Premier League Ultimate Guide 2026/27: Everything You Need To Know

Read our Mega Guide to the 2026/27 Premier League season

The Premier League returns for another season, with 20 clubs battling it out in the race for the title, European qualification and survival. Our Ultimate Guide has everything you need to prepare for the 2026/27 campaign, including the latest betting from the Betfair Sportsbook, team previews, key players, the managers, fixtures, statistics and much more...

Countdown to Premier League 2026/27 Kick-Off

Club Guide Contents

Premier League 2026/27 Odds - At A Glance

Team To Win PL Top 4 Top 6 Top 10 Relegation
Arsenal 6/42.50 1/141.07 1/1001.01 1/5001.00 150/1151.00
Man City 11/43.75 2/91.22 1/111.09 1/251.04 12/113.00
Liverpool 11/26.50 2/51.40 1/71.14 1/5001.00 150/1151.00
Man United 13/27.50 8/151.53 2/111.18 1/5001.00 150/1151.00
Chelsea 9/110.00 10/111.91 2/71.29 1/331.03 50/151.00
Tottenham 25/126.00 10/34.33 11/102.11 1/61.17 33/134.00
Aston Villa 28/129.00 4/15.00 13/102.30 2/91.22 50/151.00
Newcastle 100/1101.00 10/111.00 7/24.50 4/71.57 18/119.00
Brighton 150/1151.00 12/113.00 7/24.50 4/71.57 22/123.00
Bournemouth 200/1201.00 22/123.00 13/27.50 5/42.25 9/110.00
Everton 250/1251.00 20/121.00 13/27.50 5/42.25 9/110.00
Brentford 250/1251.00 28/129.00 15/28.50 6/42.50 8/19.00
Leeds 500/1501.00 33/134.00 9/110.00 9/43.25 11/26.50
Nottm Forest 500/1501.00 33/134.00 17/29.50 7/42.75 11/26.50
Crystal Palace 500/1501.00 40/141.00 9/110.00 9/43.25 7/18.00
Fulham 500/1501.00 40/141.00 10/111.00 11/43.75 11/26.50
Sunderland 500/1501.00 50/151.00 12/113.00 4/15.00 11/43.75
Coventry 1000/11001.00 175/1176.00 50/151.00 16/117.00 4/71.57
Ipswich 1000/11001.00 175/1176.00 50/151.00 16/117.00 8/131.61
Hull 1000/11001.00 300/1301.00 100/1101.00 25/126.00 1/51.20

*prices correct as of 17:00 26 July

Follow our summer transfer blog for done deals and potential transfers

Premier League Frequently Asked Questions

Question Answer
When does the new season start? Friday 21 August 2026
When does the Premier League season finish? Sunday 30 May 2027
Who won the title last season? Arsenal
Which teams have been promoted for this season? Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town
When does the transfer window close? 1 September 2026
What team is favourite to win this season's title? Arsenal @ 6/42.50
Who is the favourite to be Top Goalscorer? Erling Haaland @ 8/111.73
What UK broadcasters can show Premier League football? Sky Sports, TNT Sports, BBC (highlights)
Which club has won the most Premier League titles? Manchester United (13)
Which clubs have never been relegated? Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur
Which active Premier League player has scored the most goals? Erling Haaland (112)
Which active Premier League player has the most assists? Bruno Fernandes (72)

What's new for the 2026/27 Premier League season?

  • Arsenal are defending champions
  • Coventry, Hull and Ipswich have been promoted
  • Manchester City enter the post-Guardiola era
  • Liverpool start life under Andoni Iraola
  • Chelsea begin a new era under Xabi Alonso
  • Bournemouth, Forest, Palace, Fulham and Ipswich all have new managers
  • Early international breaks reduced from three to two

Premier League 2026 Key Dates & Fixtures

(featuring traditional 'big six' teams and up to end of 2026 only)

Sunday 16 August
âš½ Arsenal v Man City (Community Shield)

Friday 21 August
📅 Premier League Start

Tuesday 1 September (window closes 11pm)
📅 Transfer Deadline Day

MD3 - 6 September
âš½ Arsenal v Chelsea

MD4 - 13 September
âš½ Man Utd v Man City

Monday 21 September - Thursday 8 October
📅 International Break #1

MD6 - 10 October
âš½ Liverpool v Man City
âš½ Man Utd v Tottenham

MD8 - 24 October
âš½ Chelsea v Tottenham

MD9 - 31 October
âš½ Chelsea v Man Utd
âš½ Liverpool v Arsenal

Monday 9 November - Thursday 19 November
📅 International Break #2

MD11 - 21 November
âš½ Liverpool v Man Utd

MD12 - 28 November
âš½ Arsenal v Man City
âš½ Everton v Liverpool

MD14 - 5 December
âš½ Chelsea v Liverpool
âš½ Tottenham v Arsenal

MD15 - 12 December
âš½ Man City v Chelsea

MD16 - 19 December
âš½ Arsenal v Man Utd
âš½ Liverpool v Tottenham

Premier League 2026/27 Team Guide

Arsenal - Can champions make it back-to-back titles?

