As the new Premier League season approaches, The National Sport’s team of journalists and editors have made their predictions on a host of factors including champions, top goalscorer and player of the season.
STEVE LUCKINGS — Senior sports editor
Champions
Chelsea — It’s fair to say there are few areas where last season’s champions can improve, but a lack of recruitment doesn’t make them any weaker — they strolled to the 2014/15 title for a reason.
Seriously, where are the chinks in their armour? Great goalkeeper: check; solid defence that chips in with more than its share of goals: check; a midfield full of combatants and creativity: check; a striker who loves nothing more than bulling defenders and plundering goals: check.
Top four
Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal
Relegation
Watford — Given their previous short-lived stays in the Premier League (1999/00 and 2006/07), it’s hard to see them bucking the trend of going straight back down.
Bournemouth — The English south coast club have come so far since almost going out of business in 2008. They played beautiful football en route to winning the Championship, but the Premier League is a different animal altogether.
Leicester City — The enormity of their survival last season cannot be overplayed: winning seven and drawing once in 10 games to secure their top-flight status. But with Nigel Pearson gone and Claudio Ranieri into replace him, you fear the defiant and indomitable spirit may have left with him.
Surprise team
Newcastle United — Purely because anything worse than last season would mean relegation. Steve McClaren has recruited well with Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum a real statement of intent.
Underachievers
West Ham — Teams who ditch Sam Allardyce as manager tend to regret it the following season, look no further than Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers for proof.
Player of the year — Alexis Sanchez: The Arsenal forward’s tenacity makes him the heartbeat of a side that oozes attacking flair and also looks to finally have secured the missing piece of the puzzle in a world-class goalkeeper.
Player to watch
Andre Ayew — The son of African legend Abidi Pele was a crowd favourite at French giants Marseille, scoring 44 goals in an eight-year stay at Stade Velodrome. The Ghanaian’s pace, passing and trickery will fit perfectly into Swansea’s attacking system.
Top scorer
Wayne Rooney — With Robin van Persie sold and more-than adequate central midfielders acquired in the summer, Rooney, left, will again be restored as the focal point of the United attack. The England striker is just 19 goals shy of Bobby Charlton’s record haul of 249 goals for the club, and a target of 20 league goals this term doesn’t seem unreasonable.
JON TURNER — Online sports editor
Champions
Chelsea — They may not be setting the transfer market alight like their rivals, but were so superior last season that we can expect more of the same. A settled and talented squad led by the best manager in the league, with the invaluable experience of being champions. Stocked with match-winners all over the pitch, and in Eden Hazard possess arguably the finest player in the division.
Top four
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United
Relegation
Watford, Bournemouth, Aston Villa — Two of the promoted sides traditionally struggle, while Aston Villa are in for a tough season following the departures of captain Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke — their only regular source of goals.
Underachievers
Tottenham — Relied so heavily on Harry Kane for goals and last minute winners for points last season, their luck may run out this time around. A drop outside of the top six for a club striving to challenge the top four will be considered a failure.
Surprise team
Newcastle — Endured a torrid end to last season and optimism is low under new manager Steve McClaren. But if Papiss Cisse can get firing and Remy Cabella display the talent he only showed in glimpses last season, they can prove the doubters wrong. A solid mid-table finish will be a welcome surprise on the Tyne.
Player of the year
Eden Hazard — Goals, assists, pace, intelligence, a great attitude — the Belgian has it all. Was head and shoulders above his contemporaries last season and he’s only going to get better.
Player to watch
Roberto Firmino — Arrives at Liverpool with a hefty price tag and a great deal of hope placed on his shoulders. Liverpool fans are excited, but not a great deal is known about the Brazilian. If Firmino, left, starts well, Liverpool could be in for a good year. Start slowly and Brendan Rodgers may just be looking over his shoulder.
Top scorer
Diego Costa — Disrupted by hamstring injuries and still scored 20 league goals in his debut season. A year older, a year wiser, Costa will be even more deadly this season.
RICHARD JOLLY — Premier League correspondent
Champions
Chelsea — Still the most relentless and ruthless side in the division and definitely the hardest to beat.
Top four
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United.
Relegation
Leicester, Bournemouth, Norwich — Two promoted clubs went straight back down last season and history could repeat itself. Managerial upheaval might cost Leicester.
