing Ferdinand cannot be expected to play all 38 games, while the midfield lacks real quality.

SOUTHAMPTON

Manager: Ronald Koeman
Last season: 8th
Key ins: Saphir Taider (Inter, loan), Dusan Tadic (FC Twente, £10.9m), Graziano Pelle (Feyenoord, £9m), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea, loan), Shane Long (Hull, £12m)
Key outs: Luke Shaw (Manchester United, £27m), Adam Lallana (Liverpool, £25m), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool, £20m), Ricky Lambert (Liverpool, £4m), Calum Chambers (Arsenal, undisclosed), Dani Osvaldo (Inter, loan)
Star man: Dusan Tadic
One to watch: Sam Gallagher
Strengths: Despite the mass exodus, Southampton retain a solid spine with Boruc, Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse and Rodriguez joined by some exciting signings.
Weaknesses: Their defence has been torn apart, while a lot will depend on how the new players gel with those left behind.

STOKE CITY

Manager: Mark Hughes
Last season: 9th 
Key ins: Bojan Krkic (Barcelona, £3m), Phil Bardsley (Sunderland, free), Mame Biram Diouf (Hannover, free), Steve Sidwell (Fulham, free)
Key outs: Michael Kightly (Burnley, undisclosed) Jack Butland (Leeds United, loan)
Star Man: Asmir Begovic
One to watch: James Alabi
Strengths: Resolute at the back, with one of the best keepers in the league, Stoke now have some real quality at the other end of the pitch.
Weaknesses: Goals have been hard to come by in pre-season, and a lot of pressure has already been placed on the shoulders of Bojan.

SUNDERLAND

Manager: Gus Poyet
Last season: 14th
Key ins: Jack Rodwell (Manchester City, £10m), Patrick van Aanholt (Chelsea, undisclosed), Costel Pantilimon (Man City, free), Jordi Gomez (Wigan, free), Billy Jones (West Brom, free)
Key outs: Ignacio Scocco (Newell’s Old Boys, undisclosed), Jack Colback (Newcastle, free), Craig Gardner (West Brom, free), Phil Bardsley (Stoke, free), David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest, free)
Star man: Sebastian Larsson
One to watch: Patrick van Aanholt
Strengths: The bulk of the squad that performed so well after Poyet’s arrival last term remain, with Rodwell an upgrade in midfield.
Weaknesses: New signings have been slow in coming, and the club still lacks a genuine goal-scorer.

SWANSEA

Manager: Garry Monk
Last season: 12th
Key ins: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Tottenham, undisclosed), Jefferson Montero (Morelia, undisclosed), Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal, free), Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon, free)
Key outs: Michu (Napoli, loan), Michel Vorm (Tottenham, £5m), Ben Davies (Tottenham, £10m), Alejandro Pozuelo (Rayo Vallecano, undisclosed), Chico Flores (Lekhwiya, undisclosed)
Star man: Wilfried Bony
One to watch: Adam King
Strengths: The signings of Sigurdsson, Montero and Gomis provide an attacking thrust while the defence remains sound.
Weaknesses: Fabianski was never able to nail down the No1 spot at Arsenal, and the Swans squad appears to lack depth.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Last season: 6th
Key ins: Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon, £4m), Ben Davies (Swansea, £10m), Michel Vorm (Swansea, £5m)
Key outs: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea, undisclosed), Jake Livermore (Hull City, undisclosed), Iago Falque (Genoa, undisclosed), Heurelho Gomes (Watford, free)
Star man: Christian Eriksen
One to watch: Harry Kane
Strengths: Lots of attacking quality, and players with points to prove. New boss Pochettino provides structure.
Weaknesses: Spurs shipped 51 goals last season, with Michael Dawson looking particularly susceptible against pacey counter-attacks.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Manager: Alan Irvine 
Last season: 17th
Key ins: Joleon Lescott (Man City, free), Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg, undisclosed), Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kiev, £10m), Craig Gardner (Sunderland, free), Andre Wisdom (Liverpool, loan)
Key outs: Liam Ridgewell (Portland Timbers, free), Steven Reid (Burnley, free), Markus Rosenburg (Malmo, undisclosed), George Thorne (Derby, undisclosed), Billy Jones (Sunderland, free)
Star man: Joleon Lescott
One to watch: Kemar Roofe
Strengths: Defensively the Baggies look sound, with the expensive purchase of Ideye adding a goal threat too.
Weaknesses: If Ideye fails to fire can Anichebe and Berahino be relied upon to chip in with 10 or more goals?

WEST HAM UNITED

Manager: Sam Allardyce
Last season: 13th
Key ins: Enner Valencia (Pachuca, £12m), Mauro Zarate (Velez Sarsfield, undisclosed), Cheikhou Kouyate (Anderlecht, undisclosed), Aaron Cresswell (Ipswich, undisclosed), Carl Jenkison (Arsenal, loan)
Key outs: Joe Cole (Aston Villa, free), Matt Taylor (Burnley, undisclosed), Jack Collison (Wigan, loan)
Star man: Winston Reid
One to watch: Diego Poyet
Strengths: If Reid is retained then West Ham look solid defensively, while Allardyce has promised a more expansive game plan.
Weaknesses: The Hammers managed just eight shots on target in preseason. With Carroll out until December, Valencia and Zarate must settle quickly.