As the Premier League campaign draws to a close, every club will now be taking stock of their season’s performance and how they measured up to expectations.
Ambitions vary widely across the league — while some teams were eyeing the title, others were simply relieved to have avoided relegation.
So how did each side actually fare? FourFourTwo has assigned a grade for every club’s 2025/26 season. Let’s take a look at who passed with flying colours and who fell short.
20th
Underperformed
Joao Gomes
By every measure, it has been a grim campaign for Wolves, who started poorly and soon became the league’s easy targets. A slight upturn followed Rob Edwards’ arrival as manager in place of Vitor Pereira, and just about avoiding a record-low points total counts as some consolation. However, poor recruitment last summer has brought an end to eight consecutive seasons in the top flight.
19th
Expectations met
Martin Dubravka
Burnley’s season has felt like a repeat of their previous Premier League stint, confirming their status as the league’s new yo-yo club. After collecting 100 points in the Championship under Scott Parker, there was cautious optimism entering 2025/26. But once again, the jump in quality has proved too steep. Their limited investment compared to fellow promoted sides Leeds United and Sunderland has ultimately been their undoing.
18th
Underperformed
Cristian Romero
Spurs have endured a disastrous season, sinking to new lows in the Premier League. The Thomas Frank era began with promise but quickly disintegrated, followed by the puzzling short-term appointment of Igor Tudor. Roberto De Zerbi’s late arrival in March came too late to rescue them. After finishing 17th last season, this campaign has been another major disappointment.
17th
Underperformed
Jarrod Bowen
West Ham’s slide toward the relegation zone continued this year, raising serious questions about the club’s direction. Despite heavy spending, performances have remained inconsistent. Nuno Espirito Santo did manage to steer them clear of danger after a dreadful start, but fans will expect a big improvement next season.
16th
Underperformed
Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest’s sharp decline from Champions League contenders last season to a relegation battle this time has been startling. Owner Evangelos Marinakis went through several managerial changes before settling on former Wolves coach Pereira, who eventually secured survival. While safety was achieved, the club’s strong Europa League run was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing domestic season.
15th
Overperformed
Anton Stach
Leeds United spent much of the season hovering near the drop zone but rallied impressively toward the end, highlighted by an unforgettable win at Old Trafford. Daniel Farke’s side secured safety — a significant achievement for a club newly promoted from the Championship. The focus now will be on consolidating their Premier League status.
14th
Underperformed
Bruno Guimaraes
After finishing fifth in 2024/25 and returning to the Champions League, Newcastle United were expected to repeat that feat. Instead, Eddie Howe’s men have languished in mid-table, far closer to the relegation zone than the top five. For a club with Saudi-backed financial muscle, this has been a disappointing campaign, and fans will soon demand answers if progress stalls further.
13th
Expectations met
Maxence Lacroix
Crystal Palace looked to be building momentum under Oliver Glasner early on, but a poor run of results changed the mood. Glasner’s decision to step down, coupled with his criticism of fans, overshadowed an otherwise successful period that included an FA Cup win and a decent Conference League showing. In the league, Palace have once again maintained mid-table stability.
12th
Overperformed
Granit Xhaka
Sunderland have been the model for newly promoted clubs, consistently exceeding expectations. Despite heavy investment, their rise from a Championship side that finished fourth with 76 points to a mid-table Premier League outfit is remarkable. Regis Le Bris has built a competitive squad that, at one stage, looked capable of a top-half finish.
11th
Expectations met
James Garner
Everton’s first season in their new stadium has been a mixed bag. At times, David Moyes’ side showed the potential to achieve more, but inconsistency held them back. While finishing slightly higher than last season’s 13th place, the overall improvement has been modest.
10th
Expectations met
Harry Wilson
Fulham’s campaign has mirrored Everton’s — flashes of brilliance offset by frustrating inconsistency. Marco Silva’s side have shown they can compete with stronger teams, though fans will hope the club can push on from mid-table and aim higher in the future.
9th
Overperformed
Igor Thiago
Brentford continue to outperform expectations despite losing key figures such as manager Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa. Under new boss Keith Andrews, the Bees have once again demonstrated their exceptional recruitment strategy, securing another top-half finish.
8th
Underperformed
Joao Pedro
Chelsea’s turbulent season has left fans frustrated. Despite spending over £1 billion on transfers, the squad still lacks leadership and balance. Enzo Maresca’s promising start ended abruptly with his dismissal, and Liam Rosenior’s appointment did little to stabilise the team. Supporters are increasingly questioning the club’s direction under its current ownership.
7th
Overperformed
Marcos Senesi
Bournemouth continue to defy expectations, proving themselves one of Europe’s hardest sides to beat. Their long unbeaten run this season was the best among clubs in Europe’s top five leagues. Despite too many draws preventing a higher finish, the Cherries’ progress under departing coach Andoni Iraola has been impressive.
6th
Expectations met
Jan Paul van Hecke
Brighton have quietly put together another strong campaign under the intelligent guidance of Fabian Hurzeler. Competing for European places is no easy task, but the Seagulls have managed it with consistency. If they can retain Hurzeler and continue smart recruitment, their upward trajectory could continue.
5th
Overperformed
Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa’s return to the Champions League marks a fitting reward for their efforts this season. After a slow start, Unai Emery’s men found their rhythm and balanced domestic and European commitments admirably. Villa Park is once again a happy place after several difficult years.
4th
Underperformed
Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool’s ambitious summer spending spree, including signings like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike, had fans dreaming of back-to-back titles. However, they fell well short of retaining their crown, scraping into the Champions League places instead. Manager Arne Slot has faced pressure, though late-season improvements have likely earned him more time to rebuild.
3rd
Overperformed
Bruno Fernandes
After last year’s disastrous 15th-place finish, Manchester United’s revival under interim boss Michael Carrick has been remarkable. The former midfielder has reinvigorated the team, guiding them back to the Champions League. With no European distractions this year, United’s focus on the league paid off handsomely.
2nd
Expectations met
Erling Haaland
Manchester City may not have looked as dominant as in previous Pep Guardiola seasons, but they still managed to push Arsenal all the way in the title race. After early inconsistencies, City found form late in the season, producing another thrilling finale.
1st
Overperformed
Declan Rice
After more than 20 years without a Premier League title, Arsenal have finally reclaimed the crown. Mikel Arteta’s pragmatic and disciplined approach may have divided opinion, but it has delivered results. It wasn’t always pretty, yet the Gunners have once again established themselves as a dominant force in English football.
