Evergreen Scot's tried and trusted template for glory makes United favourites to retain crown

Sir Alex Ferguson will be 70 by then. He will have celebrated 25 years at Old Trafford in November. Yet no-one in English football will start the new Premier League season with more enthusiasm or determination. The enduring fire in the Ferguson belly has become something akin to a force of nature, but that is not why the bookies have installed United as favourites to win their 20th league title. It is more to do with his knack of building and rebuilding teams with intelligence and balance.

The current United side, shorn of the retired Paul Scholes, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic solid in defence and Michael Carrick, Anderson and Nani in midfield, is not awash with swaggering individuals. Wayne Rooney is probably the only one who fits that category.

Yet there is a freshness, a togetherness, a hunger and a depth of quality about United as they embark on yet another campaign which gives them an edge over the rest. It does not mean the chase for the title will be any less compelling. In fact, depending on the answers to certain questions, the 2011/12 Premier League season could prove to be the most competitive in its history.

Can Chelsea's new 33-year-old manager, Andre Villas-Boas, handle the egos in an ageing Stamford Bridge changing room?

There is no doubt Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, John Terry and Ashley Cole are past their prime while pulling misfiring 50 million striker Fernando Torres out of his prolonged slump could be the biggest challenge.

Tomorrow's trip to obdurate Stoke City poses a tricky first test and will go some way to revealing whether Villas-Boas possesses the inspirational charisma of his mentor Jose Mourinho. Can Arsenal win their first trophy in six years? It is highly unlikely considering the uncertainty which surrounds the futures of captain Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and the blind spot manager Arsene Wenger has when it comes to signing a top goalkeeper, a dominant central defender and a holding midfielder. No manager is under more early pressure than Wenger whose side face five crucial games in 16 days, starting at Newcastle today. Two of those matches are against Udinese in the Champions League qualifiers, one is at Manchester United and the other is at home to Liverpool.

The beauty of this season, however, lies in the depth of the competition. Tottenham are capable of beating any of the top sides while Liverpool under Kenny Dalglish are a rejuvenated force. Dalglish has brought in three natural left-footers of quality in Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jose Enrique and if strikers Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez click up front then expect to see them back in the Champions League at least next season.The key for Dalglish, however, remains the form of Steven Gerrard who is not due back from injury until next month.

Yet the most intriguing battle of all promises to be the local skirmish in Manchester between United and their "noisy neighbours" in the shape of Manchester City. United landed a psychological blow in last weekend's Community Shield when, despite a nervy performance from new 20-year-old goalkeeper David de Gea, they played the superior football and came back to beat City from two goals down. City, however, will not go away. Manager Roberto Mancini has assembled an expensive coterie of talent with players such as David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure capable of building on their FA Cup triumph last season. Mancini's challenge is keeping a lid on a disparate bunch of individuals, especially when striker Mario Balotelli seems incapable of avoiding angst and controversy.

Therein lies the difference between United and City. City have money and signings aplenty but as yet no developed sense of permanence or style.

United, by contrast, in Ferguson, possess a tried and trusted template for glory. That is the hallmark of champions.