Analysing All 20 EPL Teams Ahead of the New Season

The new English Premier League season starts this weekend. Which teams are in good shape for the year ahead and who could be facing the drop next May?

With millions of pounds spent across the board, each team will be hoping to improve on last season's position while new boys Swansea, Norwich and QPR will just be hoping to survive. Manchester United hope to retain the title while their neighbours Manchester City hope to finally take the crown back to the other side of Manchester.

Swansea City

Manager: Brendan Rodgers 

Prediction: 20th 

Key Player: Danny Graham

Hot Prospect: Scott Sinclair 

Strength: Attacking playing style

Weakness: Lack of major signings 

Verdict: Wales will finally be represented in the top flight this season but Swansea face an uphill task to stay in the league. Financial constraints have meant there hasn't been a real eye-catching signing yet.

Danny Graham, signed for £3.5 million from Watford, will be expected to score the goals while Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer will be tested to see if they can cut it at the highest level. Expect some good football, but it's hard to see them staying up this year.

Wigan Athletic

Manager: Robert Martinez 

Prediction: 19th 

Key Player: Hugo Rodallega 

Hot Prospect: Victor Moses 

Strength : Central midfield

Weakness: Defence

Verdict: Wigan have flirted with relegation for the past two seasons and this year could be the year that they finally go down. After surviving on the final day of last season, they did manage to keep hold of manager Roberto Martinez in the summer.

However they have lost key attacking man Charles N'Zogbia and look like candidates for the drop next May. Their survival will fall on Hugo Rodallega scoring the goals and the continued emergence of strong midfielder James McArthur. Victor Moses could also rise as a key player this season, who could fill in for the departure of N'Zogbia to Aston Villa.

Norwich City

Manager: Paul Lambert

Prediction: 18th

Key Player: Grant Holt

Hot Prospect: James Vaughan

Strength: Team unity

Weakness: Premier League quality

Verdict: Paul Lambert has done a remarkable job just to lead Norwich to the Premiership, but despite the team's spirit and belief, keeping them there will be a far greater achievement.

Blackpool couldn't quite manage it, but if Norwich can make it work we could see them stay up. Top goal scorer Grant Holt will be key, and shrewd new signings such as Bradley Johnson from Leeds and James Vaughan from Everton could be key as well. The Canaries face an uphill battle but if it all goes right, they could well stay up.

Queens Park Rangers

Manager: Neil Warnock

Prediction: 17th

Key Player: Adel Taarabt

Hot Prospect: Adel Taarabt

Strength: Strong strike force

Weakness: Lack of signings

Verdict: QPR have the best chance of any of the promoted sides to stay up. If Adel Taarabt can play at Premier League level then Rangers have a real quality asset to their side.

Goals should come from Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell with a good backup in Rob Hulse. Kieron Dyer could be an interesting signing if he remains fit and can regain form. Expect a few extra signings before the window closes, as there hasn't been a great deal of money spent since the team's promotion.

Blackburn Rovers

Manager: Steve Kean 

Prediction: 16th 

Key Player: David Dunn

Hot Prospect: Mauro Formica

Strengths: Experience throughout

Weakness: Quality strikers

Verdict: It could be a tough season for Rovers, with another relegation fight looming. The sale of Phil Jones has seen them lose their brightest talent and Nikola Kalinic is also soon to be leaving, meaning that Blackburn are severely down on fire power up front.

Much will depend on the usual backbone of the Rovers squad: Brett Emerton, David Dunn and Ryan Nelson. More signings will be needed to bolster their attack, as it is hard to see new signing David Goodwille becoming an instant Premier League success. A long season could be ahead for Steve Kean.

Newcastle United

Manager: Alan Pardew

Prediction: 15th

Key Player: Haten Ben Arfa

Hot Prospect: Dan Gosling

Strength: Some shrewd new signings

Weakness: Lack of unity

Verdict: It's difficult to predict where Newcastle will end up this season. The departure of Andy Carroll and probable soon departures of Jose Enrique and Joey Barton have left fans and players unhappy at the club.

That being said, the side isn't lacking quality in other areas. Demba Ba should score on a regular basis and Hatem Ben Arfa will be a threat now that he has returned from injury. Sylvain Marveaux should prove to be an exciting winger and a decent defence still remains. Still, Newcastle is never without controversy and it is hard to see them having a better than average season.

West Brom

Manager: Roy Hodgson 

Prediction: 14th

Key Player: Graham Dorrans

Hot Prospect: Craig Dawson

Strengths: Squad depth and manager

Weakness: Star players

Verdict: Roy Hodgson salvaged his reputation by leading West Brom to safety last season and it can be expected that he will do the same again this year. Ben Foster is a good loan signing from Birmingham and Shane Long will be expected to score regularly upfront. It's been an unspectacular summer at the Hawthornes, but expect to see West Brom easily avoid relegation next May.   

