Guardian writers on the teams, players and managers to watch this year – and the things they are dreading the most

Premier League 2013-14: our writers' predictions for the new season

LEAGUE WINNERS

Michael Cox Manuel Pellegrini is an extremely intelligent manager, and Manchester City's transfer business has been excellent – not only have they recruited well, they've recruited early.

Dominic Fifield If Chelsea can secure another high-quality striker before the deadline then they could stamp some authority on the division, particularly with José Mourinho back in the English game. If not, Manchester City's quiet but impressive summer business may give them the edge.

Andy Hunter Manchester City. Bought well, appointed well and with Roberto Mancini gone a rich, experienced squad can go some way to suggesting that a managerial rift was behind last season's regression.

David Hytner Manchester United. It feels unfashionable to tip the defending champions but they were comfortably the best team last season, their squad remains virtually the same and have their rivals really caught up?

Jamie Jackson Chelsea. José Mourinho's got the Premier League winning T-shirt. No wonder Manchester United won't sell Wayne Rooney to him.

Amy Lawrence Eeny meeny miny Chelsea.

Scott Murray Manchester United are in situ and, retirement of the big man apart, have done the least amount of shoogling around.

Jacob Steinberg While Chelsea have failed to rectify a few weaknesses, a young side of outstanding potential could blossom under José Mourinho. His experience of winning trophies could be crucial against David Moyes and Manuel Pellegrini.

Daniel Taylor Manchester City. Really hard to call this season but they have had a good summer and, man for man, have the best squad.

Louise Taylor Tottenham. Europa League involvement and the potential loss of Gareth Bale are worries but Roberto Soldado and Paulinho look excellent signings and AVB is a class coach.

Paul Wilson I'm sticking with Manchester City over Chelsea, even though there is plenty of time for Wayne Rooney to switch clubs and make a real difference. Whatever Rooney ends up doing, one can't help but feel Manchester United will miss him.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

MC Juan Mata will come close if José Mourinho gives him creative freedom – if not, I think this could be Sergio Agüero's year, barring injury.

DF Eden Hazard excelled over the second half of last season in particular and, having adjusted to the rigours of this league, should add more goals and assists to his armoury this time round.

AH Luis Suárez. Picks up his bottom lip, returns from suspension and inspires a Champions League push to attract interest from Barcelona or Real Madrid. But at which club?

DH Robin van Persie. The Dutchman is at the peak of his powers and, if he stays fit, he is a certainty to thrill and score goals.

JJ If he stays injury free, expect Jack Wilshere to tune up nicely for the World Cup, with his opening act ensuring England qualify.

AL Tempting to predict a tale of the unexpected: a José Mourinho-fuelled Fernando Torres or (whisper it) Luis Suárez ... I'll go for second season Eden Hazard.

SM Wayne Rooney … no, Robin van Persie.

JS I would say Gareth Bale but he may not be here by the end of the transfer window. Eden Hazard, then. He was in terrifying form by the end of last season.

DT Robin van Persie. Started the season just as he finished the last one: scoring goals. But I think Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool will be close.

LT Hatem Ben Arfa. Providing he stays fit, Ben Arfa belongs on a different planet to most mortals. Capable of eclipsing Rooney, Bale and even Suárez.

PW Where is Luis Suárez when you need him? How soon will we know whether Gareth Bale will be available? Someone at City or Chelsea would be a safer bet, maybe Fernandinho or Eden Hazard.

SIGNING OF THE SUMMER

MC Ricky van Wolfswinkel is the bigger name, but Leroy Fer may adapt more easily to English football at Norwich.

DF Paulinho's arrival at Tottenham, even at £17m, still feels like a coup given the calibre of sides that had pursued the Brazilian at Corinthians.

AH Roberto Soldado. The striker who can take Tottenham back into the Champions League and enhance André Villas-Boas's reputation in English football in the process.

DH Jesús Navas. The winger was an expensive acquisition from Sevilla but with his pace and skill, he will be a game-changer.

JJ Jesús Navas. Two years ago Manchester City won the title with scant pace, what may they do having acquired a Spanish speedster who brings "extra dimension" to mind?

AL Stevan Jovetic. What's not to look forward to in the shape of pure Balkan technique?

SM Wilfried Bony, the Michu de nos jours.

JS Roberto Soldado will show Emmanuel Adebayor what's up.

