Premier League Preview 26/27
Predicting a Premier League season before a ball has even been kicked is one of the most difficult things to do in all of sports journalism. Especially this year, with a record-setting 9 managerial changes and a plethora of big-money signings up and down the league, one would imagine things would be more open than ever. And yet, that is exactly what this article is - an educated guess of where everyone will end up come season end.
Arsenal
Premier League champions, and a heartbreaking penalties defeat in the Champions League final; Arsenal have finally returned to the top of the mountain. And they would surely only have themselves to blame if they were to fail in going back-to-back; with their two main rivals over the last 4 seasons in transition, there is arguably an even bigger opportunity to clinch Premier League glory this time around. Saka will surely re-discover the form that Gunners fans have grown to love him for, and Victor Gyökeres, although at times out of his depth against the best of the best teams in Europe, showed signs towards the end of their title-winning campaign that Arsenal may have finally found the right man for the job. The addition of Bruno Guimareas in midfield means the Gunners now have incredible depth in every area of the field, and should expect to still be fighting on all fronts come May.
My prediction: Champions
Aston Villa
The loss of both Morgan Rogers (£115m - Chelsea) and Youri Tielemans (£35m - Manchester United) have left Villa's new signings with big shoes to fill. 16 goal contributions from Rogers helped Villa to a spectacular 3rd place finish last season, and Teilemans provided vital contributions at both ends of the pitch across his 21 league starts. Villa will look to 60m signing Johan Manzambi to provide the quality that will be greatly missed following Rogers' departure; and with 14 league goal contributions for Freiburg in 25/26, all signs point to him being an astute recruitment. Another signing which is worth keeping a watching brief on is that of Chelsea outcast Alejandro Garnacho, who after a disappointing year at Stamford Bridge needs to find form from somewhere - or risk his next move being a massive step down. Garnacho’s overhead kick against Everton as a youngster is too long ago to be relevant any more, and since then, he has shown a distinct lack of end product; but, given the right tools and the guidance of prestigious manager Unai Emery, he will hope he can find a way back to the upper throws of the English game. Villa fans will hope that the PSR rules which have held them back over the past few seasons will be appeased by £150m of transfer revenue, and they can now focus on back-to-back Champions League qualifications: something they haven't achieved since 1982/83 - and in Europe, although it will be a tough ask, match the heroics of their previous Champions League campaign and reach the knockout stages again.
My prediction: 5th
Bournemouth
Bournemouth have perhaps been the team of most change over the past 2 seasons. Following the sale of both starting centre backs to PSG and Real Madrid in 2025, many people thought that Bournemouth’s run of exceeding expectations might come to an end. But last season, the breakthrough of Eli Kroupi, Rayan & Alex Jimenez among others led the Cherries to a 6th place finish and European qualification for the first time in their history. The unflinching, exciting style of Andoni Iraola led to him being poached by Liverpool, and while new manager Marco Rose brings with him a good reputation after multiple successful seasons on the continent, namely a DFB-Pokal victory with former side RB Leipzig in 2023, he is unproven in the Premier League. Bournemouth’s transfer strategy is one which in recent years has been copied, somewhat unsuccessfully by the likes of Chelsea; their scouting remains one of the best in the league, and the arrival of highly-rated Portuguese Antonio Silva looks to be the latest of their astute value for money signings. The young centre back was on the radar of multiple top teams across Europe when he broke through at Benfica, and still only 22 with 3 seasons of Champions League football under his belt, he will surely prove to be a solid addition to an exciting Bournemouth squad. Providing the standouts of last year, particularly Kroupi - who contributed 13 goals in the Premier league last term - can maintain their good form, Bournemouth will hope that the transition from Iraola to Rose will be swift, and that they have a solid enough squad to compete at the top of the midtable. One caveat though, is that if the Cherries find themselves still involved in the Europa League come March, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if their league results suffered slightly under the increased pressure of playing two games a week.
