2025-26 Premier League Season Preview: Liverpool Leads the Charge
Exciting Start to the Premier League Season
The anticipation builds as the 2025-26 Premier League season is set to commence on August 15, featuring thrilling matches and intense competition. The opening match will take place at Anfield, where defending champions Liverpool will face Bournemouth.
Liverpool, under the guidance of Arne Slot, aims to defend their title, but they will face stiff competition from Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea, who recently won the FIFA Club World Cup. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are looking to recover from disappointing seasons, finishing 15th and 17th respectively last year.
Tottenham can take solace in their Europa League victory over United, which secured them a spot in the Champions League with new manager Thomas Frank. Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also eyeing a top-four finish, despite facing challenges in the transfer market.
Promoted teams Burnley, Leeds United, and Sunderland will strive to avoid the fate of many newly promoted clubs that have struggled to stay in the Premier League.
Liverpool Remains the Team to Beat
Liverpool fans have experienced a tumultuous journey, celebrating last season's title while mourning the loss of Diogo Jota. Historically, the six-time European champions have thrived in challenging times.
After becoming the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League, Slot has quickly restructured the squad. Liverpool has invested nearly £300 million this summer, with potential signings like Alexander Isak on the horizon.
New arrivals such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili have bolstered the team, compensating for the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, and Jarell Quansah.
According to predictions from Opta's supercomputer, Liverpool holds a 28.5% chance of retaining their title, while Arsenal poses a significant threat with a 24.3% probability of ending their 21-year title drought. Manchester City, eager to rebound from a trophyless season, has an 18.8% chance.
Challenges Ahead for Manchester United and Spurs
The outlook for Manchester United and Tottenham is grim, as the supercomputer forecasts little hope for both teams.
United's chances of winning the league stand at a mere 0.6%, with only a 6.7% likelihood of finishing in the top four. Under Ruben Amorim, the team has made some signings, but last season's scoring issues persist, with only 44 goals scored—the lowest outside the relegation zone—and a record 18 league losses. Their most probable finish is around 12th or 13th.
Despite Tottenham's Europa League success, they have undergone a managerial change, with Thomas Frank replacing Ange Postecoglou. Their most notable signing has been Mohammed Kudus, but the departure of club legend Son Heung-min signifies a major transition. Defensive weaknesses are a concern, as Spurs conceded 65 league goals last season, predicting a likely finish of 15th with a 7.6% chance of making the top four.
The Battle for the Top Four
Chelsea's recent Club World Cup victory has sparked renewed hope at Stamford Bridge. While their title chances are modest at 8.4%, they have a strong 40.3% probability of securing a top-four finish, with fourth place being the most common outcome at 10.9%.
Aston Villa (30.5%) and Newcastle (29.9%) are seen as Chelsea's closest competitors. Villa narrowly missed out on European competition last season and is projected to finish fifth (9.6%). Newcastle's summer has been challenging, with missed transfer opportunities, but they are still expected to finish sixth (9%).
Crystal Palace, Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest are also expected to contend for a top-half finish.
Difficult Times for Newly Promoted Teams
Recent trends have not been kind to newly promoted clubs, with six teams relegated in the last two seasons. Historically, only three times have all promoted teams faced relegation, with two instances occurring recently.
Sunderland, returning to the Premier League after eight years, faces a daunting challenge, with a 34.1% chance of finishing last and a 66.4% likelihood of relegation. Manager Regis Le Bris has made over £110 million in signings, including young talents and experienced players, but survival will be a significant test.
Leeds, the Championship winners, also face relegation concerns, with a predicted 48% chance of dropping down and a likely finish of 19th.
Burnley, despite losing key goalkeeper James Trafford to Manchester City, appears the strongest of the promoted teams, though they still face a 45.9% chance of relegation and a 16.6% likelihood of finishing at the bottom.
The relegation battle may also involve Wolves (26.4%), West Ham (21.9%), and potentially Fulham, who, despite being mid-table, are projected to struggle this season with a 14.7% chance of relegation.
Conclusion
In summary, while Liverpool is favored to lead the pack, Arsenal is closely trailing, and Manchester City remains a formidable contender. The race for the top four promises to be intense, while the newly promoted teams face a challenging road ahead.