17 August 2026

A new Premier League era gets under way on Friday as reigning champions Arsenal begin a campaign that appears set to be one of the most unpredictable in years.

Pep Guardiola’s exit from Manchester City after a decade of dominance comes at the same time as Arsenal starting a season as defending champions for the first time in 22 years. Mikel Arteta is now the Premier League’s longest-serving manager, and that relative stability at the Gunners stands in stark contrast to the turbulence elsewhere in the division.

Nine Premier League clubs changed managers during the summer, while Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi are set for their first full seasons at Manchester United and Tottenham respectively. There are also major unknowns across the league, with Andoni Iraola taking over at Liverpool and Xabi Alonso arriving at Chelsea.

Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City came up from the Championship last season, replacing relegated trio West Ham, Burnley and Wolves. All three will look for inspiration from Sunderland, who qualified for Europe last term in their first season back in the top flight.

How will it unfold this time? Here is our predicted table...

Last season: Promoted via play-offs

A very warm welcome back to Hull, and apologies in advance for where they place in this ranking. Hull’s return to the Premier League follows one of the strangest promotion campaigns in recent memory. According to Opta, Sergej Jakirovic’s team ranked 23rd in the Championship for expected points, yet they defied those underlying numbers not only to avoid relegation to League One but also to reach the play-offs and win promotion by beating Middlesbrough at Wembley, after Southampton were kicked out, of course. Even after a busy transfer window full of arrivals and departures, Hull are favourites for the drop and this could turn into a very long season.

Hull City are back in the Premier League only two seasons after finishing 21st in the Championship.

Last season: Championship runners-up

Ipswich have an immediate chance to return to the Premier League after their fairly forgettable relegation in 2024-25. It has also brought a shift in approach. Moving away from simply hoovering up the best talent in the Championship and casting the net wider has led to the club-record signing of striker Emersonn from Toulouse and the arrival of Daizen Maeda from Celtic. But will that be enough? Gary O’Neil, previously of Bournemouth and Wolves, still has an enormous task after succeeding Kieran McKenna, who said he needed a break from football after three promotions and one relegation in four seasons, while perhaps also recognising the scale of the challenge ahead.

Gary O’Neil left Strasbourg to take charge of Ipswich after the sudden resignation of the popular Kieran McKenna.

Last season: Championship winners

Of the three promoted teams, Coventry seem to carry the greatest momentum, helped by ending their 25-year absence from the Premier League and the emotion of last season’s unexpected promotion push under Frank Lampard. The dark days may now be behind them, but bridging the gap to the Premier League is harder than ever. If Sunderland’s ambitious transfer strategy on their return last season is the model for success, Coventry have responded by breaking their transfer record twice, including the £26m signing of 20-year-old midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi. But their most important piece of business may be keeping hold of Lampard, who gets another chance in the Premier League after previous sackings at Chelsea and Everton.

Frank Lampard returns for his third spell in charge of a Premier League club, after Chelsea and Everton.

Last season: 11th

There are reasons to worry about Fulham. Marco Silva’s departure after five outstanding years has created unease around Craven Cottage, and the appointment of former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa, following his prickly caretaker spell at Real Madrid, has not yet done much to calm those fears. Arbeloa has brought two young talents with him from Real Madrid in striker Gonzalo Garcia and midfielder Cesar Palacios, and Fulham will be counting on their potential. But there are also major gaps to fill after player of the season Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez both left at the end of their contracts, like Silva. With Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United among their first five opponents, Arbeloa needs a strong start to stop Fulham slipping into an early sense of dread.

Gonzalo Garcia, 22, scored six league goals last season for Real Madrid and worked with Arbeloa in Spain.