Fulham

Manager: Martin Jol

Prediction: 13th

Key Player: Bobby Zamora

Hot Prospect: Lauri Dalla Valle

Strength: Same squad that finished eighth last term

Weakness: Lack of new signings

Verdict: With Martin Jol in to replace Mark Hughes, Fulham have a manager capable of continuing last season's success. However, the squad appears to lack depth and having a Europa League campaign to contend with will not help.\

Nonetheless, there is enough quality in the side to keep them easily in the Premier League and guide them through at least the opening rounds in Europe. Bobby Zamora will be there to score the goals, with Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey being key men once again in the midfield. Expect a decent season for the Cottagers.  

Wolves

Manager: Mick McCarthy

Prediction: 12th

Key Player: Matt Jarvis

Hot Prospect: Sam Vokes

Strengths: Strong new signings

Weakness: Goalkeeper

Verdict: Wolves have been involved in titanic relegation fights the past two seasons, but this year they surely should safely avoid the drop. Jamie O'Hara should prove to be a good buy in central midfield and Roger Johnson is a fantastic addition to the defence. Matt Jarvis will hope to continue his good form from last year with Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher providing the goals up front. It could well be Wolves' strongest performance yet in the Premier League since their promotion.  

Bolton

Manager: Owen Coyle

Prediction: 11th

Key Player: Gary Cahill

Hot Prospect: Marcos Alonso

Strengths: Manager

Weakness: Loss of key players

Verdict: Owen Coyle has a tough season ahead to put Bolton any higher than mid-table. Daniel Sturridge has returned to Chelsea after being on loan last season and Johan Elmander has been sold. This leaves a lot riding on the shoulders of Kevin Davies to score the goals.

Injuries to Chung Yong Lee and Tyrone Mears will also dent Bolton's chances in the season ahead. The team will now rely heavily on star men such as Gary Cahill and new signing Chris Eagles. Bolton shouldn't worry about relegation, but they may be in for an average season at best.

Aston Villa

Manager: Alex McLeish 

Prediction: 10th

Key Player: Darren Bent

Hot Prospect: Marc Albrighton

Strengths: Young talent

Weakness: Key players sold

Verdict: Alex McLeish will have to rely heavily on young talent this season after the departures of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young. Marc Albrighton will be hoping to continue his rise to the top and Ciaran Clark will be hoping for more first-team opportunities at the back.

Darren Bent's goals will be vital and Gabriel Agbonlahor and Charles N'Zogbia will be expected to put in some top displays. Villa have the talent in their squad to have a good crack at the top 10 this year, and a good cup run should be in the cards as McLeish tackles his first year as Villa's boss.

Stoke City

Manager: Tony Pulis

Prediction: 9th

Key Player: Jonathan Woodgate (if he can remain fit)

Hot Prospect: Ryan Shawcross

Strengths: Home form

Weakness: Just one signing so far

Verdict: Tony Pulis can be very proud of the job he has done at Stoke City and this year should bring another success story. New signing Jonathan Woodgate has been strong in preseason and more signings are expected. Peter Crouch is reportedly one target, who could fit in nicely at the Brittania.

If they can keep their strikers fit and maintain their strong defensive backbone, expect Stoke to give breaking into the top 10 a real go this season. Much will hinge on who they sign, but worrying about relegation is a thing of the past for Stoke City.

Sunderland

Manager: Steve Bruce

Prediction: 8th

Key Player: Lee Cattermole

Hot Prospect: Connor Wickham

Strengths: Bold summer transfers

Weakness: Will the new team gel quickly?

Verdict: Steve Bruce completely overhauled his team in the summer with a mass of departures and new signings. After selling Jordan Henderson to Liverpool, a whole raft of new players have been brought in. Signing talented youngster Connor Wickham is a real coup and Manchester United veterans John O'Shea and Wes Brown are real bonuses at the back.

The midfield looks good, too, with Sebastian Larsson, Craig Gardner and David Vaughan all having been brought in by Bruce. If the new team can gel quickly then the aggressive transfer policy should pay off. A chance for Europa League qualification could be possible and don't rule out a decent cup run.

Everton

Manager: David Moyes

Prediction: 7th

Key Player: Phil Jagielka

Hot Prospect: Jack Rodwell

Strengths: Team unity

Weakness: Lack of summer signings

Verdict: It's the same old story for David Moyes heading into the new season. Once again there has been no money for transfers and it is all about hanging on to his prized possessions.