Underachievers
Southampton — Their rise has to halt at some point. The combination of three key departures and Europa League exertions mean it may be now.
Surprise team
Crystal Palace — Have greater class with Cabaye’s arrival. Pardew could take them into the top eight.
Player of the year
Alexis Sanchez — Superb in his debut season in England, but could be still better in his second year.
Player to watch
Memphis Depay — Potential in abundance, but also pedigree after his exploits for Holland and PSV Eindhoven. In the long term, Depay, left, may prove Louis van Gaal’s best United signing.
Top scorer
Sergio Aguero — The best finisher in the country. If he can stay fit, he can retain the Golden Boot.
THOMAS WOODS — Deputy editor
Champions
Chelsea — It’s hard to look past Chelsea — superb defence, two of the league’s most creative midfielders in Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard and the managerial guile of Jose Mourinho. But the title race will be much tighter this season and if Hazard were to miss extended time through injury, Chelsea could easily falter.
Top four
Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal
Relegation
Sunderland, Norwich, Bournemouth — Sunderland were a mess last season and their squad lacks depth and quality. And, out of the three promoted sides, Watford have the better attacking options and are more likely to stay up.
Underachievers
Liverpool — Struggled to cope with the loss of their best player last season in Luis Suarez. This time they have seen their best player — Raheem Sterling — and their captain — Steven Gerrard — leave. Add to that a questionable defence, an injury-prone Daniel Sturridge and a host of new signings who need to bed in. Champions League football is out of their reach.
Surprise team
Stoke — Mark Hughes’ best managerial days were at Blackburn where he got the best out of a limited squad of players. His Stoke squad have more experience and potential and should pick up where they left off from a fine second half to last season.
Player of the year
Wayne Rooney — Manchester United have made some impressive moves in the transfer market and it looks like they will set up to play 4-3-3, with Rooney as the central striker. Everything is in place for him to have a vintage 20-goal-plus season (something he has achieved just twice) and help United finish second.
Player to watch
Yannick Bolasie — Few players have the ability to turn defenders inside out like Bolasie, left. The Congolese winger was brilliant for Palace in the second half of last season and Alan Pardew has nurtured a confident squad that will give him the chance to shine again
Top scorer
Diego Costa — It’s Sergio Aguero v Costa for top scorer and this prediction is based on the fact that Chelsea will likely always play 4-5-1, with Costa as the focus, and the belief he will go through the season injury-free.
GRAHAM CAYGILL — Senior sports editor
Champions
Chelsea — The dominant force of last season and the eight-point gap to second-placed Manchester City flattered Manuel Pellegrini’s men as Chelsea noticeably eased up in the closing months of the campaign. Though they have not spent much on reinforcement, they still have the best defence in the league and in Diego Costa and Eden Hazard should still have the goal power to prove too good for the rest of their challengers.
Top four
Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal
Relegation
Sunderland, Bournemouth and Aston Villa — Sunderland have dodged relegation bullets the past two seasons and their luck surely cannot go on. Concerns over Bournemouth’s defence make them the biggest worry of the promoted sides, and with Aston Villa going into the season without the goals of Christian Benteke to get them out of trouble I really fear for their survival chances.
Underachievers
Swansea City — Garry Monk’s side did superbly well to get eighth last season, but it is very difficult to see them doing that again, and they will need some more heroics from dead ball situations from Gylfi Sigurdsson for them to be close to the top half of the table.
Surprise team
Crystal Palace — The form side of the second half of 2014/15 can kick on and do even better under Alan Pardew. They already have power and pace in Yannick Bolasie, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha, but the acquisition of midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who knows Pardew from their Newcastle days, could prove to be the signing of the season.
Player of the year
Alexis Sanchez — Was sensational for Arsenal last season and there’s no reason why the Chilean will not repeat that form and be central to Arsenal’s hopes of challenging for the title.
Player to watch
Troy Deeney — Watford’s captain has managed 20 or more goals in the Championship in the past three seasons, but his hold-up play and strength on the ball makes him vital to the promoted side. Whether he can follow in the footsteps of players such as Rickie Lambert, Danny Ings and Charlie Austin by making the step up and still finding the net regularly could well define if the Hertfordshire side’s return to the top flight is a short one or not.