The Manager

Mikel Arteta: W213 - D67 - L73 (Win % - 60.3)

After serving his apprenticeship as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City, Arteta was appointed Arsenal manager in late 2019, and has since re-established the Gunners as regular title contenders, guiding them to second place finishes in three consecutive seasons before breaking the club's 22-year wait to lift the Premier League trophy when winning the title last season.

Desperate to add further success, especially in Europe, Arteta's possession-based approach suits his energetic, youthful squad perfectly and he looks set to enhance his reputation further as one of football's leading young managers.

Star Player

Arsenal have a squad full of brilliant players but wide attacker Bukayo Saka remains their star. He needs to add more goals and assists to his name to be considered genuine world class, but he is the Gunners' tormentor in chief and will be full of confidence after his World Cup hat-trick against France.

What to Expect

A very strong title defence

Some will argue that Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all fell below their usual standards last season, making Arsenal's path to the title a little easier. However, the Gunners still deserved to be crowned champions after proving the most consistent and complete side throughout the season.

Mikel Arteta has assembled an outstanding squad that should only improve, and Arsenal are very worthy favourites to retain the Premier League title.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

KEY: EASY - GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING - CAN GO EITHER WAY - WILL BE TOUGH - HARD

Please Note: Fixture difficulty is based on projected Match Odds.

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Arsenal v COV (H) AVL (a) CHE (H) SUN (a) BHA (a)

Manchester City - Can Citizens wrestle title back post-Guardiola?

The Manager

Enzo Maresca: W95 - D25 - L39 (Win % - 59.8)

Similar to Arteta, after learning under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Maresca established himself as one of football's brightest young coaches by guiding Leicester City to the Championship title before enjoying success with Chelsea, including winning the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Maresca's style - building attacks from the back and using an inverted full-back to overload midfield - has been widely praised, including from Arteta himself who once credited Maresca with building a young Chelsea side into the best attacking team in the league "by a mile".

Last season proved disappointing and he left Chelsea midway through the campaign. His departure was widely linked with the opportunity to succeed Guardiola at Manchester City.

Star Player

Manchester City have a squad littered with brilliant, creative players but goals win games so Erling Haaland is undoubtedly their star man given that he has won the Premier League Golden Boot in three of his four seasons in England.

What to Expect

A strong title challenge if Maresca settles quickly

Manchester City endured a disappointing campaign by their own exceptionally high standards last season, but writing them off would be a mistake.

Enzo Maresca has inherited one of the strongest squads in Europe and, if he can successfully implement his ideas while getting the best from his wealth of attacking talent, City should be firmly in the title race once again.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Man City v BOU (H) CRY (a) COV (H) MUN (a) SUN (H)

Liverpool - Can Reds regain Premier League title?

The Manager

Andoni Iraola: W131 - D98 - L112 (Win % - 38.4)

In three seasons as Bournemouth manager Iraola earned huge praise for his style of football - mainly relentless pressing and high intensity - man management and ultimately, his team's results, leading the Cherries to 12th, 9th and 6th place finishes, culminating with the south coast club qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history.

As a result, the Spaniard secured one of football's biggest jobs by taking charge of Liverpool, replacing Arne Slot at the end of the season. His high-energy approach appears well suited to Anfield, where supporters have long embraced aggressive, front-foot football.

Star Player

He didn't live up to his price tag last season but don't be surprised if Florian Wirtz has an excellent campaign for the Reds. Thanks to his vision, his sublime passing ability, and his quick thinking, he has everything you need in a world class attacking midfielder.

What to Expect

A title challenge mixed with entertainment

Iraola's appointment promises an exciting new chapter at Anfield, with Liverpool expected to play front-foot football that should produce plenty of goals and entertainment.

While adapting to a new manager always brings an element of uncertainty, the Reds possess the quality, depth and winning mentality to challenge at the top of the table. If Andoni Iraola's methods click quickly, Liverpool should be firmly in the hunt for the Premier League title.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Liverpool v NEW (a) NFO (H) IPS (a) FUL (H) BOU (a)

Manchester United - Is this the season United mount a title challenge?

The Manager

Michael Carrick: W77 - D28 - L51 (Win % - 49.4)

After a three-game caretaker spell at Old Trafford at the end of 2021, Carrick's first permanent managerial role was with Championship side Middlesbrough, where initially he won many plaudits and was a firm favourite with the supporters, especially for his extremely calm demeanour and excellent man-management.

But he failed to win promotion during his spell on Teesside, and when Boro could only finish 10th at the end of the 2024/25 Championship season Carrick was sacked.

Carrick's return to Old Trafford was a successful one, winning 12 and drawing three of his 17 games in charge as interim boss, which resulted in United returning to the Champions League and Carrick getting the job on a permanent basis. The big negative is that he's yet to fully convince that he has the tactical knowledge to be a success at the highest level so early into his managerial career.

Star Player

Whoever Man United sign before the start of the season, their star man will once again be Bruno Fernandes. Arguably one of the Premier League's best ever players he was instrumental in helping United finish third last season thanks to his record-breaking number of assists.

