Friday 16 August 2013

The start of the new Premier League season is here... so it's time for our experts to put their necks on the line

Champions: Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson lifts the Premier League title in May
Sportsmail's unrivalled team of football experts run the rule over the key battles to look out for in the upcoming Premier League season, revealing who they think will win the title and much more. 

See more after the cut


 
JAMIE CARRAGHER
Champions: Chelsea. The Jose Mourinho factor will be worth extra points to them during the season and they will be even more formidable if they buy a top striker.
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal.
Relegated: Norwich, Crystal Palace, Hull. 
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie.
FA Cup: Manchester United.
League Cup: Liverpool.
Champions League: Real Madrid. They have bought well this summer and winning the biggest prize in Lisbon will motivate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Europa League: Fiorentina.
Late call for the World Cup: Ross Barkley.
One to watch: Young Everton and England Under 21 midfielder Ross Barkley
One to watch: Young Everton and England Under 21 midfielder Ross Barkley
MARTIN KEOWN
Champions: Chelsea. They have the feelgood factor of a new manager but the bonus of him not really being new. He knows the players and the players are used to change.
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal.
Relegated: Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Hull.
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie.
FA Cup: Manchester Utd.
League Cup: Arsenal.
Champions League: Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti is a calming influence and signing Gareth Bale would put them in pole position. 
Europa League: A Champions League dropout.
Late call for the World Cup: Luke Shaw.
Flying Dutchman: Manchester United striker Robin van Persie
Flying Dutchman: Manchester United striker Robin van Persie
LEE CLAYTON
Champions: Manchester United. Jose is special but can he really make up 15 points from last season? United’s players win titles. It’s their job.
Top four: Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and… Arsenal. Sorry to be dull.
Relegated: Hull, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich. 
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie.
FA Cup: Manchester City. I’d like to say Norwich or someone equally as unfashionable, but Premier League survival counts too much.
League Cup: Everton.
Champions League: Barcelona. Messi + Neymar = trophy.
Europa League: I hope Swansea win it.
Late call for the World Cup: Jonjo Shelvey.
Relegation battle: Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak (left) takes on Lazio's Ederson in a pre-season friendly
Relegation battle: Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak (left) takes on Lazio's Ederson in a pre-season friendly
NEIL ASHTON
Champions: Chelsea. They will get off to a flying start under Mourinho and it will be difficult for their rivals to hunt them down.
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham.
Relegated: Sunderland, Norwich, Hull.
FA Cup: Manchester City. League Cup: Chelsea.
Champions League: Bayern Munich. A brilliant team to watch and they have too much power for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Europa League: Valencia.
Late call for the World Cup: Jay Rodriguez.
One to watch: Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez enjoyed a fine debut season
Striking it rich: Southampton's Jay Rodriguez (right) enjoyed a fine debut season
IAN LADYMAN
Champions: Chelsea. If they recruit a world class striker then that, and Jose Mourinho’s return, should be too much for the rest. 
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal. 
Relegated: Norwich, Crystal Palace, Hull.
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie.
FA Cup: Manchester City. 
League Cup: Everton.
Champions League: Bayern Munich. It’s hard to defend but Bayern were the best team in Europe last season. 
Europa League: Sevilla.  
Late call for the World Cup: Wilfried Zaha.
He's back: Jose Mourinho is bidding for his third Premier League title
He's back: Jose Mourinho is bidding for his third Premier League title
MATT BARLOW
Champions: Chelsea. They could do with a striker but the Mourinho factor plus so much change at City and no Fergie may give them the edge.
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal. 
Relegated: Hull, Stoke, Crystal Palace.
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie.
FA Cup: Manchester City.
League Cup: West Ham.
Champions League: Barcelona: To prove it isn’t quite the end of an era and that Lionel Messi is still the best player in the world.
Europa League: Napoli.
Late call for the World Cup: Nathan Redmond.
Under pressure: Many expect Mark Hughes to struggle in his first season at Stoke
Under pressure: Many expect Mark Hughes to struggle in his first season at Stoke
LAURA WILLIAMSON
Champions: Chelsea. I think it will be a lot tighter than some people are predicting, but the prospect of Jose Mourinho winning the Premier League title in his first season back in England is just too good to resist.
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham.
Relegated: Hull City, Crystal Palace, Cardiff.
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie.
FA Cup: Manchester United.
League Cup: Chelsea.
Champions League: Bayern Munich. Last season’s champions plus Mario Gotze and Pep Guardiola? They will take some beating come May 24 in Lisbon.
Europa League: Swansea City.
Late call for the World Cup: Luke Shaw.
Dynamic duo: Bayern - under Guardiola (left) and with Gotze (right) in their ranks - are looking to become the first team to retain the Champions League
Dynamic duo: Bayern - under Guardiola (left) and with Gotze (right) in their ranks - are looking to become the first team to retain the Champions League
