Manchester City, the Premier League champions, have won in the last three seasons. But can anyone stop them?Manchester United was City's closest rivals, but they finished 12 points behind. They have not been serious contenders for the title since 2013, when they were last champions.Will United challenge United for the top spot in 2021-22? How will Liverpool react to their title defense that collapsed at the beginning of the year? Is Chelsea still a contender in domestic football after capturing Europe? Will anyone else be able to get into the Champions League?We asked 20 radio and BBC TV pundits to choose their top four picks, along with their explanations.Predictor 1st 3rd 4th Alan Shearer Chelsea Man City Man utd Liverpool Fara Williams Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Sue Smith Chelsea Man City Man utd Liverpool Man utd Matthew Upson Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Man utd Martin Keown Man City Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Leon Osman Man City Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Nedum Onuoha Man City Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Jermaine Beckford Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Man City Chelsea Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Jermaine Beckford Man City Chelsea Man City Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Man City Chelsea Man utd Liverpool Man City Chelsea Man utd Liverpool JermaineFive teams are in the top fours forecasted, but only City and United feature in all 20.City is the favourite to win it with 13 votes. Chelsea gets seven votes, while United and Liverpool are second. Similar results are predicted by the overall ranking.Based on all 18 BBC predictions, overall predicted ranking Man City 2. Chelsea 3. Man Utd 4. Liverpool 5. Leicester 72 pts 52 pts 33 32 pts 32This system uses 4 points for the 1st, 3 for the 2nd, 2 for the 3rd, and 1 for 4th.Which transfer would impact three pundits’ title predictions?These predictions were made on Thursday 12 August. There are just three weeks before the transfer window closes Tuesday 31 August.Alan Shearer: There have been some major signings, but there will be more that will impact the title race. It will be tighter this time around, with four teams with a chance to win the title, and not just City or Chelsea.Alan Shearer will join Ian Wright and Gary Lineker for Match of the Day on Saturday, 22:20 BST. Watch highlights from seven Premier League games on BBC One or the BBC Sport website.Chris Sutton: Harry Kane should go to Manchester City. I think they would be a great fit and I would love them. If he does not, I believe Chelsea will take it. They are getting Romelu Lukaku. City won't win the title if they don't sign a centre-forward. They won it last year largely without one, which I think is remarkable. It's unlikely that it will happen again.Matthew Upson: I would back Chelsea as it stands now. Lukaku looks certain to be going there. However, things are quite different with City (and Kane) - who knows what will happen. Although it's difficult for them to win again the league without a striker, Kane could make that a huge positive.Sue Smith: Chelsea will be buoyed by winning the Champions League, but City could get Kane, then I would put them on top.Guardiola was a massive factor' in Grealish joining Man City.Pat Nevin: City has already added Jack Grealish who is perfectly the right player. Kane is also possible as he is creative and adaptable. He's probably the player Pep tried Sergio Aguero to become, and I don't know of any other striker so well suited for City's style.They are huge favourites if they get him. They are marginal favourites if they don't.Man City - "A team of Galacticos"Manchester City has been featured in every forecasted top 4 for six consecutive seasons. They are also in the fourth consecutive year that no one thinks they will be below second.Micah Richards says: Although it's more difficult than ever to call this season, I will still say City, even though they don't get Kane. John Stones signed a new contract and the defense is in good hands with Ruben Dias and him. It's unfair on them to have so many options in midfield, and not enough for the forward. Raheem Sterling showed great form at the Euros and they should still be favourites.Dion Dublin and Micah Richards will be the guests on Football Focus, BBC One and BBC Sport at 12:00 BST Saturday.Danny Murphy: I feel that City will be very difficult to shake off their position. Liverpool and they will have the edge over everyone, but not by much. The top four spots will be very tight.Nedum Onuoha says: Looking at the defensive performance of City last season, I believe they will be strong enough for this title. However, I believe this will be the first year in a long time that there will be more teams with a chance at the final. City has made a great signing in Grealish, but their rivals are also strong.Jermaine Beckford. They are so powerful. Stones and Dias have developed a wonderful relationship, and City doesn't have any weaknesses anymore.Michael Brown: I have one doubt if they don’t get Kane or another striker.Ashley Williams: City is the best team and the best squad in the league. They have also added Grealish, and if Kane is available then they will be the champions. They have scored goals all over the team, even without Kane or another top-class striker. Their style of play doesn’t require a recognised centre forward. Sterling will be able to produce a better season, too.Martin Keown: After seeing the impact Pep had on Sterling, Phil Foden and others, what I'm most excited about is Grealish's performance under Guardiola. Grealish is now a talented English player, with a team of Galacticos supporting him.Chelsea - "The depth of their squad is frightening"No one thought Chelsea would win the title, and