Kelvin Leong and Ian Griffiths give their views on the upcoming Premier League season. Who will emerge as champions?

Can Liverpool finally end their title drought?

KL: Oh no. Another season and we are back on the same old topic.

Rafa Benitez has only one new signing to boast about in the shape of Glen Johnson.

As good as he is, who will be on the receiving end of Johnson's crosses?

Fernando Torres will always be the clinical finisher that he is but what happens when his legs give up on him and he has to sit out through injury?

Looking through the squad list, the likes of David N'Gog and Dirk Kuyt are nowhere near becoming 20-goals a season strikers.

Benitez will need to bring in one or two more strikers even with the lack of funds.

Look no further than Real Madrid. Alvaro Negredo's gigantic frame could be a threat in the English game. Even a Ruud van Nistelrooy as back-up to El Nino could improve Liverpool's title chances.

IG: With the current squad Liverpool have they do not have a chance - it is as simple as that.

Every year we think the Anfield outfit will have a decent chance, but they always come up short and - you are right Kel - the signing of an overrated and overpriced Johnson does nothing to make me think that things will be different this time around.

When Ribery was rumoured to be on Liverpool's radar I thought I would have to change my opinion, but Rafa has since laughed off that report and gone on record to say that there will be no more big-money signings during the summer. He is either brave or mad.

Liverpool's squad depth is simply not good enough to maintain a challenge domestically or in Europe. Rafa must splash the cash - and quickly - if he is to give Liverpool fans what they are pining for - the Premier League title

After Losing CR7, will Man United be able to retain their league title?

KL: CR7 no more. CR9 as the Portuguese winker will be known from now on.

Yes, losing Ronaldo to Madrid seems to be a devastating blow to Sir Alex Ferguson but has he not sold Jaap Stam, David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy before?

Fergie is one of those managers who believes that ‘no player is bigger than a club'.

And in Ronaldo, it was the other way round. The stylish winger never wanted to stay and Fergie knew it all along.

Many critics and fans keep harping on the fact that Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan will never be able to fill Ronaldo's boots but the fact is, they were not brought in to replace the Portuguese ace.

In Valencia and Obertan, Fergie has brought in two extra wingers to allow his side to continue playing the free-flowing champagne football he loves.

If Fergie manages to secure the signature of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, United will retain the league title and make it three in a row.

IG: No. That was short and sweet.

In all honesty though, I can't see United landing the big prize this season.

Whilst it is always dangerous to rule out the Red Devils, I firmly believe that the loss of Ronaldo will have an earth shattering impact on the reigning champions.

They can forget about relying on the perennially injured Michael Owen and are looking for Messrs Rooney and Berbatov to shine and contribute, in Ronaldo's absence, more goals than they did last season.

Whilst Rooney may well step up to the mark, there are still major question marks surrounding Berbatov and if he fails to shine United will struggle - Rooney simply cannot bear the scoring burden alone. Remember - goals win prizes.

For the record - Valencia is a shocking signing whilst Obertan has good potential.

Cash-rich Man City. Can they actually force their way into the top four?

KL: Sure. They might even win the league!

Just as Tottenham always gets the pre-season hype of finally becoming a team capable of breaking into the mythical top four, City are going down the same route.

Buying a whole list of stars won't give you instant success.

A lot of people look at the Citizens in the same light as when Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea. The difference between them is Jose Mourinho.

In Mourinho, they brought in a big-boss man capable of handling the pressure, but in Mark Hughes, City have someone in charge who has no managerial experience when it comes to challenging for honours.

We all know what will happen come the start of the season, Hughes will need a string of wins in the first ten games and anything less could see him looking for a job elsewhere.

Apart from that, City do have a decent squad. Gareth Barry adds solidity to their midfield while Roque Santa Cruz gives them the presence their sorely missed in attack last season.

A certain Argentine forward will rocket them into a top-six finish if he finally makes his long-awaited transfer to City.

Top six with a good run in the FA or League Cup.

IG: They are doomed - for now.

You hit the nail on the head when you said that a bunch of stars do not necessarily give you a good team.

I honestly believe that City's time will come, but it won't be this season. The new arrivals will need to time to gel before they can operate properly as a unit, and time is something that is not on Hughes' side.

With City's Arab owners demanding nothing less than a Champions League spot come the end of the season, Hughes is a man under immense pressure.

I don't think he will crack, instead he will be let down by a stuttering team. Hughes could well be gone by Christmas.

The season after this one is when I expect City to shine. Rome, as they say, wasn't built in a day.

Wolverhampton, Burnley and Birmingham. Which of the promoted clubs will make the most impact?

KL: Most definitely Birmingham.

In Alex McLeish, the club has a manager who knows how to handle the pressure-cooker environment of the Premier League.

He has already bolstered his squad with youthful exuberance and experience with the signings of Lee Bowyer and Joe Hart.

Their strike-force consists of Marcus Bent, Cameron Jerome, James McFadden, Garry O'Connor and Kevin Philips.

All of whom have had experience at the top.

The rest of the team is a mixture of seasoned campaigners, Stephen Carr, Stuart Parnaby, Liam Ridgewell, Lee Carsley and Martin Tyler.

But if McLeish's side harbours any thoughts of staying in the top flight, a lot could rest on the shoulders of Sebastian Larsson.

Larsson, in my opinion, was the best player outside the Premier League last season. Watch out for this boy!

IG: Wolves.

Mick McCarthy knows his way around the Premier League and with the decent squad that Wolves have, he should lead his side to a mid-table finish.

The signing of former Reading favourite Kevin Doyle is a major boost for the Midlands club.

Watch goalkeeper Wayne Hennesssy, defender Jody Craddock, midfielder Michael Kightly and striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake shine in the top-flight.

Wolves fans are also a terrific bunch and their home games will be an absolute cauldron of noise. Exciting times ahead.