Last season: 12th

Has the Tyneside exodus left Newcastle looking like relegation candidates? In less than 18 months, the Magpies have gone from winning the Carabao Cup and qualifying for the Champions League to losing Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and, most shockingly of all, Eddie Howe. Rather than building towards a Premier League title by 2030 under their Saudi owners, alarm bells are now ringing at St James’ Park, and it is up to the relatively unfamiliar Matthias Jaissle, formerly of Red Bull Salzburg and Asian champions Al-Ahli, to rebuild from the wreckage. Their summer business suggests a club looking to the future, but replacing proven stars with youth is a gamble and may instead leave Newcastle glancing nervously over their shoulder.

Last season: 8th

Brighton’s first European campaign in 2023-24 saw the Seagulls slide back into the bottom half, and this season may follow a similar pattern for Fabian Hurzeler’s side as they head into a year in the Conference League. Given the Premier League’s financial power, it is no surprise Brighton have been made strong favourites to repeat Crystal Palace’s success, and the chance to win what would be the club’s first major trophy should not be dismissed. The question is how much damage that could do to their league form. Record signing Luka Vuskovic arrives with expectations of strengthening the defence, but Danny Welbeck’s move to Chelsea may create a shortage of goals and increase the importance of Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh. Worryingly for Brighton, neither is fit to start the season.

Brighton signed Croatia international Vuskovic from Tottenham, while Jan Paul van Hecke moved in the opposite direction.

Last season: 13th

David Moyes’s return has brought stability and success, and Everton are among the few Premier League clubs carrying continuity into the new season. Yet there is also a danger that the Toffees stagnate under the Scot. Relegation should not be a major concern, but it is difficult to see Everton breaking into the top half. Last season, for instance, Moyes’s team looked close to mounting a push for Europe before fading badly in the run-in. Everton should still be solid at the back, but the shortage of goals, amid the struggles of Beto and Thierno Barry, remains an issue. Keeping Iliman Ndiaye, though, would be a significant boost and provide much-needed quality in the final third.

Iliman Ndiaye is expected to stay at Everton despite interest from Saudi Arabia and Arsenal.

Last season: 15th

Last season’s uneasy truce between the outgoing Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace ended with the Eagles winning the Conference League and achieving European glory. How much reality bites this season may depend largely on the influence of Pierre Sage, who guided Lens to second place in Ligue 1 and French Cup success last season. Stylistically, Sage appears a sensible fit as he looks to build on Glasner’s impressive two-and-a-half-year spell. Palace have become used to losing key players, and the biggest changes have come in defence: Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix have both gone over the last year, and Daniel Munoz could be the next to leave.

Pierre Sage takes over from Oliver Glasner, who joined Nottingham Forest after leaving Palace.

Last season: 7th

Sunderland were the surprise package of last season. Qualifying for Europe on the final day capped a superb first campaign back in the top flight under Regis Le Bris. But while European away trips will be treasured by supporters who still remember life in League One, the extra fixtures and the Thursday-Sunday rhythm could be a serious test for Le Bris and his squad, especially as the free signing of veteran right-back Thomas Meunier and the £25.6m arrival of left-back Dayann Methalie are currently their only summer business. Even so, Sunderland proved the doubters wrong last season, and their second Premier League campaign has already been strengthened by captain Granit Xhaka rejecting Chelsea in order to stay with the Black Cats.

Sunderland’s place in Europe, the club’s first in 53 years, was secured on the final day of last season.

Last season: 16th

After the season of four managers — Nuno, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Vitor Pereira — Oliver Glasner steps into the hottest managerial seat in the Premier League at Nottingham Forest. The Austrian arrives after leading Crystal Palace to two major trophies in two and a half years at Selhurst Park, and after initially being linked with Manchester United earlier in the year. Forest’s announcement of Glasner came as something of a surprise, but it unquestionably feels like a coup. Although Elliot Anderson has departed, Forest will remain dangerous with Morgan Gibbs-White still the heartbeat of the side, as he was when he dragged them away from relegation danger late last season. Without Europe, much could go right for Forest this year, with Glasner also shifting to his preferred 3-4-3, but under Evangelos Marinakis the possibility of unexpected drama is never easy to ignore.

