With the World Cup having come to a close, attention turns back to the Premier League with pre-season already in full swing. It was a dramatic term last year at both ends of the table and this year’s campaign is set to be just as enthralling.

The Easyodds.com football tipsters Simon Hopper, Tom Powell and Ross Casey have picked out their best bets ahead of the 2014-15 Premier League season:

Outright Winner

Simon Hopper: CHELSEA (15/8) – Jose Mourinho sides always improve in their second season while competition looks thin on the ground this term with Man City probably focusing on the Champions League and big question marks over the other top teams. The signings of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa should be the missing pieces in the jigsaw.

Tom Powell: MAN CITY (9/4) – The Premier League holders are a bigger price than when they won last year and have strengthened their squad with some solid defensive signings so should be favourites again.

Ross Casey: CHELSEA (15/8) – Chelsea were just four points behind the winners Man City last year and you can certainly argue that with Jose Mourinho in charge they have every chance of victory this year especially after improving their attacking options with Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

Top Scorer

SH: ROBIN VAN PERSIE (5/1) – An amazing 124 goals in his last 203 Premier League games shows RVP’s class while he’ll obviously benefit from being the main man in Louis van Gaal’s new-look Man United team.

TP: ROBIN VAN PERSIE (5/1) – RVP seems to have put his injury problems behind him and if he plays a full season he looks value given he’s been top scorer on both occasions he’s managed to play 38 games.

RC: WAYNE ROONEY (16/1) – Champions League football will not be hosted at Old Trafford for the first time in years after their substandard seventh place finish last year and I believe this is the season that Rooney soars up the scoring charts as he will not be rested as before when they had a busy European schedule.

Top Four Finish

SH: ARSENAL (8/11) – The Gunners never let you down in this market and the addition of Alexis Sanchez adds an extra dimension to Arsene Wenger’s attack. Man City, Man United and Chelsea will fill the other three positions, with Liverpool likely to miss out because of their Champions League commitments.

TP: LIVERPOOL (21/20)It should be between Liverpool and Arsenal for the fourth spot and I’d prefer to back Liverpool at a bigger price considering they finished well above the Gunners last term.

RC: ARSENAL (8/13) – Arsenal have finished in the top four consistently for over 10 years and they have now finally started spending big money to bring in quality players. They have a wealth of attacking talent and should pose a genuine threat for the title this season.

To Be Relegated

SH: WEST BROM (3/1) – The Baggies were lucky not to go down last season, have a low budget and have taken a massive gamble by appointing Alan Irvine as manager. Hull and Crystal Palace would be my others to throw into a tricast.

TP: LEICESTER (13/5) – Leicester have made some very average signings so far so certainly have one of the worst squads in the division while visitors will enjoy playing on their expansive pitch.

RC: LEICESTER (13/5) – The Foxes steam-rolled the opposition in the Championship last season but they never really impressed when facing Premier League opponents in the cups. This is a big step up in class and I am not convinced by many of their close season transfer deals.

Player of the Season

SH: ROBIN VAN PERSIE (12/1) – Has form in this market with a victory in the 2011-12 season and his goals are likely to make him a leading contender. It’s worth noting that recent winners haven’t tended to play for the Premier League champions so don’t be scared to back RVP even if you think Man United won’t win the division.

TP: DAVID SILVA (16/1) – The Man City playmaker was vital in their league win last term and with doubts over Yaya Toure’s future he’ll be the focal point of their side again.

RC: JUAN MATA (25/1) – As I have previously mentioned, I believe United will have a decent season this year and the creativity of Juan Mata will play a big part in that. I think he is great value to scoop the prize at 25/1.

Season Best Bet

SH: WEST BROM To Be Relegated (3/1)  – A club in the Baggies’ position should never be as big as 3/1 to go down and they look the stand-out bet.

TP: QPR Top Promoted Team (13/8) Harry Redknapp will build a decent squad capable of staying in the division while the other two promoted sides look desperately short of top class players.

RC: NEWCASTLE Top Half Finish (13/8) – Newcastle have bought some decent players into the club and people forget how great a start to the season they had last term because of the way that they stopped trying towards the end. The loss of Loic Remy and will be a blow, but I think that Alan Pardew can steer his side to yet another comfortable top half finish.

For all the best Premier League odds for the 2014/15 campaign, visit our dedicated centre where all match and outright betting is available.