Experts predictions for the Premier League

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The Independent's sports writers predict the teams that'll hit the top, those for the drop and the first managers for the chop.

James Lawton, Chief Sports Writer

Champions Manchester United

Runners-up Arsenal

Third, Fourth Chelsea, Liverpool

Relegated Wolves, Hull City and Portsmouth

Top scorer Andrei Arshavin

Champions League Barcelona

First sacking Carlo Ancelotti

Player of the Year Andrei Arshavin

Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

Champions Manchester United

Runners-up Chelsea

Third, Fourth Liverpool, Arsenal

Relegated Hull, Stoke and Pompey

Top scorer Didier Drogba

Champions League Barcelona

First sacking Alex McLeish

Player of the Year Wayne Rooney

Ian Herbert, Deputy Football Correspondent

Champions Manchester United

Runners-up Chelsea

Third, Fourth Liverpool, Man City

Relegated Birmingham City, Portsmouth and Hull City

Top scorer Fernando Torres

Champions League Barcelona

First sacking Alex McLeish

Player of the Year Frank Lampard

Glenn Moore, Football Editor

Champions Manchester United

Runners-up Chelsea

Third, Fourth Liverpool, Arsenal

Relegated Hull, Burnley and Stoke

Top scorer Nicolas Anelka

Champions League Chelsea

First sacking Paul Hart

Player of the Year Wayne Rooney

Nick Harris, Football Writer

Champions Manchester United

Runners-up Liverpool

Third, Fourth Arsenal, Chelsea

Relegated B'mingham, Hull, Wolves

Top scorer Fernando Torres

Champions League Real Madrid

First sacking Alex McLeish

Player of the Year Andrei Arshavin

Steve Tongue, Football Writer

Champions Chelsea

Runners-up Manchester United

Third, Fourth Liverpool, Arsenal

Relegated Birmingham, Hull and Burnley

Top scorer Didier Drogba

Champions League Barcelona

First sacking Alex McLeish

Player of the Year Wayne Rooney

Neil Warnock, Crystal Palace manager and Independent Columnist

Champions Chelsea

Runners-up Manchester United

Third, Fourth Arsenal, Liverpool

Relegated It'll be from Birmingham, Bolton, Burnley, Hull, Portsmouth, Stoke and Wolves,

Top scorer Fernando Torres

Champions League Anyone who beats Barcelona

First sacking I don't know who's going to be that lucky – with the contracts they're on there might be the odd one who hopes for it.

Player of the Year Didier Drogba