What to Expect

No better than a top-four finish

Manchester United appear to be heading in the right direction under Michael Carrick, but expecting them to challenge for the title may be asking too much at this stage. Carrick is still relatively inexperienced at the highest level and, while the squad has improved, it arguably lacks the quality and consistency of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.

Champions League qualification should be the realistic target, with a top-four finish representing a successful Premier League campaign.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Man Utd v HUL (a) IPS (H) EVE (a) MCI (H) FUL (a)

Chelsea - Can the Blues bounce back into European places?

The Manager

Xabi Alonso (excluding Real Sociedad B): W112 - D37 - L25 (Win % - 64.4)

After a hugely successful period as Bayer Leverkusen manager, which included winning the Bundesliga title in 2024, Alonso endured a difficult time as boss of La Liga giants Real Madrid last season. He left the club by mutual consent just nine months into his role but his reputation as one of the best young managers in Europe remained intact, and Chelsea came calling at the end of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Alonso was a serial winner as a player and he has bags of Premier League experience thanks to his five seasons as a key component of Liverpool's midfield. His calm nature as a player is reflected in his management style which may well suit one of the Premier League's largest, and most youthful, squads.

Star Player

He had a stop-start campaign last season due to injuries, but when fully fit Chelsea's star man is undoubtedly Cole Palmer. He can play anywhere across the attack, has brilliant feet and a quick mind, and he will be the Blues' main goalscoring threat regardless of who plays as the team's main striker.

What to Expect

Strong top-four contenders who could challenge for the title

Despite Xabi Alonso's short, unsuccessful spell as Real Madrid boss, he arrives at Stamford Bridge with a big reputation after guiding Bayer Leverkusen to Bundesliga glory, and his calm, intelligent approach should bring further improvement to an already talented squad.

A top-four finish looks a realistic expectation, but if Alonso can make an immediate impact and Chelsea find consistency over the course of the season, they have every chance of emerging as genuine title challengers.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Chelsea v FUL (a) BHA (H) ARS (a) HUL (H) BRE (a)

Tottenham Hotspur - Can Spurs leave recent relegation battles in the past?

The Manager

Roberto De Zerbi: W201 - D111 - L157 (Win % - 42.9)

Although only 47-years-old De Zerbi has been around the managerial blocks a bit, enjoying minor success with Italian side Foggia and leading Ukranian club Shakhtar Donetsk before making a name for himself in this country with an impressive two seasons at Brighton.

Following another successful stint as Marseille boss, De Zerbi returned to England tasked with keeping Tottenham in the Premier League, which he duly did at the end of last season meaning excitement and expectation has been raised ahead of his first full season in charge of the North London club.

With better luck with injuries, Spurs fans will be hoping De Zerbi's entertaining style can return the club to competing at the higher end of the Premier League table.

Star Player

Despite Tottenham signing some big-name players during the summer their star man is likely to be Mohammed Kudus. His excellent ball-carrying skills, ability to take on players, long range passing, and eye for goal mark him out as one of the most versatile attackers in the Premier League.

What to Expect

Significant improvement after summer spending spree

Tottenham simply have to improve after enduring back-to-back 17th-place finishes, a return that falls well below the club's ambitions and expectations. The appointment of Roberto De Zerbi offers genuine reason for optimism, while significant investment in the transfer market over the summer suggests the club are determined to push back towards the European places.

And not just any European place, we have to expect Spurs to be in the hunt for Champions League qualification given their summer signings and big-name players returning from long-term injuries.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Spurs v BRE (a) NEW (H) NFO (a) EVE (H) AVL (H)

Aston Villa - Can Emery keep Villa among the elite?

The Manager

Unai Emery: W602 - D240 - L280 (Win % - 53.7)

One of Europe's most accomplished and experienced managers, Emery has enjoyed success in Spain, France and England, winning the Europa League no less than five times with three different clubs. He took over Aston Villa in late 2022 with the club sitting 16th in the Premier League table, and has since transformed the club into regular top four contenders, qualifying for the Champions League on two occasions.

Due to his experience, Emery is one of the most tactically-versatile managers in the game who prides himself on meticulous preparation, all of which has made him one of the Premier League's, and Europe's, most respected managers.

Star Player

With Aston Villa losing stars such as Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers during the summer it could turn into a difficult campaign for Unai Emery's men, so step forward one of the world's best goalkeepers, Emiliano Martinez. A brilliant shot-stopper, Martinez was arguably the Player of the Match in the recent World Cup final where he made an incredible 11 saves to deny Spain before eventually conceding in extra-time.

What to Expect

A battle to remain in the top six

Aston Villa have established themselves as regular European contenders under Unai Emery, but another top-six finish may prove harder to achieve this season. The departures of influential duo Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers leave sizeable gaps to fill, while several of their rivals are expected to improve after disappointing campaigns last term.

Villa should remain highly competitive, but they may need to be at their very best to fend off the challenge of clubs chasing the European places.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Villa v BHA (a) ARS (H) HUL (a) NFO (H) TOT (a)

Newcastle United - Can Magpies bounce back from disappointing season?