Oliver Glasner will hope to avoid the revolving door of managers at Nottingham Forest.

Last season: 9th

Keith Andrews enjoyed a superb debut season in management, and it means Brentford begin a Premier League campaign having shaken off their usual status as relegation candidates. Brentford exceeded expectations and came within a whisker of qualifying for Europe, and unlike many sides in the division they enter the new season with a very clear sense of identity and purpose. They were also powered by Igor Thiago’s 22-goal return last season, but the club-record signing of Mamadou Sangare from Lens adds a different dimension in midfield and offsets Jordan Henderson’s departure to Chelsea. Set-pieces will remain a major focus for a club that prides itself on efficiency.

Only Erling Haaland scored more Premier League goals than Brentford’s Igor Thiago last season.

Last season: 14th

Everything changed after Daniel Farke’s mid-season revival. Had the campaign begun on 1 December 2025, Leeds would have finished 7th. Such hypotheticals ultimately mean little, but they do allow Leeds to approach the new season with genuine optimism. Their transfer work has focused on improving weak areas from last season, including bringing in a dependable first-choice goalkeeper in James Trafford and adding creativity in midfield through the free signing of Harry Wilson from Fulham, though they may still require further help. With the towering centre-back Tarik Muharemovic strengthening an already solid spine, Leeds can aim for the top half if Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to offer a threat after his 14-goal comeback season.

Leeds can head into the new season with confidence after a quietly impressive summer in the transfer market.

Last season: 17th

Escaping relegation on the final day of last season should have been a huge wake-up call, and Tottenham have responded by backing Roberto De Zerbi strongly in the transfer market. Only Chelsea have spent more than the side that has finished 17th in each of the past two seasons, with a £180m midfield overhaul led by the arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. Defensive additions Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson also look shrewd, while further business is expected, with attacking reinforcements the priority. De Zerbi has been handed full control after keeping Tottenham up, and a full season under the Italian, without European football, will be fascinating. It surely cannot be worse than last year — can it? — but it would also be unwise to assume Spurs can fix every problem in one summer. Injuries, for one, remain a major concern and may continue to limit them.

Last season: 6th

After qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history, Bournemouth’s main aim this summer was to keep as much of the squad together as possible. Naturally, the departure of manager Andoni Iraola is a blow, but in terms of the playing group, limiting their exits to Marcos Senesi, who joined Tottenham when his contract expired, is a boost for incoming boss Marco Rose. It was hugely important that players such as Alex Scott, Rayan and Junior Kroupi stayed, even though Kroupi will miss the start of the season because of a freak foot injury suffered in training. Rose, a disciple of Jurgen Klopp whose high-pressing, high-intensity football feels like a natural continuation from Iraola, has a talented squad to work with. The experienced German should help Bournemouth negotiate their first Europa League campaign.

Marco Rose arrives in the Premier League with a strong reputation after spells at Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

Last season: 4th

A summer of change may not yet be over if Emi Martinez follows Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne out of Aston Villa. Losing four senior players, and a sizeable part of the spine of last season’s Europa League-winning side, would be a concern, but Villa’s greatest strength lies in Unai Emery’s influence. His ability to find solutions, while also beginning to evolve the team through the club-record £59.5m signing of Switzerland’s World Cup star Johan Manzambi and the arrival of Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, is exciting too. Ahead of their return to the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, Villa need their new signings, including loanee Alejandro Garnacho, to make an immediate impact, but Emery remains the main attraction.

Villa have finished 4th, 6th and 4th in their last three seasons under Unai Emery.