My prediction: 8th
Brentford
Brentford have often seemed destined to fall down the league table after losing Ivan Toney to Al-Ahli, then Tomas Frank to Spurs in back-to-back seasons. But the emergence of brazilian marksman Igor Thiago, and assistant-turned-manager Keith Andrews led the Bees to a joint-best 9th place finish last term, finishing ahead of all but one of the other London clubs. And for the first time in a few seasons, Brentford have held onto the bulk of their first team players, not having to concede to offers from some of the League’s more established sides. The arrival of Mamadou Sangare in midfield, fresh from helping French side Lens to a very respectable 2nd place finish - only 6 points behind perennial champions PSG - looks like an astute signing; joining him as Brentford’s other big-money arrival is 20-year old Austrian centre half Jannik Schuster, who averaged 7.31 average rating on Fotmob in 19 starts for RB Salzburg in 25/26, and alongside Sepp Van den Berg will provide some much-needed defensive cover to an aging Nathan Collins and Kristoffer Ajer. Bees fans will hope they can mantain their lofty standards going into the new season, and with a squad that has gone from strength-to-strength over the last year, there should be no reason why they can’t expect another top half finish.
My prediction: 10th
Brighton
Brighton, not unlike their south coast counterparts Bournemouth, have gained a reputation in recent years for astute signings, and discovering wonderkids before any of the bigger sides have a chance to snatch them up - and often, selling them on for massive fees (I’m looking at you, Chelsea). The departure of Van Hecke to Tottenham seemed to be another of these type of transfers, although this time they seem to have found a direct replacement in Luka Vuskovic, who last season helped Hamburg to comfortably remain in the Bundesliga after promotion the previous year, and is 7 years Van Heckes’ junior with arguably a higher ceiling. The departure of Danny Welbeck to Chelsea was somewhat of a surprise to fans across the league - however with 13 goals in 25/26 he proved to any doubters that he is still a top quality goalscorer at the age of 35. Returning from an uninspired loan spell in Italy, young poacher Evan Ferguson should hope that he can fill the space left by Welbeck’s departure, and Brighton can start the new season without missing a beat. While the heights of an 8th place finish in 25/26 might not be repeated this year - mostly due to the return to form of some of the teams just behind the Seagulls last year - I predict a solid season - potentially with a reasonably deep Conference League run to boot.
My prediction: 9th
Chelsea
English fans have become familiar with Chelsea's owners' gung-ho transfer strategy by now; but this season, their business so far might suggest that they might at least be starting to learn their lesson. The arrival of proven winner Xabi Alonso, alongside British record signing Morgan Rogers from Villa, premier league proven central defender Maxence Lacroix, and young talent Marco Palestra from Atalanta might on the surface not seem like a change of transfer strategy, but Blues fans will hope that this time things might be a bit different. Rogers, despite his price tag, is a magnificent provider and goalscorer who won't need any time to adapt; Lacroix provides a cool head and much-needed experience at the back, and as much as Palestra may need time to adapt to the league, Chelsea's rivals may also have to adapt to him. The sensible additions of Welbeck & Jordan Henderson will give the dressing room some much needed leadership, and this slight pivot in strategy might be exactly what the Blues need to return to the Champions League in 2027.
My prediction: 4th
Coventry
The runaway Championship title campaign of Frank Lampard's coventry leaves the club high on confidence as they look to do battle in the top flight for the first time in 26 years. One of the Premier League's founding members, the Sky Blues will hope that they can continue their incredible success story of the past season into an equally successful survival campaign. Having held onto the bulk of their squad, there will have been plenty of time through pre-season for Lampard to rally his troops and prepare for life back in the big leagues. The signings of Carl Rushworth from Brighton & Aurèle Amenda from Frankfurt will provide some much-needed defensive quality when going up against some of Europe's elite. Amenda in particular will provide a much-needed calm presence in the backline, with his almost 90 touches per game last term ranking him amongst the Bundesliga's elite defensive talent. Looking forward, if front man Haji Wright can come anywhere close to last season's tally of 17 goals, he will put Coventry in a great position to remain in the Premier League beyond the coming season.