The Manager

Eddie Howe: W340 - D162 - L274 (Win % - 43.8)

Another relatively young manager that has been around for a long time, Howe is now just two years out from 20 years in management despite still being only 48-years-old. After two hugely successful stints at Bournemouth he took over the Newcastle job in late 2021, won the League Cup in 2025, and qualified for the Champions League on two occasions.

Howe has always relied on a well-organised and hard-working team that allow his attackers the freedom to press high and attack with purpose. He is regarded as one of England's top coaches and is always in the conversation when the England national team vacancy comes around.

Star Player

Assuming he remains a Newcastle player then dynamic midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is the star man for the Magpies. An exceptional all-round midfielder with an eye for goal, he was named Newcastle's Player of the Season last term, and he is one of just a handful of Brazilians who can hold their head up high following Brazil's early World Cup exit.

What to Expect

Back pushing for European qualification

Newcastle should be back in the hunt for European qualification after a disappointing campaign last season, and with no continental football to contend with, Eddie Howe can focus solely on the Premier League, giving the Magpies a valuable advantage over several of their rivals.

While they may lack the depth to trouble the division's leading clubs, a challenge for a top six finish looks well within reach. They'll also be desperate to finish above fierce North East rivals Sunderland and restore local bragging rights.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Newcastle v LIV (H) TOT (a) BOU (H) LEE (a) HUL (H)

Brighton - Can Seagulls break into the top six?

The Manager

Fabian Hurzeler: W112 - D65 - L69 (Win % - 45.5)

After winning promotion to the Bundesliga with German side St. Pauli, Hurzeler became the youngest Premier League manager in history when appointed Brighton boss at the age of just 31 in the summer of 2024.

Known for being a composed and very intelligent manager, Hurzeler has maintained Brighton's recent progression by recording back-to-back eighth place finishes in his two seasons in charge at the Amex, qualifying the club to play in the Europa Conference League this season.

Star Player

Although he didn't have the best of seasons last term, largely down to being in and out of the team because of injuries, Kaoru Mitoma remains Brighton's star man. His blistering pace and excellent dribbling ability marks him out as one of the Premier League's most exciting players, and his tendency to pop up with crucial goals is another huge asset.

What to Expect

Another comfortable top-half finish

Brighton have earned a reputation as one of the Premier League's most consistent clubs, finishing no lower than 11th in each of the last five seasons and breaking into the top 10 on four occasions.

Fabian Hurzeler has continued that upward trajectory, but the Seagulls still appear to lack the depth and star quality needed to consistently challenge the top six places. Another comfortable top-half finish looks the most realistic outcome.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Brighton v AVL (H) CHE (a) LEE (H) COV (a) ARS (H)

Bournemouth - Can Cherries continue to blossom under Rose?

The Manager

Marco Rose: W239 - D78 - L98 (Win % - 57.6)

Barring two seasons managing Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, Rose has spent all his managerial career in Germany, most notably with Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. He enjoyed great success at Salzburg, winning the Austrian Bundesliga in both seasons he was there as well as the Austrian Cup, and he won both the German Cup and German Super Cup with Leipzig, so there is no doubt that he has a winning mentality.

Known for developing young players and building competitive, high energy teams, Rose returns to management with Bournemouth after a year out of the game, and he may well turn out to be one of the Premier League's most intriguing new managerial appointments.

Star Player

Brazilian winger Rayan not only has the potential to be Bournemouth's star player this term, he has the potential to be one of the Premier League's standout performers. The 19-year-old joined the Cherries in the January transfer window but quickly became a fan favourite due to his fast and direct style of play, his excellent dribbling skills, and his eye for goal, scoring five goals in just 15 appearances.

What to Expect

No improvement but mid-table still likely

Bournemouth have improved year on year in each of the last four Premier League seasons, climbing from 15th to 12th, then ninth and sixth. If that trend continued, they'd remarkably finish third this time around, although that may be asking a little too much.

The departure of Andoni Iraola is undoubtedly a blow, but Marco Rose looks an astute replacement and the Cherries have developed a habit of outperforming expectations. Another mid-table finish, and perhaps even another top-10 placing, looks well within their reach.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Bournemouth v MCI (a) EVE (H) NEW (a) BRE (H) LIV (H)

Everton - Is this the season the Toffees finally kick on?

The Manager

David Moyes: W512 - D301 - L398 (Win % - 42.3)

The Premier League's most experienced active manager, Moyes has enjoyed a career spanning almost three decades, and although in terms of silverware his only major success is winning the Europa Conference League with West Ham, he has a reputation for building competitive teams capable of outperforming expectations.

Moyes returned to Everton in January 2025 with the club just one point above the drop zone, but just two months later he won the Manager of the Month award and easily guided the Toffees to safety, consolidating his status as one of Everton's most-liked managers.

Star Player

Hard-working midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall flourished under David Moyes' management last season and he is set to become a major player for the Toffees this term. Following his move from Chelsea he has fast become a fan favourite due to his incredible work rate and progressive passing, and with eight goals to his name last term he clearly has an eye for goal.

