Malaysian Digest look at five more teams today who will battle it out in the new season of the English Premier League which begins this weekend. 

LIVERPOOL

The Reds' fortunes will be charted by  new and younger manager Brendan Rodgers who took over from club legend Kenny Dalglish.  And interestingly, the 39-year-old former Swansea boss employs some entertaining football besides trying to get results.

It's not an easy task, obviously, for him to handle a big club like Liverpool and get resuts. But the encouraging factor is that Rodgers has that confidence in him to raise the bar  for the club who have been struggling in recent seasons.

Liverpool have also signed up midfielder Joe Allen from Swansea and striker Fabio Borini to strengthen the squad.Rodgers must be hoping  these two will settle down fast with their new team.

These two players aside, Liverpool already have established stars to rely on. The question is whether they can perform to expectations.

Uruguay international striker Luis Suarez or 'El Pistolero' is deadly if he keeps focused.  There is also Steven Gerrard, never mind he fact that he did not perform that well last season.

The return of midfielder Lucas should be welcomed by Liverpool. The no-nonsense Brazilian holding midfielder  practically missed the whole of last season because of injury.

KEY PLAYERS: Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger

NEW SIGNINGS:  Joe Allen (from Swansea), Fabio Borini (from Roma).

MANAGER: Brendan Rodgers

HOME GROUND: Anfield

LAST SEASON POSITION: 8th

PREDICTION: Can produce improved performance but still find it difficult to make the top four.

MANCHESTER CITY

The champions and now the team everyone loves to beat.

Manager Roberto Mancini and his players know it is going to be tougher to defend the title than winning it. City won the title last season on very last day via a very late goal by Sergio 'Kun' Aguero in the 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers.
 
Bitter rivals Manchester United would have retained the title if City were held to a draw by QPR. In the end, City won the crown on better goal difference.

City have yet to sign players for the new season. They have more or less  the same set of players to mount their challenge this time although Mancini is grumbling about the lack of action on the part of the club to buy new players.

Mancini is upset that Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is set to join United. He would love to have the Dutchman in his squad.
 

Captain Vincent Kompany is one of the stars for City to be relied yet again. He will be joined by Aguero, the controversial Mario Balotelli, David Silva Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez.

The interesting factor about City is their passing and patient game which see the ball always on the ground as they try to penetrate the opponents' defence  Sounds a bit familiar?

KEY PLAYERS: Vincent Kompany, Sergio 'Kun' Aguero, Mario Balotelli, David Silva, Yaya Toure.

NEW SIGNINGS: Nil

MANAGER: Roberto Mancini

HOME GROUND: Etihad Stadium

LAST SEASON POSITION: Champions

PREDICTION: Serious  contenders to win the title again

MANCHESTER UNITED

This 19-time champions will surely want the title back after dramatically losing it to neighbors Manchester City last season only on goal difference.

Manager Alex Ferguson, with all his experience, must have already thinking of ways of stopping City and other expected contenders Chelsea and Arsenal.

The Red Devils and their fans are desperate to regain the title.

Overall, they have a well-balanced side and the attack may well be better with signing of Japanese star Shinji Kagawa from German  champions Borussia Dortmund.

Kagawa is a highly talented wide man who can build up lethal combination with attackers like Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young.

The defence? Should b stronger with the return of captain Nemanja Vidic, who missed most of last season because of injury.

Goalkeeper David De Gea should also be better after the experience of making his debut last season.


KEY PLAYERS: Wayne Rooney, Shinji Kagawa, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia


NEW SIGNINGS: Shinji Kagawa (from Dortmund), Nick Powell (from Crewe)

MANAGER: Alex Ferguson

HOME GROUND: Old Trafford

LAST SEASON POSITION: 2nd

PREDICTION: Capable of winning the title after that near miss last season.

NEWCASTLE

The Magpies, under manager Alan Pardew, stunned many by producing some superb performances and in the process finished creditable fifth last season. And they were just being promoted from Championship.

Can they do a repeat this season?

Difficult.

Never mind that they still have prolific strikers in Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba, who played sterling roles last season. These two will still continue to make life difficult for the opponents who should be by now better prepared to face them.

The defence, led by Fabricio Coloccini, must be consistent if the Magpies are to concede less goals this time.

 Coloccini, for the record, was an influential figure last season so much so he has been recalled to the Argentina national team for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

The midfield still looks solid as Yahon Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheick Tiote are still around.

KEY PLAYERS: Papiss Cisse, Yahon Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Fabio Coloccini, Cheick Tiote.

NEW SIGNINGS: Goel Bigirimana (from Coventry), Romain Amalfitano (from Reims)

MANAGER: Alan Pardew

HOME GROUND: St James' Park

LAST SEASON POSITION: 5th

PREDICTION: Already an achievement if can finish sixth.

NORWICH

Have a new manager in Chris Hughton who replaced Paul Lambert who is now handling Aston Villa.

Hughton, who was Newcastle manager before  Alan Pardew took over, has enough experience to lead the Canaries who do not have that much quality players in the side.

 Norwich are not going to give up that easily in their bid to continue remaining  in the elite division. Team spirit will also be key for them although this may  not be enough .

Striker Grant Holt will have to play key role. So is goalkeeper John Ruddy.

KEY PLAYERS: Grant Holt, John Ruddy, Michael Turner

NEW SIGNINGS: Michael Turner (from Sunderland), Robert Snodgrass (from Leeds), Steven Whittaker (from Rangers), Jacob Butterfield (from Barnsley).

MANAGER: Chris Hughton

HOME GROUND: Carrow Road

LAST SEASON POSITION: 12th

PREDICTION: Involved in relegation battle but  can survive.

- mD