My prediction : 18th
Everton
The Toffees enjoyed a relatively comfortable season last term - the woes of back to back relegation scraps seemed a ways behind them as they battled to a solid 13th place finish. But their lack of depth, combined with a forward line that probably isn’t quite up to the levels of teams above them, means they might find their progress stalled, at least for a season. Jordan Pickford is fresh from a brilliant World Cup, but his heroics might not be enough to cancel out the troubles of an aging defence ahead of him. Iliman Ndiaye provides quality in attack, but with rumours of a move away from the Hill-Dickinson still swirling as we head towards the final throws of the summer transfer window, whether he will remain in blue and be able to provide that quality remains to be seen. If they were to lose the Senegalese playmaker, the Toffees may once again fall victim to the wastefulness of Beto and others over the past couple of seasons.
My prediction: 14th
Fulham
Marco Silva proved to be a revalation as he guided Fulham to promotion in his first season at the club. Since then, they have become Premier League mid-table mainstays; but going into this season, they will have to adapt to a new manager, and most likely a new style. Marco Silva's flexible, possession-based tactics will give way to the pragmatic, high-intensity style of his successor. Alvaro Arbeloa was at times a victim of the Real Madrid way; he, as have so many others, just couldn't keep a lid on the larger-than-life presence that runs throughout the first team. He will hope to build on Silva's success, although he might struggle to adapt to the physical style of the Premier League- and not having the luxury of relying on superstars like Kylian Mbappe. Arbeloa has brought along with him 22 year old starlet striker Gonzalo Garcia, who like his manager may find the intensity of the premier league a challenge. If Arbeloa can maintain the standards set by his predecessor, Fulham will surely soon be rid of any worries of relegation; but the departure of main man Harry Wilson - who contributed 10 goals and 7 assists last term - could leave the Cottagers scrambling for any sort of attacking flair.
My prediction: 17th
Hull
Following a dramatic play-off victory over Middlesborough, Hull find themselves back in English football's top flight for the first time in a decade. As we have seen in recent seasons, promoted teams have faced an uphill battle to remain in the premier league; but Leeds, and most notably Sunderland, proved last term it is not impossible. Hull will surely rely on the premier league experience of Oli Mcburnie and incoming Jack Butland & Matt Target to provide clear heads when they find themselves up against England's elite. Mcburnie contributed 19 goals in the Championship last year, including a vital 95th minute winner to clinch promotion back to the top flight. The 30-year old will hope to recreate the magic of the 2019/20 season, in which his 6 goals helped Sheffield United to a respectable 9th place finish; although he will have his work cut out, as we have seen many times that championship success doesnt always translate well once the stakes are raised.
My prediction: 19th
Ipswich
Ipswich have by far the most recent Premier League experience compared to the other promoted sides, however a 19th place finish and -46 goal difference don't paint a promising picture. Despite returning to the top flight at the first time of asking, the Tractor Boys will surely find it just as difficult this time around; especially with the departure of long-time manager Kieran McKenna, they might find the premier league too unforgiving to afford a transitional season. Last time around, they relied heavily on the 12 goals of Liam Delap, however with his departure at the end of their previous Premier League campaign, fans will have to hope that marquee signing Emersonn will hit the ground running and live up to his £24m price tag.
My prediction: 20th
Leeds
Leeds were somewhat of a surprise package when they returned to the Premier League last season, finishing a highly respectable 14th position and for the most part steering clear of a hard-fought relegation scrap. The arrival of Harry Wilson, fresh from a breakout season at Fulham, is sure to boost their confidence as they hope to avoid joining a long list of promoted teams who endured second-season syndrome. I can see the Lilywhites doing just that; the quality of teams below them might just mean they can focus on looking up the table, rather than over their shoulders.
