Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea will win this season's Premier League.
Carragher, who retired at the end of the last campaign, expects the likes of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard to provide the quality for Jose Mourinho's men to wrestle the title back from current champions Manchester United when the 2013-14 season gets under way.
The 35-year-old told Sky Sports News: "If I had to pick one side to win the league I would pick Chelsea.
"I just think they are a very good team. You look at last year and Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale and Robin van Persie were the top three players, but numbers four and five were Juan Mata and Eden Hazard - and they could, this season, go on to be the best players in the Premier League."
Carragher also said he expects Manchester City to challenge strongly for their second Premier League title with new manager Manuel Pellegrini at the helm.
"The obvious three will be Chelsea, Man United and Man City. I see the top three the same as it is now, but I'd expect Chelsea to make a much stronger challenge for the title and maybe just pip Man United," he added.
All three sides will have new managers taking charge with Mourinho returning to Chelsea, Pellegrini making the move to the Etihad Stadium from Malaga and David Moyes replacing Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
City have been the busiest in the transfer market so far this close-season, signing winger Jesus Navas and midfielder Fernandinho, while Chelsea have secured the signature of Andre Schurrle.
United's only signing has been Guillermo Varela from Atletico Penarol.
