Fulham (Last season: 8th)
The lowdown: The summer began with Mark Hughes departing for pastures new only to not find a new job and see his vacancy filled by former Spurs boss Martin Jol. The Dutchman, who did a sterling job at White Hart Lane, has a side that could quite easily make a run in the Europa League and another top ten finish.
They will be reliant on strikers Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora staying fit and they could easily score 30 goals between them given a full injury-free campaign. The defence is still led by the imperious Brede Hangeland and Clint Dempsey has shown the quality he brings to the midfield.
Star player: Bobby Zamora (Striker): Suffered a horrendous broken leg last season and still managed a goal every two games in all competitions. His partnership with Johnson will be crucial.
One to watch: Marcel Gevoc (Midfielder): The Czech international joins from Slovan Liberec and will add a lot to the side’s midfield.
Line up (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Hughes, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise; Duff, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey; Zamora, Johnson.
Expected finish: Another top ten finish and even as high as 8th.
Everton (Last season: 7th)
The lowdown: David Moyes hasn’t hasn’t added anyone to his squad but on the flip side hasn’t lost anyone. The Scot will welcome back the combative midfielder Marouane Fellaini after injury and his partnership with Johnny Heitinga. Moyes has regularly been mentioned as one of those with a chance of taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford when the fellow-Scot retires and a good season here would do him no harm.
Goals are likely to come from a number of areas and the aerial prowess of Tim Cahill will again be relied upon. Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford both contributed last season in the goal column also.
Star player: Marouane Fellaini (Midfield) – The Belgian man-mountain would probably be better suited to the Stoke midfield. Here’s on Merseyside though and his versatility could be key should he stay fit.
One to watch: Seamus Coleman (Defender) – Good going forward but also assured at the back.
Line up (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Fellaini, Heitinga; Arteta.
Expected finish: There’s another here that they can again touch the fringes of the top six and a good cup run could see them back in Europe. 7th.
Click the links for season previews of Sunderland and Aston Villa, West Brom and Newcastle, Stoke and Bolton, Norwich and QPR, Swansea and Wolves, and Blackburn and Wigan.