My prediction: 15th
Liverpool
The Reds will hope to quickly put the disappointment of the 25/26 campaign in the rearview mirror, and return to the very top echelons of the English game. The departure of Mo Salah to Trabzonspor is a hole that as of writing, Liverpool are yet to fill. With the signature of Bradley Barcola still in their sights, Reds fans will hope that the 2-time Champions League winner will be able to reach the same heights as the Egyptian if his transfer is completed before the window ends. Defensively, Liverpool find themselves light on options, with new signing Jeremy Jacquet and veteran Virgil Van Dijk the only two center halves with enough pedigree to provide a solid base for Liverpool to build on - Geovanni Leoni is a great young backup, but is unproven at this level after an unfortunate ACL injury put pain to his debut season in red. The surprise addition of Ronald Araujo on loan will provide some much-needed Champions League experience, but there is not guarantee that he will be able to perform at the high standards required of a Liverpool starting centre back. Perhaps most importantly, incoming manager Iraola will hope to reverse the damage done during Slot’s dismal second season in charge, and reinstate the free-flowing, high pressing tactics of Liverpool teams gone by. The Reds will hope that they can capitalise on teams around them also finding themselves in transitional years, but only time will tell how well the other big 6 teams will perform once the season is in full swing. That is to say, then, that I predict Liverpool to be in and around the top 4 and will likely beat out City and Chelsea for the runners-up spot; I do think the title might be a step too far, and that by the time this squad is up-and-running, the leaders may be out of reach, but they certainly have the quality to be in the conversation.
My prediction: 2nd
Manchester City
It's been 2 full seasons since the Cityzens lifted the Premier League trophy for the 4th time in succession. Now without managerial maestro Pep Guardiola at the helm, City are another team that will have to feel the pain of a transitional first half of the season. Incoming manager Enzo Maresca proved at times during his short tenure at Stamford Bridge that he had the tactical knowhow to compete at the very top, and was perhaps a victim of the trigger-happy reign of the Blueco group. With an in-form Haaland having been at the top of his game throughout the world cup in the summer, and searching for a record-equalling 4th golden boot in 5 years, it would be foolish for anyone to write the Manchester club off. But with the Ballon D’or winner Rodri looking for an exit to either of two Spanish giants, and City’s record without him being less than ideal to say the least, the peices might not all be there for a real title challenge.
My prediction: 3rd
Manchester United
A new look midfield could make all the difference for the Red Devils as they look to build on a solid second half of the season under now-permanent manager Michael Carrick. The incoming Andrey Santos was maybe a victim of an over-eager Chelsea ownership after making 27 league appearances last term, although recent history might suggest that this is a step up. Champions league football is an attractive proposition, and Manchester United are still one of the most successful English clubs of all time - so why not join a project that seems at least more secure than the chaos in West London. Bruno Fernandes will be looking to continue his impressive league form and bounce back from a difficult world cup, and with both Santos and Teilemans behind him he will have all the freedom he needs to impact the score sheet week after week. There are still some glaring issues at Old Trafford, including a defence that still looks in disarray and an attack that isn’t as efficient as it needs to be; they are perhaps a season or two away from being able to take the next step and mount a serious challenge for the title, but assuming Michael Carrick doesn’t fall victim to the Permanent Manager curse that has befallen so many before him, there’s no reason not to think that United will be right in the mix for the Champions League places.