only two of the 25 pundits believed they would be in the top two. Seven out of twenty pundits believe they will be champions this time and 80% predict they will be in the top two.Pat Nevin: I have been to all of their pre-season matches and have seen the depth in their squad. This is before Lukaku arrived. They have so much quality if you add him to Kai Havertz, who could become, at least in the next few years one of the greatest players in the world.Fara Williams: We witnessed the impact Thomas Tuchel had in the second half last season, and we saw how difficult Chelsea are to beat. Lukaku's goals can turn many draws into wins.Rob Green: Their team is stronger than any other, even City. You can then add Lukaku who will bring out the best in everyone.Martin Keown: Lukaku can be a tough player to keep motivated so this is the right move for him. He will return to a club that has something to prove.Ashley Williams: I believe Chelsea will improve this season. Lukaku was a player at Everton and I knew him well. His goal record for us was amazing, but I've seen him play for Inter Milan as well as Belgium so I think he's even more talented now. He seems to have a greater awareness of his strengths and abilities than ever before and knows where and when to use them. He is still a good friend and I speak to him often. His mental game has improved, as he has always been a physical beast.Ashley Williams will join Jason Mohammad and Dion Dublin on Final Score Saturday at 14:30 BST. It airs on the red button and on the BBC Sport website. At 16:00, it airs on BBC One.Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea boss celebrates the Champions League win with his familyStephen Warnock. They are so well-organised under Tuchel tactically, and it looks happy camp too. He has created the ideal environment for players to feel comfortable with his authority, so no one is afraid to speak up.Michael Brown: They now have the belief, which is huge. They are no longer asking "Where will we end?" They have gone from wondering "where will we finish?" to believing that "we've got every opportunity." They will be correct in the mix.Rachel Brown-Finnis : While Tuchel initially consolidated and made them difficult for others to break down, he now has more firepower. They will be amazing if Lukaku and their creative players click, but I feel they will have an edge because they have been so hard to beat.Chris Sutton: Tuchel not only has sorted them defensively but he has also added a nice balance to their team. Timo Werner and Havertz will both benefit from their first year in England. Chelsea was criticised last season for not being ruthless enough. But Lukaku will be a man they can count on to score goals.Jadon Sancho joins a formidable United attacking line up for the new season. Marcus Rashford (left to right), Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani, and Mason Greenwood are also in the squad.Man Utd – Will Sancho give them that 'X-factor?Although 24 of the 25 pundits predicted they would finish in the top four, 17 votes cast placed them in fourth place. They are confident that they will place in the top four, and they believe that 11 of 20 people will support them to finish third or higher.Chris Sutton: United missed an excellent opportunity to win last season's Europa League. This would have relieved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of the burden and ended his long wait for a trophy. Although they had a successful season, there was something lacking. They need to be more consistent and be able take on the opposition. They are more balanced than the other top three teams, but Jadon Sancho might give them that X factor.Nedum Onuoha - If Sancho's game is able to translate into the Premier League, that would be a major coup for United. I cannot wait to see his progress.Micah Richards: United has shown they can beat anyone, but they seem like they have had too many off-days throughout the season. For me, they are just a few players away from being a title-winning team - including a centre forward. Edinson Cavani, 34, is at a stage in his career that he requires care. They don't have another striker who can play for them every week.Pat Nevin: Manchester United has been trying to find a centre-back position for ages and finally got Raphael Varane along with Harry Maguire. It will be a good thing, but let's not forget that Varane was lightning fast when he was younger. I watched him play a few times recently, and I wondered if Varane had lost half of his speed. Only by watching him play in the Premier League will I find out.Matthew Upson. There's a lot to guess about until the season begins, but Varane seems like a great signing and one they had to make. Harry Maguire and Varane are a great pairing at the back, and that will make a big difference.Ashley Williams: A centre-half partnership is the best. I am curious if Varane can get on the ground quickly or takes time to settle in. Although I have never played in La Liga, I can't say that there aren't difficult games. However, in the Premier League, you are constantly tested by poorer teams and in different ways. Varane is a highly experienced player, but it's not likely that he will be able to compete against Burnley's physical strikers like Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood. Although it doesn't sound glamorous, they can make your life very difficult for 90 minutes. He has won every award possible, so I'm sure he can handle that.Stephen Warnock: It's a four-horse race, but United is ahead of the rest. The only difference is their manager. I don’t believe Solskjaer will win the title. Although he's been a good tactician in some games, there have been times when things have not gone to plan. If United had given their squad to Jurgen Klopp Guardiola and Tuchel last season, I believe they would all have won the league. He is not the right man for United.Martin Keown: Although I am fourth in United, this race for the title is still open. They've signed two great players, and they're serious about business. I'm not picking this order, but I was asked. If they won it, I wouldn’t be surprised.Liverpool's most recent signing this summer was France's centre-back Ibrahima Konate joining for 36m from RB LeipzigLiverpool - Liverpool is a strong team, but how deep are their squads?52% of BBC pundits predicted Liverpool would defend their title last season. 