What to Expect

Improvement, but Europe remains unlikely

Everton appear to be on a much more stable footing after several difficult seasons, with David Moyes bringing experience and organisation while the club should also benefit from having a full season under their belts at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees have failed to finish higher than 13th in each of the last five campaigns, but they look capable of improving on that this season. Challenging for Europe may still be beyond the Toffees, although a comfortable mid-table finish would represent progress, and probably the very least the fans now expect.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Everton v CRY (H) BOU (a) MUN (H) TOT (a) IPS (H)

Brentford - Can the Bees repeat last season's heroics?

The Manager

Keith Andrews: W18 - D13 - L14 (Win % - 40)

Eyebrows were raised when Brentford set-piece coach Andrews was given the permanent manager role at the club following the exit of Thomas Frank, and largely because of his inexperience the Bees were considered among the favourites for relegation last season.

But Brentford performed way above expectations under Andrews' guidance and for most of the season they were positioned in the European qualifying places. They eventually missed out on Europe by just one place, but a top 10 finish was a great achievement, suggesting that Andrews is more than capable of managing at the top level.

Star Player

As we've already said, goals win games, and but for Igor Thiago's goals last season then who knows where Brentford would have finished. The Brazilian scored 25 goals for the Bees in 40 appearances in all competitions with only Erling Haaland scoring more than him in the Premier League.

What to Expect

Not as good as last season but safe from relegation

Brentford have established themselves as a competitive Premier League side, four times finishing inside the top 13 in the last five seasons, and they should have enough quality to avoid any serious concerns at the wrong end of the table.

Keith Andrews faces the challenge of maintaining the impressive standards he set in his debut season, so matching last season's ninth-place finish could prove difficult. With the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham expected to improve this term the Bees may slip down the standings, and a mid-table finish may be the best they can hope for.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Brentford v TOT (H) LEE (a) SUN (H) BOU (a) CHE (H)

Leeds United - Back for good or facing another relegation battle?

The Manager

Daniel Farke (excluding Dortmund II): W173 - D101 - L118 (Win % - 44.1)

Farke has enjoyed enormous success in the English Championship, winning the league three times with Norwich City (2018-19 & 2022-21) and Leeds United (2024-25). After securing his first promotion to the Premier League with Norwich he was relegated the following season, and in his second season in the Premier League, again with Norwich, he was sacked four months into the campaign.

After a brief spell in Germany, where he was sacked from Borussia Monchengladbach after just one season in charge, he returned to England with Leeds and won promotion to the Premier League in his second season. Last season he won many plaudits for securing Leeds' safety in the top flight - which included famous wins over Chelsea and Manchester United - as well as guiding the club to a FA Cup semi-final.

Star Player

Anton Stach enjoyed an excellent debut season in the Premier League and he's likely to be one of Leeds' key players this term. A strong, powerful central midfielder, he can read the game superbly, is excellent in the air, has a sublime passing ability, loves to shoot from distance, and he's not bad at free-kicks either!

What to Expect

Entertainment and a potential surprise package

Leeds have developed into one of the Premier League's most entertaining sides since Daniel Farke adopted a more adventurous approach (when trailing 2-0 at Man City last term), with the Whites regularly playing on the front foot and creating exciting, end-to-end contests. If they maintain that philosophy, they should have enough attacking quality to trouble plenty of teams this season.

Avoiding relegation looks well within their capabilities and, after signing Harry Wilson from Fulham, if they can add greater consistency to their attacking performances then don't be surprised if Leeds emerge as one of the Premier League's surprise packages with a push for a top-half finish.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Leeds v NFO (a) BRE (H) BHA (a) NEW (H) CRY (H)

Nottingham Forest - Can Forest challenge top half?

The Manager

Oliver Glasner: W237 - D137 - L138 (Win % - 47.2)

After almost a decade in management, mostly in Austria, Glasner rose to prominence when winning the UEFA Europa League in 2022 with German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, before being appointed Crystal Palace manager in early 2024.

Glasner enjoyed enormous success in his two and a half seasons at Selhurst Park, leading the club to a 12th-place finish in 2025 with a club-record 53 points, winning the FA Cup by beating Man City in the 2025 final, and then winning the Europa Conference League last season.

With his stock still very high it was slightly surprising that he became manager of a Nottingham Forest team that narrowly avoided relegation last term, and it's going to be fascinating to see how his relationship with owner Evangelos Maranakis plays out given that Glasner is well known for wanting to do things his own way, and his way only.

Star Player

He's likely to be in high demand during the summer, but if remaining a Forest player then Morgan Gibbs-White will once again by his team's catalyst. Superb at bringing the ball forward and spotting a chance-creating pass, the high-energy attacking midfielder is one of the best in the Premier League in his role, and last season registered 19 goal contributions for a team that struggled for most of the campaign.

What to Expect

A chaotic season with managerial uncertainty

Nottingham Forest have shown they can compete with the Premier League's best on their day, but there are plenty of reasons to believe this could be an unpredictable campaign. Club owner Evangelos Marinakis has never been shy about changing managers when results fall below expectations, while Oliver Glasner is the type of coach who likes to work on his own terms.