DT Nicolas Anelka. He's 34 now but he's looked sharp in pre-season, he's a free transfer and West Brom need a goalscorer without Romelu Lukaku and, probably, Peter Odemwingie.

LT Paulinho. A sort of Brazilian Frank Lampard, his ability to score freely from midfield promises to transform Spurs.

PW City seem to have made some good ones, but this is getting boring. People will start to talk. Let's say Gerard Deulofeu at Everton or Roberto Soldado at Spurs.

YOUNG PLAYER TO WATCH

MC Everton's Ross Barkley impressed me last season, and Roberto Martínez may give the imposing midfielder more playing time.

DF Jonathan Williams of Crystal Palace and Wales. He may only initially gain opportunities in cameos from the bench, but he is skilful, energetic and the next home grown talent to catch the eye at Selhurst Park.

AH Philippe Coutinho. Brendan Rodgers was talking tactically when he described the gifted Brazilian as "an 11 and a half" but that could have been his mark out of 10 at times last season.

DH Gedion Zelalem. The Arsenal midfielder is only 16 and he may only play in the Capital One Cup this season but his balance, technique and vision, which were evident during pre-season, mark him out as a special talent.

JJ Wilfried Zaha. Manchester United's new wingman loves a quick shoe shuffle and a cheeky step-over so stay tuned to see if he is a hit or a flop.

AL Philippe Coutinho. Glimpses of brilliance during his first six months at Liverpool, not described as the Brazilian Beardsley for nothing.

SM Jordan Ibe. One league game for Liverpool, one assist, the bizarro Stewart Downing.

JS Jonathan Williams – or Joniesta, as they call him at Crystal Palace – is tremendous and it turns out that West Ham's Ravel Morrison is very good at football. But I'm most excited by Gerard Deulofeu, a 19-year-old on loan at Everton from Barcelona. Quite the coup.

DT Ravel Morrison at West Ham. A gamble, perhaps, but probably should be in England's Under-21s already. He's had an impressive pre-season and showing new signs of maturity.

LT Philippe Coutinho. Still only 21, the Brazil and former Internazionale midfielder possesses the touch and vision to help restore Liverpool to prominence.

PW Gerard Deulofeu at Everton, Iago Aspas at Liverpool and Marc Muniesa at Stoke. In the latter's case, swapping Barcelona for the Britannia Stadium may be quite an eye-opener.

MANAGER TO WATCH

MC I found myself actively cheering on Aston Villa last season – Paul Lambert's focus upon youth is fascinating, and I hope he succeeds.

DF Mauricio Pochettino made such a positive impression over the latter part of last season, with a first full campaign in charge a new kind of challenge at a progressive and impressive club.

AH David Moyes. He's taken on the hardest job in English football, faces a gruelling start and will get no credit for grinding out wins. But he can deliver if he, and United, adapt to different expectations.

DH Paolo Di Canio. The Italian's zero tolerance quest to stamp his professionalism on the Sunderland dressing room is admirable and entertaining. His project has entered the next phase, after a busy summer on the market. There will be fireworks.

JJ David Moyes. The season's top story is how the Scot attempts the surely Sisyphean task of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson as the United manager.

AL Observing whether David Moyes can stride in those enormous boots is obvious but essential viewing. More from Michael Laudrup and Paolo Di Canio is also intriguing.

SM Arsène Wenger, for the masterclass in dignity he'll deliver when silverware yet again evades Arsenal, and folk have once more forgotten what a good man has done for them.

JS Everton may be a bit more chaotic defensively under Roberto Martínez but this is a man who won the FA Cup with Wigan. Wigan! And, so far, he's hung on to Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines.

DT Michael Laudrup. Apologies to all Swans, but another good season and it's easy to see him being lured to a bigger club.

LT Paolo Di Canio. The self-styled "revolutionary" is clever enough to confound his many critics and lead a reborn Sunderland into the top 10.

PW It has to be David Moyes, doesn't it? No one has a bigger job on his hands, and that includes José Mourinho and Arsène Wenger. Roberto Martínez is going to be interesting, one way or the other, at Everton, while it will not escape anyone's attention for very long that Ian Holloway is back.

RELEGATION CANDIDATES

MC Crystal Palace don't look to have the squad, Hull will struggle without further signings and I fear Paolo Di Canio's excellent short-term impact at Sunderland won't work over 38 games.

DF Sunderland, Norwich and Hull.

