Premier League pressure has never been hotter at the top as seven managers start the battle for ultimate prize

THE Premier League now boasts some of the biggest managers in the game.

All of them will be under pressure to deliver in a season that promises to be like no other.

Jose Mourinho, fired by Chelsea last December, is already back with a bang after winning the Community Shield with Manchester United.

Across the city, Pep Guardiola is expected to bring the  dazzling football that wowed the Nou Camp and the Allianz Arena after taking over at the Etihad.

Antonio Conte, Chelsea’s latest manager, will be under pressure to break into the top four in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Then there is the wily old fox Claudio Ranieri, the title-winning manager charged with putting  title-winning smiles on  the faces of Leicester  supporters.

With Arsene Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino battling it out for supremacy in North London, it is already shaping up to be the biggest-ever battle of the bosses.

Here, I run the rule over the big-name managers who must turn the dreams of their supporters into reality . . .

Guardiola faces a bigger job at Man City than with Barcelona and Bayern

PEP GUARDIOLA

Desperately trying to keep preparations low-key but this is the coach Manchester City craved. Now he has to win everything in sight to keep them sweet.

JOSE MOURINHO

First trophy in the bag last weekend but he will be judged on Manchester United’s results in the Premier League and his tussles with Guardiola. Expect him to lose it.

JURGEN KLOPP

It is HIS Liverpool team now and Klopp must deliver. No European football could prove decisive in the race for fourth. The signing of Sadio Mane from Southampton is likely to be an instant hit.

ARSENE WENGER

Arsenal were runners-up last season but that has quickly been forgotten. The Frenchman claims he will decide his future later but nobody walks out on £7.8million a year.

MAURICIO POCHETTINO

Lost his head during Tottenham’s title run-in but he should benefit from the experience. Distractions — Champions League football, stadium rebuild, head of recruitment Paul Mitchell’s departure — could prove costly.

ANTONIO CONTE

The Italian will be barking instructions from the touchline for 90 minutes but the culture at Chelsea remains the same — lose a few, players give up, manager gets sacked. Conte is under pressure from day one.

CLAUDIO RANIERI

Brilliantly understated. His Leicester stars appear determined to keep their title-winning spirit alive and they were desperately unlucky to lose the Community Shield. Champions League adventure will be fun.