If Phil Jagielka and other top talents stay, then it should be another season just inside the top 10. Jack Rodwell should fulfill his potential this season and we could see other youngsters break through as well. It looks like the same old, same old for Everton, but it's to Moyes' credit that they keep on doing it.  

Tottenham

Manager: Harry Redknapp 

Prediction: 6th

Key Player: Rafael Van Der Vaart

Hot Prospect: Sandro

Strengths: Midfield

Weakness: Lack of top goal-scorers 

Verdict: Spurs need to keep hold of Luka Modric if they are to have any chance of challenging for the Champions League places again this year. Alongside the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Rafael Van Der Vaart, they have a formidable attacking midfield lineup.

However, Redknapp must invest in a new striker to relieve the reliance on goals from midfield. If not, Spurs could well find themselves nowhere near that coveted fourth spot. They have the potential for another strong season but they must invest in quality players or they will find themselves slipping away from the top places.

Arsenal

Manager: Arsene Wenger 

Prediction: 5th

Key Player: Robin Van Persie

Hot Prospect: Alex Oxlade, Chamberlain 

Strength: Young talent

Weakness: Unrest

Verdict: With Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri ready to leave, Arsenal could not be more on the backfoot going into the start of the new season. Gael Clichy has already left, leaving a hole in the defence as well. Should Fabregas and Nasri leave then Wenger will need to invest in world-class talents to fill the holes left by two of his biggest players.

There are also some positives for Wenger. Thomas Vermaelen should be back to his best and Gervinho should prove to be a top signing up front. Jack Wilshere, Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott will be key to their success but for now it seems Arsenal are in no position to keep up with United, City and Chelsea. Once the transfers are done and dusted, we will see if Arsenal are the same side as last season.

Liverpool

Manager: Kenny Daglish 

Prediction: 4th

Key Player: Luis Suarez

Hot Prospect: Jordan Henderson

Strengths: No European football means a squad burnout is unlikely

Weakness: Defensive strength

Verdict: This may be the biggest season in Liverpool’s recent history. Kenny Daglish’s new ranks and new philosophy must bring instant success to the Reds. Daglish’s raft of new signings include Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing. A clear emphasis is being placed on young British talents. Those, along with the likes of Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard mean Liverpool should be a force going forward.

However, defensively, they have been worrying in preseason and new additions are needed. Daglish hopes to bring in Jose Enrique soon and Scott Dann is also a possibility. If the defence is shored up and the attacking potential works then it could be a very successful season at Anfield indeed.

Chelsea

Manager: Andre Villas Boas

Prediction: 3rd

Key Player: Fernando Torres

Hot Prospect: Romelu Lukaku

Strength: Experience

Weakness: Strength in depth

Verdict: Talented young manager Andre Villas Boas has some big expectation ridings on his shoulders for the season ahead. Chelsea must perform in both the league and cup competitions, but is the current squad up to the task?

Older players such as Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole will be key. As will Petr Cech, David Luiz and Didier Drogba. But where Chelsea's season may be won and lost is with record signing Fernando Torres and their young talents. If Villas Boas can get Torres back to his world-class best then Chelsea will be a formidable side.

Young stars like Daniel Sturridge, Romelu Lukaku and Josh McEachran should get a good deal of first-team football this season and so will be expected to show their potential. It's a big season for Chelsea, but it remains to be seen whether they can keep up with the Manchester clubs.

Manchester City

Manager: Roberto Mancini 

Prediction: 2nd

Key Player: David Silva

Hot Prospect: Stefan Savic

Strength: Depth and quality

Weakness: Lack of unity

Verdict: City have once again spent big with new signing Sergio Aguero the standout buy of this summer. The talented Argentine should quickly become a key player. Gael Clichy was also brought in to bolster the defensive ranks, but expect there to be more signings before the end of the window.

David Silva will once again be a key man and Edin Dzeko will have to prove he is worth the price City paid for him in January. Carlos Tevez’s future is uncertain and Mario Balotelli has been under heavy criticism throughout preseason. If Mancini can bring his team together as a unit, then City will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.

Manchester United

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson 

Prediction: 1st

Key Player: Wayne Rooney

Hot Prospect: Tom Cleverly

Strength: Strong replacements for retired players

Weakness: Few weaknesses, but some inexperienced players

 

Verdict: It's hard to look past Manchester United for this season's Premier League crown. Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David De Gea all look like promising new signings and the backbone of the side remains the same. Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez will provide the goals whilst Nemanja Vidic will be imperious at the back like usual.

City have spent big, but it remains to be seen whether they can challenge United for the title. With a blend of old, young and new it seems United are well and truly favourites to take the title once again. Signing Wesley Sneijder before the end of the window would just confirm their tags as probable winners.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! Obviously this list is just predictions and speculation, so any comments on who you think will finish where this season are much appreciated.