Premier League predictions: Who will raise the trophy in May?

For some teams, the Premier League is about fighting for survival. For others, it’s about achieving stability and trying to establish an international presence. But for a select few, it’s about going all the way.
It would be nice to come out against the grain with a wild card pick or two. It would be nice if the richest teams weren't always favorites to win. 
But the Premier League doesn't really do surprises, not at this level anyway. Which makes it very difficult to argue against anything other than a top four comprising two teams from Manchester and two from London.
It’s really just a matter of waiting to see what order the cards fall. So here now are FC Yahoo’s picks for the teams that will qualify for the Champions League and the team that will lift the Premier League trophy next May.

4. Manchester United
Man United has made more interesting moves in the summer transfer market than just about anyone. Louis van Gaal’s team has on-boarded top talent like Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Memphis Depay. And the transfer dealings may not be done, with Pedro’s arrival from Barcelona rumored to be imminent. While these are the kind of encouraging signings United fans want to see, the challenge for Van Gaal will be transforming them into a cohesive unit.

Also, United still lacks a recognized, top-level striker. Barring any further signings, that duty will likely fall to Wayne Rooney. Even at 29, Rooney is capable of holding it up as a striker, but for a club of United’s ambitions, not having a top-class goal-getter is worrying. Especially considering that, unlike last season, Van Gaal’s squad must contend with Champions League soccer this time around.
Then there’s the question of David De Gea, the one player who was arguably the club’s biggest difference maker last season. In the event thatReal Madrid does succeed in its pursuit of De Gea, the signing of Argentina keeper Sergio Romeroat least provides reasonable cover. Still, all signs indicate that United is heading back toward the apex of English soccer. It just may require another season or two to get there.

3. Manchester City
Last season, Man City had a suspect defense and a number of key players who looked past their prime. Vincent Kompany was nowhere near his best and it remains to be seen whether the Belgian can form an effective center-back partnership with Eliaquim Mangala. Back-to-back preseason losses to Real Madrid (4-1) and Stuttgart (4-2) indicate that City’s defensive issues haven’t really been addressed. So it’s troubling that despite all of this, manager Manuel Pellegrini hasn’t brought in any defensive reinforcements.

What the Citizens do have going for them is the best striker in the Premier League in Sergio Aguero and the league's best young talent in Raheem Sterling. While the 20-year-old Sterling still has some convincing to do in terms ofjustifying his $76 million price tag, he looks the perfect addition, with his youth and pace, to a side that’s lacked those very qualities recently.
Even though City remains one of the best attacking sides in Europe, defense wins championships. And unless Pellegrini overhauls his backline before the transfer window closes, City is likely to fall short again and the Chilean manager is unlikely to be in charge this time next year. Especially with the growing rumblings emerging from Munich about Pep Guardiola growing restless.

2. Arsenal
While Arsenal fans are still crying for a top-level striker and a defensive midfielder, the Gunners have possibly already made their signing of the summer in Petr Cech. The veteran goalkeeper seems to have brought a new sense of stability at the back that was apparent in Arsenal’s 1-0 Community Shield victory over Chelsea. In that game, the Gunners showed a willingness to curb their attacking tendencies and manage out a lead that would have seemed beyond them a season or two ago.

But for Arsenal to truly challenge for the title, it needs to be more consistent. A further signing or two may also be required. Francis Coquelin has admittedly been a revelation since being recalled from Charlton. But if he were to get injured, the situation gets desperately thin behind him at defenive mid. And injuries always seem to be in the frame where Arsenal is concerned. A ball has not yet even been kicked and already Jack Wilshire has been sidelined by a hairline fracture of his left leg.
For a third offseason in a row, the Gunners have added a big player rather than losing one. This has helped bring about a sense of stability and confidence that were missing for several years following the club’s move from Highbury to the Emirates. They now have a balanced, talented squad boasting world-class stars like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, and homegrown talents like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott. If Arsenal does manage to sign a striker a cut or two above Olivier Giroud, and some cover for Coquelin before the window closes, it might just spring a surprise. Otherwise, Arsene Wenger’s men are likely to fall just short again.

1. Chelsea
To understand why Chelsea is already the overwhelming favorite to retain the title is to understand the way Jose Mourinho’s side so utterly dominated the Premier League last season. Before the holidays, Chelsea was the most dynamically attacking team in the league. After the holidays, it was the most solid defensively. Put it all together, and the word "relentless" comes to mind. It may not always be exciting, but Mourinho’s Blues just seem to get it done.

If there is a weakness, it’s that once you get past Diego Costa, Chelsea’s other options at striker are not all that convincing. Loic Remy had a couple of prolific seasons in France but has only hit double-digits in goals once in the Premier League. And it remains to be seen whether Radamel Falcao can get his mojo back. With Costa reported to still be struggling with last season’s niggling hamstring, the Blues could find themselves overly reliant on midfield goals again. Although when your midfield contains Eden Hazard, the best player in the Premier League last season, that’s not the worst position to be in.
While they’ve been relatively quiet on the transfer market, the champions are still intent on signing John Stones from Everton as an eventual successor to John Terry. But even without Stones, Chelsea has more depth in defense than any of its rivals. If Costa gets injured and Plan A to be the best attacking side in England falls through, Mourinho can simply revert to Plan B and become the best defensive side. Either way, at this point, the Premier League title is, literally and figuratively, Chelsea’s to lose.

YAHOO!