Keeping hold of Morgan Gibbs-White also feels crucial, as losing their creative talisman would leave Forest significantly weaker. If things click they should be comfortably clear of trouble, but if they don't, Forest could find themselves dragged into a relegation battle.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Forest v LEE (H) LIV (a) TOT (H) AVL (a) COV (H)

Crystal Palace - Can Palace maintain mid-table status?

The Manager

Pierre Sage: W66 - D19 - L24 (Win % - 60.6)

More than 10 years had passed between Sage's 13-game managerial stint at French lower-league side Chambery and his surprise appointment as Lyon manager in 2023 where he guided the club to Europa League qualification.

In his one season as Lens boss Sage won the French Cup and finished second to Paris SG in Ligue 1 which earned him a move to Crystal Palace. Relatively unknown to Premier League fans, Sage at least arrives at Selhurst Park as a manager with very little scar tissue and seemingly on an upward trajectory.

Star Player

At 28-years-old attacking midfielder Ismaila Sarr is likely approaching the peak of his career and will be one of Palace's key players this term. Strong, dynamic, and an excellent dribbler with a rapid turn of foot, Sarr has the ability to give opposing defenders nightmares when on his game.

What to Expect

The same again at best

Crystal Palace have become one of the Premier League's most consistent mid-table clubs, remarkably finishing between 10th and 15th in each of the last 13 seasons. While last season's Europa Conference League success was a memorable achievement, following on from their FA Cup triumph 12 months earlier, the departure of Oliver Glasner leaves Pierre Sage with the task of maintaining those standards.

Sage is regarded as a promising coach, but he remains relatively inexperienced at this level and significant improvement in the league looks unlikely. Palace should have enough quality to steer clear of relegation, although another finish in the lower half of mid-table appears the most realistic outcome.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Palace v EVE (a) MCI (H) FUL (a) IPS (H) LEE (a)

Fulham - Can former Real Madrid boss keep them up?

The Manager

Alvaro Arbeloa (excluding Real Madrid B): W18 - D2 - L8 (Win % - 64.3)

Although on the face of it, any manager with a 64.3 win percentage looks great, but sadly not in the case of Arbeloa. After managing Real Madrid's reserves (Real Madrid B) he was surprisingly given the job to manage the senior team following Xabi Alonso's departure.

On his debut Arbeloa's Real Madrid team lost at home to second division side Albacete in the Copa del Rey, and although Real Madrid would finish second in La Liga, they lost eight of 28 games under Arbeloa's manager. He could turn out to be a great appointment by Fulham, but right now he has a lot to prove.

Star Player

Not a star player from previous seasons, but one who could easily be Fulham's star man this season is goalkeeper Bernd Leno. With nine clean sheets last season, Leno is experienced, agile and an excellent shot stopper, and those attributes are likely to be called upon regularly during this campaign for a Fulham team expected to struggle.

What to Expect

A battle to avoid relegation

Fulham face what could be their toughest Premier League campaign for several years after a summer of significant change. Marco Silva's departure ends a relatively successful spell at Craven Cottage, while new boss Alvaro Arbeloa arrives with little managerial experience at this level.

The losses of influential winger Harry Wilson and leading scorer Raul Jimenez also leave obvious gaps to fill. Fulham should remain competitive, but they look more vulnerable than in recent seasons and could find themselves involved in a battle to avoid the drop.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Fulham v CHE (H) SUN (a) CRY (H) LIV (a) MUN (H)

Sunderland - Can Black Cats avoid Second Season Syndrome now in Europe?

The Manager

Regis Le Bris: W61 - D48 - L60 (Win % - 49.4)

In just two seasons in charge of Sunderland Regis Le Bris has become a firm fan favourite after guiding the club to the Premier League, and then not only securing the Black Cats' Premier League safety when favourites to be relegated, but leading the club to a seventh-place finish which qualified Sunderland to play in this season's Europa League.

His calm nature, ability to adapt tactically, and desire to develop young players has quickly turned Le Bris into one of France's brightest you managers, and any further success with Sunderland will undoubtedly make him a manager in demand.

Star Player

After impressing at Ajax, it wasn't until the second half of last season that Sunderland got to see striker Bryan Brobbey at his best, and the powerful target man will be expected to improve further with a full season of Premier League football behind him. After scoring three goals in three starts for the Netherlands at the World Cup, he should arrive back on Wearside full of confidence and raring to go.

What to Expect

Second Season Syndrome

Sunderland exceeded almost everyone's expectations by finishing seventh in their first season back in the Premier League, but history suggests the second campaign can often prove far more difficult for promoted clubs.

Balancing domestic football with the added demands of the Europa League will stretch Regis Le Bris' squad, and repeating last season's heroics won't be easy. The Black Cats should still have enough quality to compete, but don't be surprised if they find themselves looking over their shoulder and battling to avoid relegation.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Sunderland v IPS (a) FUL (H) BRE (a) ARS (H) MCI (a)

Coventry City - Can Sky Blues do a Sunderland?

The Manager

Frank Lampard: W126 - D61 - L91 (Win % - 45.3)

In his short managerial career Lampard has already experienced many ups and downs, leading Derby County to the Championship play-off final in his first ever managerial role before becoming boss of his former club Chelsea. In his first season he qualifed for the Champions League and reached an FA Cup final, but he was sacked halfway through his second season in charge with the club down in mid-table.