Top scorer
Sergio Aguero — The best all-round striker in the league. If Aguero, left, stays fit he will find the net regularly and if he plays 30 games mark him down for at least 20 goals, if not more.
JOHN MCAULEY — Reporter
Champions
Chelsea — The league’s best defence, its best striker and its best player, plus its best manager. There’s not much more to say. With no obvious weaknesses, the champions are simply too good for their rivals.
Top four
Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal
Relegation
Norwich, Bournemouth, Leicester City — The absence of a top-quality striker will hurt the two new boys (Norwich’s Cameron Jerome has already proved he’s not quite Premier League class). Leicester responded brilliantly late last season to secure survival, but can they do it for a second successive campaign? Doubtful.
Underachievers
Everton — Granted, underachieved last season to finish 11th, but given their recent history and squad, they should be guaranteed challengers for a Europa League place. Fifth place in 2013/14 was a truer reflection of their talent, but last season Martinez looked out of his depth. Will struggle again to make top seven.
Surprise team
Crystal Palace — An exceptional second half to last season sealed a top-half finish and they have burnished the squad since. Yohan Cabaye is an excellent signing and Patrick Bamford promises much. Retaining Yannick Bolasie is key, but Palace have been galvanised by Alan Pardew. Another top-half run.
Player of the year
Eden Hazard — Deservedly voted the league’s best player last season, with 14 goals scored and 10 assists registered. At 24, there’s still more to come from the Belgian, left, whose ability to decide matches increases by the season. Great attitude, too.
Player to watch
Memphis Depay — Excelled at last summer’s World Cup and then followed it with a superb season at PSV Eindhoven. Has pace, exquisite dribbling skills and a fierce shot. Carries a real goal threat — especially from free-kicks — and already knows Louis van Gaal well.
Top scorer
Diego Costa — Scored 20 goals during his debut campaign last season despite playing only 26 matches. Strong and combative, he’s perfectly suited to Premier League. If he took Chelsea’s penalties he would run away with the Golden Boot.
JONATHAN RAYMOND — Online sports editor
Champions
Arsenal — Chelsea rightly won the title last season, but despite their 12 point advantage on Arsenal they were only plus-6 in goal difference on Arsene Wenger’s side. The gap is closer than last year’s table suggested. Wenger’s only made one significant move this summer, signing Petr Cech, and I agree with the implication: He’s got enough quality in the squad right now to let continuity do its work.
Top four
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City
Relegation
Sunderland, Norwich, Aston Villa — Only one club has finished bottom four in both goal difference and goals scored two years running and survived the drop, and that club just sold Christian Benteke to Liverpool. Sunderland, meanwhile, aren’t demonstrably more talented than Watford or Bournemouth, both of whom will surprise.
Underachievers
Tottenham — Spurs have scraped their way into the near-elite two successive seasons despite allowing 104 goals in that timespan. Toby Alderweireld is a credible improvement in that department, but if the idea is to challenge for the top four, the battle they figure to have with Swansea and Stoke and Southampton, rather than Arsenal and United and Chelsea, will be a disappointment.
Surprise team
Crystal Palace — For fun, take Palace’s 32 of a possible 57 points and plus-6 goal difference in the second half under Alan Pardew and project it over a full season, and you basically get Tottenham last year. Projecting doesn’t work that easy in the real world, of course, but adding Yohan Cabaye was a coup and enough quality is there throughout the rest of the team to compete for the Europa League places.
Player of the year
Alexis Sanchez — If Arsenal do wind up winning the title, it will almost certainly be thanks to Sanchez. His 16 goals and eight assists last season were just scratching the surface of what his ability could produce with more link-up from, say, a healthy Mesut Ozil.
Player to watch
Kelechi Iheanacho — With Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic on the outs, it looks time for the Nigerian 18-year-old to graduate into City's first team. Action may be hard to come by at first, behind Sergio Aguero and Wilfried Bony, but if he gets his chance — well, just watch his pre-season goal against Roma. It's easy to dismiss, but it's also the kind of mature subtlety that suggests he's ready.
Top scorer
Diego Costa — Health permitting — admittedly a dangerous thing to take for granted, given his recent history — Costa, left, is simply the most ruthless and prolific finisher in the Premier League.
