Matt Holland: Chelsea boss Frank Lampard faces baptism of fire at Old Trafford

The Premier League starts with a bang and home advantage could swing Sunday's big match in Manchester United's favour against Chelsea.

Both sides have looked decent in pre-season with reasonable results and Frank Lampard has been getting good performances out of Mason Mount and Ross Barkley, but it's going to be difficult for Chelsea having lost Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.

And then with David Luiz heading to Arsenal just before the season starts means there is even less experience in the side. Lampard will happily rely on the youngsters, although it's a big ask for them under the transfer embargo.

I have watched a fair bit of United over the summer and I have been impressed with the fluidity of their front three.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have been swapping positions and they have pressed high as well, which shows how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants United to play this season.

That's why Romelu Lukaku wasn't wanted - he offers goals but United want that energy up front for their forwards to keep making sprints - and Solskjaer has also got what he wanted in terms of the defensive signings.

You can argue the point that Harry Maguire was too expensive and they have overpaid with that big fee, but I see a centre-back who can galvanise United and offers the defensive organisation and leadership qualities which were seriously lacking last season.

Maguire also brings composure on the ball which will be important as Solskjaer wants them to play out from the back. Maguire will be able to control the tempo of the team and then there is his aerial quality in both boxes.

United conceded 54 goals last season. They needed to improve and they have done with Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Defensively Wan-Bissaka was excellent in his breakthrough season at Crystal Palace and I don't see any reason why he will go backwards. He was as good as anyone one v one last year.

I would just edge towards United and Tottenham in the top-four battle, although Arsenal's late business has been impressive. Their defence worried me but David Luiz and Kieran Tierney are both better than they had at the club.

It's hard to look beyond Manchester City for the title despite Liverpool getting to within a point of them last season.

Pep Guardiola's side have strengthened their midfield over the summer with the signing of Rodri and midfield looks the key area. Kevin De Bruyne is also back from injury and their depth is superior to Liverpool's.

I was at the Community Shield on Sunday and in the first half I was really concerned for Liverpool but they improved plenty after the break before losing to City on penalties. Expect them to lead the chasing pack to City once again.

Leicester and Everton won't be far off the top six and down at the bottom I fear most for Brighton and Newcastle of the teams outside of the newly-promoted trio.

It'll be tough for Sheffield United, Norwich and Aston Villa but I was part of a promoted Ipswich side who finished fifth in the Premier League in 2000-01 so it can be done. We qualified for the Uefa Cup where we lost to Inter, beating them 1-0 at Portman Road before a Christian Vieri hat-trick did for us in Milan. We were relegated in our second season back!

First of all we had good players, but there was also a great team spirit and I think we benefited from having a smaller squad. We were a tight unit and then Marcus Stewart made the leap up with 19 goals.

Can Teemu Pukki or Oli McBurnie repeat Marcus's heroics? That's what they will need to survive and if they can it spells trouble for the likes of Brighton and Newcastle.

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