A year with Everton (second half of the 2021-22 season and first half of the 2022-23 season) was largely played in and around the relegation zone and he was sacked again with the Toffees down in 19th. He returned to Chelsea as interim boss but he would win just one of his 11 games in charge.

Lampard's managerial fortunes changed for the better when he returned to the Championship with Coventry City, and last season he guided the club to the Championship title where he was highly praised for his entertaining, front-foot style of football. But the question marks remain as to whether this Premier League legendary player can make success of being a Premier League manager.

Star Player

Coventry could sign any amount of players before the new Premier League season commences but one player who could well emerge as a key player is hard-working midfielder Jack Rudoni. At 25-years-old he appears to be improving rapidly and was a key figure in helping Coventry win the Championship title last season because of his high energy and intelligent box-to-box play.

What to Expect

Your guess is as good as mine

Coventry City return to the Premier League on the back of an outstanding Championship-winning campaign, but predicting how they'll fare is far from straightforward. A potential summer of significant squad changes means the Sky Blues could look very different by the time the season kicks off, while Frank Lampard's Premier League record as a manager leaves more questions than answers.

The Sky Blues have the potential to follow Sunderland's lead from last season and surprise plenty of people, but they could just as easily find themselves in a battle against relegation.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Coventry v ARS (a) HUL (H) MCI (a) BHA (H) NFO (a)

Ipswich Town - Can Tractor Boys survive under new manager?

The Manager

Gary O'Neil: W44 - D23 - L60 (Win % - 34.7)

O'Neil has enjoyed mixed success in his short managerial career to date, securing Bournemouth's Premier League status in his one season at the club before winning praise for guiding Wolves to a 14th-place finish the following season. He was sacked four months into his second season at Wolves with the club 19th in the table, and after a year out of the game he managed Ligue 1 side Strasbourg for half a season following Liam Rosenior's move to Chelsea.

O'Neil have been praised for developing competitive teams despite losing key players and having limited resources, and the fact is he is yet to be relegated as a manager so Ipswich Town fans will be hopeful of being competitive, and ultimately avoiding relegation, under their new boss.

Star Player

With Ipswich expected to struggle this term, defensive midfielder Azor Matusiwa will be influential if the Tractor Boys are to remain a Premier League side. The diminutive, but very nimble 28-year-old is almost in the mould of N'golo Kante in regards to his energy, excellent reading of the game, his interception skills, and his non-stop running.

What to Expect

A decent start before potential struggles

Ipswich could make an encouraging start to life back in the Premier League thanks to a fixture list that sees them play three of their first four home games against Sunderland, Fulham and Nottingham Forest. Newly-promoted clubs often ride a wave of enthusiasm during the opening months, and the Tractor Boys will be hoping to do exactly that.

However, previous Gary O'Neil teams (Bournemouth and Wolves) developed a reputation for inconsistency, often following impressive winning runs with lengthy spells of poor results. If that pattern continues, Ipswich may find a promising start gives way to a battle for Premier League survival.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5
Ipswich v SUN (H) MUN (a) LIV (H) CRY (a) EVE (a)

Hull - Will Tigers avoid the drop?

The Manager

Sergej Jakirovic: W196 - D68 - L81 (Win % - 56.8)

If you're looking for a journeyman, then Jakirovic is your man having been registered for no fewer than 19 different football clubs in a playing career spanning 22 years. His managerial career started off in the same fashion with Jakirovic managing seven different clubs from 2017 up until being appointed Hull City boss in 2025.

He's enjoyed minor success as a manager, most notably winning the Bosnian Premier League, Croatian Football League and the Croatian Cup, but his biggest success to date is undoubtedly winning the Championship play-offs, guiding Hull to the Premier League against all odds. He'll have his work cut out to keep the Tigers in the Premier League, but it will be fascinating to see how Jakirovic gets on.

Star Player

Like Ipswich, you sense that it will be a hard-working midfielder who will be crucial to any success Hull enjoy this season. Step forward Regan Slater. The 27-year-old was a key part of Hull's promotion winning squad last season and ended the campaign being voted the Supporters' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year. Versatile, box-to-box intelligence, good vision and strong in the tackle, Slater has all the attributes to impress in the Premier League.

What to Expect

A battle to avoid the drop

Hull City face a daunting challenge to retain their Premier League status after securing promotion through the Championship play-offs with one of the lowest points totals of any promoted side in recent history. Financial constraints have also limited their ability to significantly strengthen the squad, making the step up to the top flight even tougher.

Hull will strive to be competitive and difficult to beat on their day, but having to play the likes of Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle within their first five games they could be on the back-foot straight from the get-go, and they look set for a long season in which avoiding relegation will be their only objective.

First Five Fixtures Difficulty Table

MD1

MD2

MD3

MD4

MD5

Hull v

MUN (H)

COV (a)

AVL (H)

CHE (a)

NEW (a)

Mike Norman's 1-20 Premier League Predictions

1. Arsenal

The Gunners were the best and most consistent team last season, they will have a stronger squad this time around, and now that they've gotten over the line in terms of winning the title, they will take an enormous amount of stopping.