DOMINIC KING
Champions: Manchester City. They have bought well this summer, have an experienced manager and if the dressing room stays harmonious, they will take some stopping.
Top four: Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham.
Relegated: Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Hull. 
Top goalscorer: Sergio Aguero.
FA Cup: Tottenham.
League Cup: Liverpool.
Champions League: Real Madrid. They have not been to a final since 2002 but they will end their drought in Lisbon. 
Europa League: Sevilla.
Late call for the World Cup: Raheem Sterling.
Superstar: Manchester City's Argentine sensation Sergio Aguero
Superstar: Manchester City's Argentine sensation Sergio Aguero
ALEX KAY
Champions: Manchester City. They had the best squad last year, they’ve improved it this year and the lurking unrest that came with Mancini is gone. It will be entertaining too.
Top four: Manchester City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal
Relegated: Crystal Palace, Hull, West Brom.
Top goalscorer: Sergio Aguero.
FA Cup: Chelsea.
League Cup: Arsenal.
Champions League: Real Madrid. Ancelotti has good European pedigree. And I think they’ll end up with Bale too. Irresitable.
Europa League: Tottenham
Late call for the World Cup: Ross Barkley.
Back in the big time: Hull boss Steve Bruce is looking to avoid relegation
Back in the big time: Hull boss Steve Bruce is looking to avoid relegation
SAMI MOKBEL
Champions: Chelsea. Jose Mourinho’s back in town so expect a triumphant season at Stamford Bridge. Manchester City to push them a very close second.
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester Utd, Arsenal.
Relegated: Hull, Sunderland, Crystal Palace.
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie.
FA Cup: Manchester United.
League Cup: Chelsea.
Champions League: Real Madrid. Watched them in pre-season against Chelsea and they looked ominously strong. And with Cristiano Ronaldo (and possibly Gareth Bale) in their ranks, you can’t look much further.
Europa League: Valencia.
Should I stay or should I go? Bale (left) is wanted by Real Madrid
Should I stay or should I go? Bale (left) is wanted by Real Madrid
NEIL MOXLEY
Champions: Chelsea. A degree of calm has settled upon Stamford Bridge - incredibly - following the return of you-know-who. Others are in a period of transition and Jose will capitalise.
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal.
Relegated: Crystal Palace, Hull City, Sunderland.
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie.
FA Cup: Arsenal.
League Cup: Fulham.
Champions League: Bayern Munich. Have strengthened with the capture of Thiago. While Real Madrid and Barcelona cannot be discounted, have a sneaky feeling that Chelsea could do well in this, too.
Europa League: Spurs (if Gareth Bale stays).
Up for the cup: Fulham have now been in the Premier League for 12 years
Up for the cup: Fulham have now been in the Premier League for 12 years
RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
Champions: Manchester City. Shaky at the back, but £90m on new faces should bridge that gap to Manchester United, who have had too much going on this summer. 
Top four: Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham.
Relegated: Crystal Palace, Hull City, Sunderland.
Top scorer: Robin van Persie
FA Cup: Chelsea.
League Cup: Manchester City.
Champions League: Barcelona. If Lionel Messi is fit, I’d find it very hard to bet against him. The rest of that side aren’t bad, either.
Europa League: Tottenham.
Record signing: Roberto Soldado has moved to White Hart Lane from Valencia for £26m
Record signing: Roberto Soldado has moved to White Hart Lane from Valencia for £26m
SIMON CASS
Champions: Manchester United because they will have the same side as last year, including Rooney, and David Moyes is a great boss.
Top four: Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham.
Relegated: Crystal Palace, Hull, Sunderland.
Top goalscorer: Roberto Soldado.
FA Cup: Manchester City.
League Cup: West Ham.
Champions League: Real Madrid, because Carlo Ancelotti knows how to win it as a player and as a manager and will instruct his stars how to do it too.
Europa League: Real Sociedad.
Maverick: Paolo di Canio is in his first full season as Sunderland manager
Maverick: Paolo di Canio is in his first full season as Sunderland manager
JEFF POWELL
Champions: Chelsea. Jose Mourinho back, Sir Alex Ferguson retired, Arsene Wenger hamstrung, Manuel Pellegrini unproven.
Top Four: Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City.
Relegated: Hull, Norwich, Stoke.
Top goalscorer: Robin van Persie
FA Cup: Tottenham.
League Cup: West Brom.
Champions League: Borussia Dortmund – German power now rules. Guardiola may dilute Bayern with tiki-taka football, whereas he would have been the manager to harness Neymar with Messi at Barca.
Europa League: Who cares?
Star man: Chelsea attacking midfielder Juan Mata
Star man: Chelsea attacking midfielder Juan Mata
SAM CUNNINGHAM
Champions: Chelsea. Jose Mourinho, back at the helm, has won league titles at every club he’s managed; Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. The Portuguese knows how to win leagues, and knows Chelsea.
Top four: Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal.
Relegated: Hull, Norwich, Crystal Palace.
Top goalscorer: Christian Benteke.
FA Cup: Manchester United.
League Cup: Manchester City.
Champions League: Real Madrid – Already spent big on two superb young Spanish talents and it appears a marquee signing is on its way. Add to that Carlo Ancelotti’s Champions League experience and they have a real chance at their first title since 2002.
Europa League: Swansea.
Revelation: Aston Villa and Belgium striker Christian Benteke scored 19 goals last season
Revelation: Aston Villa and Belgium striker Christian Benteke scored 19 goals last season
 

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