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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2014 Sport 23 Answers to the MaltaToday crossword will be published next Wednesday WEATHER: Mainly Sunny VISIBILITY: Good WIND: Northerly force 3 to 4 becoming West to Northwest force 3 to 4 locally force 4 SEA: Moderate becoming slight to moderate SWELL: LOW NORTHWEST SEA TEMP: 25 °C A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 White to play and mate in four moves A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Last week's solution Sudoku rules are extremely easy: Fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear once in each row, column and 9x9 box. PARTLY CLOUDY 30 º C / 22 º C UV INDEX: 8 Today's Weather Chess Sudoku Pursuits OPINION Across 3. Surname of Judas (8) 9. Pains (5) 10. Often (3) 11. Attach by stitches (3) 12. Rude (11) 14. Marshal (5) 16. Look at amorously (4) 17. Rescues (5) 19. Drunk (6) 20. Immerse (3) 22. Tangle of logs (6) 23. Seaport in the Crimea (5) 25. Musical group (4) 26. Bishop's headdress (5) 28. Leaping insect (11) 30. Twain (3) 31. Female deer (3) 32. Stately (5) 33. Person who mutinies (8) Down 1. Republic in W Africa (4) 2. Merit (7) 4. Fitted with strings (8) 5. Assert (6) 6. Immediately (9) 7. High building (5) 8. Investigate closely (5) 13. Tubular pasta (8) 15. An opening (8) 18. Patsy (9) 21. Small in size (4-4) 24. Aerodrome (7) 25. Defeated (6) 26. Covered with mud (5) 27. Emblem (5) 29. Uncouth (4) IT'S that time of the year when we begin to get a little excited. Our pleasant weekend socialising will be replaced by insults aimed either at the TV or at each other, but despite that we won't change a thing. The charity shield served up the perfect appetiser and though it set no markers it did show Arsenal's progression and newly found spark. It was as if someone finally changed the oil on an old dusty racing car engine and we heard it roar for the first time. My hope is that there will be no leaks this time and Arsenal finally mean business. That said, I still do not predict pole position for Wenger. Chelsea's machine still purrs consistently and has a track record to prove it. Both have been modified somewhat this season, with Chelsea even bring- ing in some Arsenal scrap to repair. Cesc Fabregas looks a new man and with him and Didier Drogba, Mourinho has invested in solid ex- perience. Diego Costa still needs his warm up lap after a poor sum- mer, however Mourinho knows this track well and they are my favour- ites to win the league this season. They will do so finishing ahead of Manchester City, who not only looked awful last weekend, but also looked overall uninterested and al- most hungover. A summer of strip- ping spare parts was underway and four new signings looked sharp on paper, but might need a few laps un- der their belts. With good old Arsenal and City battling for second and third, the next part will annoy many people but might provide the best of the Premier League battles this sea- son. The race for fourth place has never been so hot. While many feel Manchester United have a shot at winning the league I will be more realistic and say they need more time and perhaps a few more new faces. Liverpool's run last season made the Scousers go nuts and, per- haps still high on adrenaline, many in Liverpool believe this is finally their year. Sadly I think that could not be fur- ther from the truth. Brendan Rodg- ers has at last deepened his squad at the expense of Luis Suarez, with no fewer than eight new arrivals - most of whom are new to the country. No one topped Liverpool's offence last season. Suarez and Sturridge struck up the healthiest of part- nerships and netted a total of 41 goals between them. They looked as good as gold and only a very leaky defence let the team down. This season however I cannot see where Sturridge will find 20 goals without Suarez. With Manchester United chang- ing tactical approach they might endure a slow start, but once that gear box kicks in their momentum can take them far and the players all know the importance of Cham- pion's League football to the club. The rot has stopped at Old Traf- ford and Louis van Gaal has brought his typical Dutch f lare to England. Just like the Netherlands squad in Brazil players have praised the team spirit which is at last growing at Manchester United. At any big club with huge personalities that is the key. They have stripped their old guard bare with Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra all making their way to the emergency exits. Precious few arrivals came to replace them but I still expect a couple of new faces and van Gaal has also threatened to break the record books if he feels he found the right man. The top four looks as follows: Chelsea, Man City, followed by Arsenal and Manchester United. Liverpool lead the rest of the pile and I predict, despite making some positive changes, Spurs will follow, leading Everton who will not per- form as they did last season. This year they may have lost their dark horse tag and most teams might be able to predict them. Their transfer activity has been solid but some- what predictable, with Lukaku and Barry joining on permanent deals. Having said that with any Martinez side you simply never know and the likes of Ross Barkley and Seamous Coleman can spring surprises. Peering at the opposite end of the table I have already spoken about my worries for former giant killers As- ton Villa, while typically due to the huge gap between divisions, Burnley and Leicester will struggle to stack the points this season. Sunderland and West Brom will also be in the quick sand, but a great escape might just save them for one more season. West Brom have appointed former Everton academy manager Alan Ir- vine on a 12 month rolling contract and for me that sparks danger. He is largely inexperienced and the type of contract agreed does indicate a lack of faith on either side. We are in for another epic journey so I advise you stow away your tray tables, pull up your window blinds and fasten your seat belts, this plane is ready for take off. Mark Strijbosch Pre-season predictions g7 Kh7 Kf7 Kh6 g8=Q+ Kh5 Qg3 Kh6 Qh4# (or Qg6#) YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt Download the MaltaToday App now Mourinho knows this track well and they are my favourites to win the league this season