Recommended Bet

Back Arsenal to Win the Premier League

SBK 6/4

2. Liverpool

Diego Jota's untimely death and the media circus caused by Mo Salah undoubtedly contributed to Liverpool's poor title defence last season. Big-name signings like Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak will be much better this term, and the appointment of an attack-minded, improving manager is a huge plus.

3. Manchester City

Following Pep Guardiola is going to be a huge task for Enzo Maresca - think David Moyes following Sir Alex Ferguson - and I have a hunch there'll be a few bumps in the road during a relatively successful debut Premier League campaign for the Citizens boss.

4. Chelsea

Having brought in a calm, well-balanced manager with a winning mentality, I sense that Chelsea will be much-improved this term. Alonso will settle on his best XI relatively quickly, and if the Blues can stay consistent then I fancy they'll finish in the top four.

5. Tottenham

One thing is certain: Spurs will be better than they have been for the last two seasons, and very likely considerably better. After a summer spending spree, and with star names returning from long-term injuries, it will be no surprise to see Tottenham challenging the Champions League qualifying places.

6. Manchester United

Back in the Champions League, I think Manchester United will find this season a lot tougher than last under their inexperienced boss. Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham will all be better than last season and, all things considered, I fancy United to slip outside of the top five.

7. Newcastle

There's no European distractions for Newcastle this term, and despite, for whatever reason, not being able to spend big chunks of money without having to sell, I fancy Eddie Howe will put together a good squad capable of challenging for the top six.

8. Aston Villa

Similar to Man United, it's impossible to envisage Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham not improving this season and that immediately makes it a challenge for Aston Villa to make the top six. Factor in they've got Champions League football to play, and that they've already lost some big-name players, then I'd be surprised to see Villa finish in the top six this term.

9. Everton

This could be the season that Everton break back into the top 10. They have a decent squad that with a few quality additions will make them competitive against anyone, and now that they've had a year to settle into their new stadium there's reason for them to look up rather than over their shoulders.

10. Leeds

Tottenham apart, Leeds are the team that I fancy to improve quite a lot this term. They have a strong spine, especially through Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and with the addition of Harry Wilson, I fancy their front-foot attacking football will be rewarded with some excellent results.

Recommended Bet

Back Leeds to Finish Top 10

SBK 9/4

11. Brighton

Brighton have finished eighth for the last two seasons, but again, with Chelsea and Spurs likely to improve ahead of them, I'm predicting a mid-table finish for the Seagulls. They're just a consistent mid-table team that does exactly what it says on the tin.

12. Bournemouth

Bournemouth have improved season after season and they've deservedly qualified for the Europa League, but because of that, and following the departure of Andoni Iraola - even though I'm fascinated to see how Marco Rose gets on - it will be no surprise to see them dip a little this term.

13. Brentford

As one of the favourites to be relegated last season, Brentford did brilliantly to finish ninth, and while they're likely to produce similar performances this term, as I've constantly said, you have to fancy teams that finished below them - Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle etc - to improve beyond the Bees this campaign.

14. Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace always finish in the top 15, and because of the strength of the teams likely to be involved in the relegation battle, they'll probably do so again. But it's hard to know what to expect from the Eagles this term under their relatively unknown and inexperienced new manager.

15. Ipswich

I think it's a lot harder to predict the bottom positions in the Premier League than it is the top positions, simply because there are five or six teams that are all much of a muchness, and a lot depends on who signs who. So I'm just going with my gut here, and I fancy that Ipswich will finish as the top promoted team and be safe from relegation.

16. Sunderland

I could be completely wrong but I just can't see Sunderland producing last season's heroics and finishing anywhere near seventh. They've got Europa League football to mix with domestic action, there are lots of teams I fancy to improve beyond them, and if they don't make the Stadium of Light a fortress I can see them struggling.

17. Coventry

Coventry won last season's Championship title in terrific fashion, playing entertaining football and scoring loads of goals. But this is a completely different kettle of fish and Frank Lampard hasn't exactly impressed in previous Premier League jobs. It'll go down to the wire, but they might just survive.

18. Nottingham Forest

If Forest lose Morgan Gibbs-White in the summer transfer window, and if they start slowly, then the Maranakis/Glasner partnership could be a car crash. Don't be surprised if the Austrian doesn't see the season out. But by the same token, Glasner could make Forest really competitive again. At this stage, I prefer the former.

19. Fulham

Along with Sunderland, Fulham are the team that I fancy to drop off most from last season to this, and I can easily see them being in a relegation battle. The departure of manager Marco Silva along with players like Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez are blows, and I'm not convinced at all about their new boss.

Recommended Bet

Back Fulham to be Relegated

SBK 11/2

20. Hull

We saw with Sunderland last season that being promoted through the play-offs, and being long odds-on to be relegated, doesn't mean you should be completely written off. But unlike Sunderland, Hull won't be spending £100m+ and they look to have a huge task on their hands to avoid the drop.

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Mike Norman

Sport fanatic with a particular love of football, golf, snooker and horse-racing

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