Last season: 5th

An optimist might look at Liverpool and see a young, exciting coach in Andoni Iraola bringing high-intensity football to Anfield, along with the possibility that a forward line featuring Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz finally clicks after difficult debut seasons. Others may feel Liverpool have still not solved the issues that were painfully obvious during Arne Slot’s final year: a lack of depth, especially in attack and at full-back, and a midfield that struggled. Jeremy Jacquet, the 21-year-old centre-back signed for £55m in January, made an impressive debut against Como on Sunday, but even with Ronald Araujo arriving on loan, the Reds still rely too heavily on the availability of 35-year-old captain Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool’s costly pursuit of Bradley Barcola looks set to drag on until the end of the window, while Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined for several more months. It leaves Iraola beginning life at Liverpool amid considerable uncertainty. Early form from Isak and Wirtz would certainly help.

Last season: 3rd

After winning 12 of his 18 Premier League games in charge, no side collected more points than Manchester United after Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January. The former midfielder has now been given the job permanently on a two-year contract, but can he sustain that momentum? This season brings a return to the Champions League and a much heavier schedule, which presents another test. United finished third last season but played only 40 matches. This campaign could stretch closer to 60, and that means rivals will have more opportunities to work out Carrick’s side while United themselves have less time on the training ground. Another inspired season from talisman Bruno Fernandes could fuel dreams, but a lack of depth may limit any title challenge. Strengthening midfield depth became a priority after Casemiro left, and United responded by signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, though there remains a feeling that more is needed if they are to build on the second half of last season.

Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge brings very different challenges from his 18-game interim spell.

Last season: 10th

The chaos at Stamford Bridge may have reached its peak last season with Liam Rosenior being sacked after only three months and Chelsea enduring their worst league run since 1912. But football is not always a meritocracy, and the pieces may still have fallen into place for Chelsea to enjoy a successful season. The Blues moved quickly to appoint former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, still seen as one of Europe’s leading coaches after guiding Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title, even if his spell at Real Madrid did not work out. Morgan Rogers is an expensive but high-quality signing, and pairing him alongside a fit-again Cole Palmer, who has a point to prove after missing the World Cup, could be devastating. Chelsea have no European football, so Alonso will have ample time on the training ground as he attempts to shape his side, giving them an advantage over their nearest rivals. Alonso is also expected to be given more authority than recent Chelsea managers, and the surprise shift towards signing experienced Premier League players — adding Jordan Henderson, 36, and Danny Welbeck, 35 — suggests the owners may finally have learned lessons from four years of chaos.

Last season: 2nd

Pep Guardiola’s shadow still hangs over Manchester City after his 10 years in charge. Of all 20 Premier League teams this season, City are the ones who must make the biggest adjustment following the departure of the greatest manager in the club’s history. Enzo Maresca will have numerous issues to juggle amid a complete midfield rebuild; it is the end of an era in another sense too, with Rodri and Bernardo Silva both gone. Elliot Anderson arrives for £116m after his impressive World Cup with England, but City would look light if 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, a breakout talent at the World Cup, is their only other replacement for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. City may yet return to Chelsea in an attempt to sign Enzo Fernandez for £120m. Of course, with Erling Haaland’s goals and the improvements made last season through adding Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, City will remain in the mix. But any stylistic change they undergo after a decade under Guardiola contrasts sharply with the stability enjoyed by reigning champions Arsenal.

Last season: 1st

The last time Arsenal defended a league title was in 1935, but the scale of the squad-building under Mikel Arteta seems designed to give the champions the strongest possible chance of retaining the crown. Even with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber injured, and Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice working their way back after the World Cup, Arteta was still able to field a strong side that impressively beat Manchester City in Sunday’s Community Shield, with plenty of depth left on the bench. Martin Odegaard could feel like a new signing given the captain’s return to form at the World Cup and in pre-season after an injury-hit campaign last year. The signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle reduces the burden on Rice and arguably gives Arsenal the best midfield in the league. There remains the possibility of a drop-off, given how often Premier League champions lose their edge the following season. The influential Saliba will be missed, and the physical and emotional exertions of last season may yet take their toll, but Arteta is doing everything possible to make sure Arsenal maintain their intensity. Equally, the freedom that comes from finally ending their title drought could even make Arsenal easier on the eye this season. Above all, though, they possess the strength and depth to defend their title.