2012-13: The press view

Who'll be lifting the Barclays Premier League trophy in May? Which players should we look out for? And who will Liverpool's star performer be? These are the views of the country's top reporters.

DOMINIC KING, DAILY MAIL

Who'll win league? Manchester City. Winning the championship last season should give them the belief to go on and if they can maintain harmony in the squad, they should repeat the trick. However, I'm expecting Chelsea to push them all the way.

Top four: 1. Manchester City 2. Chelsea 3. Manchester United 4. Arsenal.

Surprise team: Queens Park Rangers. They may have struggled to stay up last season but, with a summer to change his squad, Mark Hughes can get significantly better results. They may be capable of a top 10 finish.

Relegated teams: Norwich, Southampton and Reading.

Liverpool player to watch: Steven Gerrard - might seem a safe choice, given he's won almost everything there is to win during a spectacular 14 years in Liverpool's first team. But to hear him speak during pre-season in Boston, left no illusions that he wants to make up for two seasons that have been ravaged by injury. When he is operating on all cylinders, there is no better midfielder in the business and if he is in form, so are the team.

Player of the year: Vincent Kompany - he was magnificent last season and if City are going to retain their title, the Belgian defender will have an integral role to play again.

TONY BARRETT, THE TIMES

Who'll win league? Manchester United. Had Vidic not suffered a serious knee injury they would have won it last season so now that he's fit again I think they'll be the team to beat. City will have the added confidence of being champions though so it's likely to be a close run thing again.

Top four: The same as last season - United, City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Surprise team: Aston Villa will improve under Paul Lambert and West Brom are likely to play better football now that Roy Hodgson has taken over the national team.

Relegated teams: Wigan Athletic, QPR and Reading.

Liverpool player to watch: Joe Allen. For me he gave the best performance of any opposition player at Anfield last season and I can see him establishing himself as a key player before too long.

Player of the year: Luis Suarez - one of the very best in the world and one who I expect to score a lot more goals this season.

JAMES PEARCE, LIVERPOOL ECHO

Who'll win league? Manchester City. Roberto Mancini boasts the strongest squad in the top flight and the champions will have taken great belief from last season's dramatic triumph on the final day.

Top four: Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool. Competition for a Champions League spot has never been tougher but I fancy Liverpool to force their way back into the top four under Brendan Rodgers this season. The two Manchester clubs will fight it out for the title, while Arsenal have spent wisely this summer and shouldn't be far behind, despite the sizeable loss of Robin van Persie. I'm not convinced by either Chelsea or Tottenham and I expect Liverpool to finish above them and clinch fourth place.

Surprise team: Reading. Manager Brian McDermott has done a fantastic job with the Royals. They produced a stunning run to win the Championship last term and they have sufficient quality to comfortably survive in the top flight.

Relegated teams: Southampton, Swansea, Norwich City.

Liverpool player to watch: Joe Allen. The young midfielder was outstanding for Swansea City last season and he will have a big part to play at Anfield after being reunited with Brendan Rodgers. Allen is so comfortable in possession and is key to the manager's formation.

Player of the Year: Sergio Aguero. The Argentinian striker is a class act. He scored 30 goals in his first season in English football and at 24 his best days are still to come.

DAVID MADDOCK, THE MIRROR

Who'll win league: Though it grieves me to utter the two words: Manchester United.

Top four: United, City, Arsenal, Liverpool.

Surprise team: Stoke.

Relegated teams: West Ham, Wigan, Southampton.

Liverpool player to watch: Fabio Borini.

Player of the year: Luis Suarez.

OLIVER KAY, THE TIMES

Who'll win league? Manchester City.

Top four: Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal. I think Liverpool will progress well under Brendan Rodgers, but top four would be asking for a huge improvement in the first year. It's about rebuilding, not a quick fix.

Surprise team: QPR. I also fancy Reading to stay up.

Relegated teams: I always feel cruel answering this question. Norwich, Swansea, Southampton.

Liverpool player to watch: Luis Suarez. A brilliant, brilliant footballer when he is in top form.

Player of the year: Sergio Aguero. If he scored 23 Premier League goals last season, when he arrived at City just days before it started, think how good he could be now that he knows the league and his team better.

HENRY WINTER, THE TELEGRAPH

Who'll win league? Manchester City.

Top four: 1. Manchester City. 2. Manchester United. 3. Chelsea. 4. Arsenal.

Surprise team: Everton.

Relgated teams: Reading, Southampton, West Brom.

Liverpool player to watch: Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen.

Player of the year: Vincent Kompany.

ANDY HUNTER, THE GUARDIAN

Who'll win league? Manchester United, now they have signed Robin van Persie.

Top four: Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Surprise team: Arsenal - in the sense that they could sustain a genuine title challenge this time out.

Relegated teams: Swansea City, Norwich City and Reading.

Liverpool player to watch: It has to be Luis Suarez. Great to watch when he's on his game and crucial to where Liverpool finish this season.

Player of the year: It would be some story and turnaround if Suarez won it but I'd expect Sergio Aguero, having delivered the title to Manchester City with practically the last kick of last season, to build on his impressive debut season in the Premier League.

PAUL JOYCE, THE EXPRESS

Who'll win league? The signing of Robin van Persie improves further Manchester United's attacking options, but I still have doubts over the strength of their midfield even if Shinji Kagawa looks a good signing. I think it will come down to a straight battle between them and Manchester City. If City recruit a recognised central defender before the transfer window closes then I can see them successfully retaining the title providing the relations between Roberto Mancini and sporting director Brian Marwood do not deteriorate further. Winning the title last season will also help them massively.

Top four: Manchester City, Manchester United and (I'm hedging my bets) two from Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Surprise team: Liverpool! It will be interesting to see how Andre Villas-Boas fares at Tottenham and how Arsenal cope post Robin Van Persie. Chelsea's squad is unbalanced, too many attackers and not enough defensive minded players, and I think the first sign of a setback will leave Roberto di Matteo under pressure. It is asking a lot given the changes that have taken place, but If Liverpool can do everything perfectly, and take advantage of troubles elsewhere, then they could get back in the top four which would surprise many.

Relegated teams: Tony Pulis has done a great job at Stoke, but I think they could struggle this season and find themselves in a battle for survival. They will hope that Norwich, Reading and Swansea, without Brendan Rodgers, are weaker.

Liverpool player to watch:

Joe Allen is obviously central to everything Brendan Rodgers wants to achieve and his energy and intelligence will quickly prove what an astute signing he is.

Player of the year: Luis Suarez. A magician and the season where his talents are fully appreciated outside of Merseyside. FC Gomel weren't the strongest team Liverpool will face over the coming months, but his performance against them in the Europa League qualifier bodes well. Suarez's nutmeg on the defender in the first-half was just brilliant.

GUILLEM BALAGUE, SKY SPORTS

Who'll win league? Manchester City. They just score more goals than anyone else and I can see them being even better this season.

Top four: Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and fingers crossed, Liverpool.

Surprise team: Liverpool. This is a new era and a new project under Brendan Rodgers. I think they could do well and hopefully as I say, finish in the top-four.

Relegated teams: QPR, Norwich and Southampton.

Liverpool player to watch: Fabio Borini. I'm looking forward to seeing him in action as he's a good footballer with a good football brain.

Player of the season: David Silva. Just a class act.