My prediction: 6th
Newcastle
When Newcastle were bought by the Saudi PIF, there was an understandable buzz around the city. 5 years later though, and progress seems to have stalled completely; not being able to keep hold of key personnel including Alexander Isak & more recently Bruno Guimareas, plus being hamstrung by strict PSR rules, led to Eddie Howe walking out the door after guiding the Magpies to their first trophy in 60 years. £700 million later, one would be forgiven for looking at the Newcastle team and wondering - where did all that money go? The first team has enough quality to be clear of any worries of relegation, and yet the squad looks thin on the ground compared to where fans thought they would be by now. An apparent shift in transfer strategy, bringing in youngsters Sean Steur from Ajax and Bazoumana Toure from overachieving German outfit Hoffenheim, suggests things are heading in the right direction - but another season of much change and another step backwards will leave Newcastle fans wondering where it all went wrong. Back-to-back Asian Champions League winning manager Matthias Jaissle arrives with some pedigree and a clear tactical direction, but the relatively inexperienced 38-year old is unproven on Europe’s biggest stage - which is surely where Newcastle would like to find themselves sooner rather than later.
My prediction: 11th
Nottingham Forest
The departure of Elliot Anderson to Man City for £115m will be a bittersweet one for Forest fans. While he provided something of a shining light in an otherwise disappointing 25/26 campaign, if the money brought in from his sale can be redistributed sensibly - which, if recent history tells us anything, might well be the case - then Forest will hope they can move on, and move on quickly. Aside from Anderson, Forest have maintained the bulk of their squad from the previous season, many of whom will hope that the lack of European football will mean they can be back to their best in the League this time around. The apparent switch in transfer strategy from polarizing owner Mr Marinakis is hopefully a sign of stability in the seasons to come, and Forest aren’t without talent all over the pitch. Dazzling no. 10 Gibbs-White will be looking to prove why he should have perhaps been in with a shout of appearing at the World Cup this summer, and his quality combined with a sturdy defensive lineup should see Forest leave the woes of a relegation-battling 25/26 behind them.
My prediction: 13th
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace fans will probably feel hard done by to see the majority of journalists predict them to be lower-mid table again after back to back trophy winning seasons. But the departure of Oliver Glasner, plus the almost ever-present centre back Maxence Lacroix following Marc Guehi out the door, leave the Eagles with a lot of work to do. Going forward, the exciting wing play of Ismaila Sarr plus a rejuvinated Strand-Larssen will be sure to keep the goals trickling in, but with European football to consider, keeping a strong first team fit & performing throughout the season will be a tough ask. As for the new manager, 2026 French Cup winner Pierre Sage showed last season that he will ask his players to be high-pressing, with fast vertical attacks - if he sticks to this philosophy, he may see the ill effects come the back end of the season. Sage is known to put faith in youth talent, though, so it remains to be seen if he can ease players like Justin Devenny and Rio Cardines into the first team proper.
My prediction: 16th
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham are perhaps the team with the most to prove come the start of the 26/27 campaign. 2 dismal 17th place finishes in succession have left fans scrambling for answers, and the Spurs ownership will hope they have pulled the right strings to bring in players who will make an instant impact. £100m man Tonali has a wealth of Premier League & European experience, and will hope to ease Spurs' woes in both attack and defence. In front of him, former West Ham man Matheus Fernandes will hope to reach another level this term, one that fans and pundits alike believe he is capable of reaching under the right manager. Although £85m is perhaps slightly overpriced for a player destined for the Championship otherwise, if he can prove to be the man to drag Spurs back into the European fold, you would have to say it has been worth it. Tottenham will hope that the slight drop in quality of teams in the mid-table this season - whether through players or managers moving on - will give them the platform they need to put their dismal 25/26 firmly in the rearview mirror.
My prediction: 7th
Sunderland
I think it's fair to say Sunderland exceeded even their own expectations last term, finishing a lofty 7th place and qualifying for the Europa League. Much like Palace, though, the extra pressure of midweek games might turn out to be more of a hindrance than it is a positive. With the squad they have, plus the return of former Brighton man Simon Adingra from his loan spell in France, Sunderland fans shouldn’t be worried too much about being dragged into a proper relegation scrap. However, if they do manage to push through the Europa League group stage and find themselves still playing midweek games through February & March, they might need to start looking over their shoulder come the final matchday.
My prediction: 12th