AH Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Stoke.

DH Crystal Palace, Hull and Cardiff. Sorry to be unoriginal but the more established 17 clubs have got that bit more.

AL Crystal Palace, Cardiff could struggle to do a Swansea, and could Mark Hughes's Stoke possibly get bogged down?

JJ Hull, West Brom and Stoke.

SM It would be lovely to see the Redbirds of Cardiff and Tigers O'Hull go down in ignominy, scrap the rebranding nonsense, finally show their fans some goddamn respect, then bounce back for a dignified, and thoroughly successful, tilt at the big league. A morality play for our times, that'd be.

JS I'd like Crystal Palace to stay up but I'm not sure if Marouane Chamakh is the man to inspire them. Similarly Hull look green and Mark Hughes has a tough job on his hands at Stoke.

DT Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Hull. However, I'd be worried, too, if I was a Newcastle fan (and to a lesser extent, Fulham, Norwich and Cardiff).

LT Crystal Palace, Hull and Fulham.

PW Fulham, Crystal Palace and Cardiff to go down; Hull, Norwich, Southampton and West Ham to be in the mix at some point.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO

MC A competitive title fight – Italy, Germany, Spain and France have odds-on favourites, but in England there are three teams with a roughly equal chance of triumphing.

DF A genuinely fresh and exciting feel to the elite, with new managers at the helm and the sense that this could be a truly competitive title race between three or four clubs.

DH The unpredictability of Premier League matches and the capacity for coupon-busting surprises. There is no more open top-level championship.

AH Seeing how David Moyes, José Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini adapt to their new (or familiar) surroundings and pressures at the top of the table.

JJ How the top end of the league shakes down as Manchester United's David Moyes, Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini and Chelsea's José Mourinho all take the reins at the big three.

AL We have a World Cup coming in Brazil, which I've looked forward to since they were named hosts in 2007.

SM A bench-emptying brawl in one of the big games, featuring a few clattering haymakers. It's statistically overdue by about two decades, and no I can't be bothered with pious handwringing, and yes I do miss George Graham's Arsenal.

JS Seeing if Ravel Morrison can build on the promise he's shown in pre-season. The boy can play.

DT Seeing who José Mourinho falls out with first. No way am I accepting this "mellow Mourinho" stuff (my money's on David Moyes, by the way).

LT Alan Pardew hopefully switching Newcastle's brilliant Italy international Davide Santon from left-back to his more natural right-back role.

PW An actual Premier League football game, and an end to players holding clubs to ransom over clauses in their own contracts. More 5.30pm kick-offs in South Wales.

LEAST LOOKING FORWARD TO

MC José Mourinho's usual antics. He's a fascinating, enormously successful coach, but his behaviour is often completely inexcusable.

DF The constant shots of Sir Alex Ferguson sitting grim-faced in the directors' box at Old Trafford whenever Manchester United concede a goal. Or enter stoppage time not ahead.

AH The inevitable "I was misquoted, I've always loved Liverpool" interview from Luis Suárez.

DH The remainder of the summer transfer window and the January transfer window. Please, somebody, make it stop.

JJ A season of hearing what astute pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher are as they discourse on everything from false nines to life beyond the galaxy.

AL Fawning grown up men blushing at the mere presence of José Mourinho.

SM The inevitable stuck-pig whining when it becomes apparent that refereeing technology causes more arguments than it settles. Mistakes are a part of life, adults learn to deal with them.

JS People being OFFENDED by the ISSUES.

DT The Football Association's now-annual "England awards" night if the team don't qualify for the World Cup. Love a party with a happy atmosphere.

LT An almost inevitable clash between Alan Pardew and his, er controversial, director of football, Joe Kinnear at Newcastle.

PW The fallout and blame-game should England fail to qualify for the World Cup. Or if they qualify and then look as terrible in Brazil as they did in South Africa. Rio Ferdinand has a point about the national set-up – even the good players don't look as if they enjoy it any more.

1) Chelsea

2) Manchester City

3) Manchester United

4) Tottenham Hotspur

5) Arsenal

6) Liverpool

7) Swansea City

8) Everton

9) West Bromwich Albion

10) Aston Villa

11) West Ham United

12) Newcastle United

13) Fulham

14) Southampton

15) Norwich City

16) Sunderland

17) Stoke City

18) Cardiff City

19) Crystal Palace

20) Hull City