EPL Predictions: Power Ranking the 20 Best Strikers Heading Into Season

We have less than a month before the 2011-2012 Premier League season kicks off, and every club is in the thick of preseason training, hoping their team can gel in time for a fast start.

Over 1,000 goals were scored in the Premier League last year, and hopefully there will be plenty more in this coming year.

Let's take a look at who the top 20 strikers are heading into next season. 

Let me know if I've left anyone off or if anyone is out of place.

20. Gervinho

Arsenal's new striker Gervinho lit up the French Ligue the last two seasons with Lille, and his move to North London should only increase his scoring.

He scored two goals in 15 minutes in his debut in a friendly against FC Koln, and Gunners fans can expect that to continue this season. 

19. Carlos Tevez

He may or may not be with Manchester City next season, and that's why Carlos Tevez is so low on the list. 

He's scored 52 total goals in two seasons with City, and he's proven he can score from anywhere on the pitch. 

He just might not be doing it in the Sky Blue much longer. 

18. Fernando Torres

If he can be the Fernando Torres circa 2007-2009 that is. 

Fernando Torres used to be one of the best strikers in world football, and Chelsea is certainly hoping that talent is still in their £50 million man. 

He's finally had a summer off, which could help, but his performances last season don't inspire anything resembling confidence as of yet. 

17. Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka is likely playing his last season with Chelsea, whether Fernando Torres gets his act together or not.

Anelka is 32, but he showed last season he still knows how to shrug off his defenders and put the ball in the back of the net. 

16. Bobby Zamora

Bobby Zamora's season last year was interrupted by injury, and though he rebounded from breaking his leg very well, the real work he put into his rehab will come out this season.

He was a big part of Fulham's ride to the Europa League final in 2010, and Zamora has already opened his account this season with two goals in the 3-0 win over NSI Runavik. 

Fulham will need his goals if they want to stay away from the relegation zone and work their way up the table as well. 

15. Didier Drogba

Like Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba can never be counted out. He had quite the down year last season, and Fernando Torres' being thrown into the mix midway through didn't help anyone.

But after a full preseason together, expect Chelsea's front line to gel and for Drogba to redeem himself and look more like the 2009-2010 Drogba who scored 29 goals in the league. 

14. Hugo Rodallega

If Wigan wants to spend any time away from the relegation zone this season, they'll need Hugo Rodallega to score. 

With Charles N'Zogbia on his way to Aston Villa, a lot of the offensive burden will fall on the Colombian's shoulders, but he's shown he can deliver when needed. 

13. Leon Best

Newcastle lost a huge scoring threat when they sold Andy Carroll to Liverpool, and after signing Demba Ba from West Ham this summer, they seem to be willing to send Leon Best out as well.

Best battled injuries in his first full season with the Magpies, but he still managed six goals in just 10 Premier League starts. 

Newcastle would be smart to hold on to Best a little longer instead of giving up on the 24-year-old so quickly. 

12. Edin Dzeko

Edin Dzeko was a big money signing for Manchester City last January who got off to a slow start. He's just happy Fernando Torres' fee was higher and his start slower. 

But he's prime for a breakout this year. With Carlos Tevez possibly gone and Mario Balotelli not the manager's favorite player, Dzeko should see plenty of time up front for City, and he can certainly score enough to earn his place.  

11. Jermaine Defoe

Jermaine Defoe had a down year last season, especially in the Premier League, and Tottenham needs him to rebound if they want to at least dream about Champions League football. 

He scored his 100th Premier League goal last season, so we know he has it in him. He just needs to keep his hands down. 

10. Darren Bent

Darren bent scored 20 goals last season for Sunderland and Aston Villa, and new Villa manager Alex McLeish wants that form to carry over.

Bent won't have Ashley Young or Stewart Downing feeding him the ball this season. Instead he'll be playing off Charles N'Zogbia. 

Villa had a very disappointing season last year and have lost some key playmakers this summer, and everyone will be looking to Bent to take them back into European places. 

9. Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli is easily the most obnoxious footballer in the game today because of his childish antics and showboating, but he's also a darn good striker.

He could get even more time up front this season if Carlos Tevez leaves, and the only thing holding him back is his attitude. 

8. Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov was on a tear the first half of last season, and despite not starting a whole lot after January, he was still the top Premier League scorer with 20 goals.

He was rumored to be on his way out early this summer, but it looks like he'll be a Red Devil for at least one more year, and he'll have a chip on his shoulder about being benched.

He's an all-around striker who can score from just about anywhere, and he'll need to do plenty of that if he wants to earn his starting spot back.  

7. Peter Odemwingie

Peter Odemwingie's 15 goals last season were a big reason why West Brom stayed in the Premier League and were even flying in the last month. 

Another high-scoring campaign would likely guarantee the Baggies another season in the Premier League, and it could also earn the 30-year-old some looks from Europe-bound clubs. 

6. Asamoah Gyan

Asamoah Gyan could've scored more than 11 goals last year for Sunderland had he not had to battle injuries in the second half. 

With Darren Bent gone, Gyan is Sunderland's biggest scoring threat, and he'll need to do a lot of it if Steve Bruce wants to see his side in the top half of the table or possibly in Europe. 

5. Andy Carroll

Andy Carroll got off to a flying start with Newcastle last season, scoring 11 goals in 19 games and earned himself a mega-transfer to Liverpool in January.

He was fighting injuries on Merseyside an only scored two goals in his first half-season with the Reds, but he's still one of the hottest young strikers in the league. 

The 22-year-old can score from all over the pitch and is strong enough to out-muscle any center-back. He's looking to have a big year with Liverpool. 

4. Javier Hernandez

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez exploded onto the scene with Manchester United last season, scoring 20 goals, 13 in the league.  

He was all over the pitch last year, and with an in-form Wayne Rooney as his partner up front this time around, he can get even better.

He'll likely be in the starting lineup from the first game, and he has all the tools to become one of the top strikers in the Premier League next season.  

3. Robin Van Persie

Robin van Persie could have well over 100 goals for Arsenal by now if he wasn't injured so often. Arsenal may have a few more trophies as well. 

Even with injury struggles, van Persie scored 22 total goals last season, 18 in the league, including scoring in nine straight away league games to finish the season. 

Having Gervinho around takes some of the pressure off van Persie's shoulders, and if he can keep away from the injury table, he can have a huge season for the Gunners. 

2. Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney had a down year last season and still managed 11 goals in the league. His 16 total goals was also his lowest tally in his Manchester United career.

Once he got to the second half of the season, Rooney showed that he can still be counted upon to score the big goals. 

He's already lighting up United's preseason tour of America, and he looks ready for the real games next month.

1. Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez was Liverpool's quiet, deadline-day transfer in January, but he was no doubt the Reds' star in the second half of the season.

He scored four goals for the Reds and showed off all kinds of skill and fancy footwork, and he had all that with him this summer in Argentina as he led Uruguay to the Copa America title. 

No one is in a better run of form than Suarez right now, and next season, he should turn all that trickery and dribbling into plenty of Liverpool goals.