21 of 25 thought they would finish second. They are not expected to be champions this season and only three of twenty think they will make it to the top two.Mark Lawrenson: Liverpool's biggest problem is hunger following last season. They had many injuries, but it was not a bad campaign by their standards. So they have something to prove, especially at Anfield, where they had such a terrible start to the year.Danny Murphy: It's crucial that Liverpool sort out Jordan Henderson's contract situation. They've already lost Georginio Wijaldum, who was under-rated over the last few years. Because Henderson has been so important to their success, I expect Henderson to remain. But they must address those concerns quickly. It would be unimaginable to lose either of them now.Danny Murphy will join Ashley Williams and Mark Chapman to present MOTD2 on Sunday, February 2, 2012 at 22:30 BST. Watch the broadcast on BBC One and BBC Sport for highlights from Newcastle v West Ham or Tottenham v Manchester City.Georginio Wijnaldum signed for Paris St-Germain as a free transfer after he left Liverpool. Danny Murphy says, "He is seriously underestimated." He is not only a great defensive player, but he's also a fantastic ball-handler. And he deserves all the credit for his technical skills.Stephen Warnock: They're still a strong team. I think the style and football will return to the way it was two years ago with that team getting so much attention. Although Sadio Mane looks fresh and Mohamed Salah is looking sharp after their summer break, it is still a concern about what will happen when they both travel to the Africa Cup of Nations in February.Martin Keown: Although people say they haven’t bought, there wasn’t anything wrong with Liverpool prior to their injury problems last year. Klopp will be able to regain the perfection of the previous two seasons, and I believe they can challenge again.Pat Nevin: Liverpool don't seem to have the right team to win the league. But then, I've said it before about them. Although they have Virgil van Dijk now, it makes a huge difference, I think they still need another striker.Micah Richards - Diogo Jota was a great player last season and their injury came at a terrible time. They may need to take some time to find their best attack combination or the right system.Chris Sutton: Ibrahima Konate seems like a solid defensive signing, but Van Dijk's issue is his fitness. How has the injury and being out so long affected him? We'll find out.Matthew Upson: It's hard to recall Liverpool running at full speed after they had such a terrible start to the year. Van Dijk is now fit and well, but I suffered the same cruciate ligament injury. It could take several months for him to be back at his best. Joe Gomez is also in the same boat, which is why I consider Joe Gomez third.Rachel Brown-Finnis says: I wish Van Dijk can get back to his best. He is a great player. He is not only a great performer, but also helps the team. Because of the knock-on effect, I don't believe Liverpool will be able to achieve this feat without him. They are amazing to watch when they are at their best.Leicester - battling it out with Arsenal Tottenham West Ham and Tottenham for the top six spots?Last season, Arsenal was the only other team in the picks. Two out of 25 pundits predicted that they would finish fourth or better. Although Leicester is mentioned this time, only one pundit believes they will make it to the Champions League.Jermaine Brookford: I will be going with Leicester to finish fourth. Their investment in their team is a breath of fresh water compared to other teams that finished higher than them last season. Although they still spend money, they do so well. Their recruiting is brilliant. I love the way Brendan Rodgers, Foxes boss, sets up his teams and encourages everyone to work together.Ashley Williams: It will be difficult for anyone to crack the top 4, and I doubt Arsenal or Spurs can. Leicester is the only team that can make it in there. They are a great team that can beat any leading teams of their day, but it is difficult for them to maintain those standards throughout the season, as they found out after finishing fifth twice.Martin Keown: Leicester will push on again, and they will certainly have a say in who wins the title. Spurs and Arsenal can also push, but it feels more like they're both still in transition. Arsenal will feel some pressure early on because of their difficult fixtures against City and Chelsea in the first few weeks. I want to see more convincing performances because we can see that the club has fallen down the league and there are more resource-rich clubs than them. They must be more competitive in games if they want to climb the league table. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang needs to smile again.Danny Murphy: Arsenal is not in Europe and has some great forward players. It's easy to forget that Aubameyang didn't score many goals last season. Nothing suggests that this trend will continue. Although they have had a difficult start, their young players will continue to improve.Pat Nevin: It will be difficult for anyone other than the top four to climb back up if they look at their finances, size, and experience. The top four will be followed by Arsenal, Spurs and Leicester. West Ham may be next.
