The Premier League season gets underway on Friday when champions Arsenal host Frank Lampard's newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.
It has been a summer of significant change both on the pitch and in the dugout, with nine clubs beginning the campaign under new managers. While several managers have arrived from outside, familiar faces like Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola have switched clubs within the division.
Newly promoted trio Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry City will all focus on avoiding an immediate return to the Championship. Daily Mail Sport analyst Matt Barlow has evaluated all 20 Premier League clubs ahead of the kickoff.
The opening fixture pits last season's champions against the Championship winners in a clash of expectations across the top flight.
Arsenal
Arsenal ended last season in 1st place and Daily Mail Sport predicts they will finish 1st again. Mikel Arteta's side have not won back-to-back league titles since Herbert Chapman's era in the 1930s. While Manchester clubs have sometimes made consecutive titles look straightforward, Arsenal face early challenges as they start the campaign without defender William Saliba and must adapt to stricter refereeing at set-pieces.
Arsenal stand alone among the traditional Big Six in enjoying squad stability, whereas their five main rivals remain in various stages of transition. The summer arrival of midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United adds strength to the center of the pitch, relieving pressure and anxiety following last year's title victory. The squad has a total value of £1.2billion, and top scorer Viktor Gyokeres returns after scoring 14 goals last season.
Arteta holds a 60.1 percent Premier League win rate and enters the season as the longest-serving manager across England's top four divisions. Goalkeeper David Raya remains crucial to their defense, having produced vital saves late last season, including a decisive stop against West Ham United, making him as irreplaceable to the side as midfielder Declan Rice.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa finished 4th last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a drop to 9th position. The Europa League winners have faced severe financial compliance pressure since their victory in Istanbul. To satisfy financial regulations, Villa sold midfielder Youri Tielemans, winger Morgan Rogers and defender Lucas Digne.
Transfer speculation continues to surround key personnel, with Arsenal targeting Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins attracting outside interest and goalkeeper Emi Martinez looking at potential exits. Manager Unai Emery, who holds a 46.34 percent Premier League win rate, faces his toughest challenge since rescuing the club from relegation threats when he first arrived. The squad total value stands at £427million, with Watkins coming off a 16-goal season as top scorer.
Emery has brought in fresh talent, including record signing Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, though the young Swiss midfielder will require time to adapt. Midfielder Boubacar Kamara remains the team's anchor, though his effectiveness depends on staying clear of recurring injuries.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth secured a record-high 6th-place finish last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts they will finish 13th this term. The club enters new territory with Europa League competition and a new manager, while larger clubs continue to target their star players.
Forward Eli Junior Kroupi, who led the team with 13 goals last season, will remain at the club primarily due to a foot injury that rules him out for the first three months of the campaign. New manager Marco Rose takes over with no previous Premier League win percentage, bringing a high-energy style developed at Red Bull clubs to build on the foundations left by Andoni Iraola. Bournemouth's total squad value is £489million.
Bournemouth have added central defender Antonio Silva and striker Alvaro Rodriguez to bolster the squad. Meanwhile, £25million summer arrival Rayan from Vasco da Gama has integrated quickly following the departure of Antoine Semenyo.
Brentford
Brentford finished 9th last season and Daily Mail Sport predicts a 12th-place finish this year. The club matched its highest Premier League finish despite losing its manager, key coaching staff, club captain and top two goalscorers in the summer of 2025.
Manager Keith Andrews, who holds a 36.84 percent Premier League win rate, guided Brentford to a top-10 finish before a late-season slide cost them a European berth. The Bees retained most of their core squad this pre-season, resisting transfer offers for goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and striker Igor Thiago. The overall squad value is £481million.
Brentford have reinforced their squad by signing 24-year-old Malian midfielder Mamadou Sangare from French runners-up Lens, along with free agent striker Callum Wilson from West Ham. Igor Thiago remains the key performer after scoring 22 league goals and 25 overall last season, accounting for 45 percent of Brentford's total league goals behind only Erling Haaland in the top-flight scoring charts.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton finished 8th last season and Daily Mail Sport predicts they will climb to 7th. The club has managed another summer of squad turnover, seeing Jan Paul van Hecke, James Milner and Danny Welbeck depart while bringing in £54million defender Luka Vuskovic alongside several academy prospects.
Brighton have secured four top-10 finishes over the past five years, with their only lower finish being 11th in 2023/24 during their debut Europa League campaign. They return to continental competition this season in the Conference League. The squad is valued at £544million, while Welbeck was top scorer last season with 13 goals.
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler, the youngest manager in Premier League history at age 33, holds a 39.47 percent win rate. He overcame a mid-season slump by winning six of eight matches to secure European qualification before signing a contract extension in May. Versatile 21-year-old midfielder Jack Hinshelwood emerged as a pivotal figure, scoring three goals in five games as an attacking midfielder late in the season.
Chelsea
Chelsea finished 10th last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a rise to 2nd position. The club continues to reshape its high-value squad, which carries a total valuation of £1.2billion, under ownership group Blue Co.
New manager Xabi Alonso arrives with no Premier League win record, entering from Bayer Leverkusen following a difficult period at Real Madrid. Alonso has added leadership and experience to the dressing room, including the £117million acquisition of attacker Morgan Rogers. Joao Pedro finished as last season's top scorer with 15 goals.
Chelsea's squad overhaul relies heavily on outgoing transfers before the window closes, while the team still seeks to recruit a new goalkeeper. Attacker Cole Palmer looks to recover from a sub-par season affected by the Club World Cup, having missed out on England's World Cup squad.
Coventry City
Coventry City won the Championship last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a 20th-place finish upon their return to the Premier League after a 25-year absence. The club aims to leverage strong home support at the CBS Arena, mirroring the nine home victories achieved by Sunderland and Leeds United in their promotion seasons.
Manager Frank Lampard holds a 36.54 percent Premier League win rate from previous stints at Chelsea and Everton. Coventry have strengthened their central spine, bringing back midfielder Gus Hamer to provide a creative option in midfield. The overall squad value stands at £234million, with striker Haji Wright having scored 17 Championship goals last season.
Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth represents a key permanent signing, completing a £22.5million move from Brighton after winning Coventry's player of the year award while on loan.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace finished 15th last season and Daily Mail Sport predicts they will finish 17th. Following the most successful year in club history, manager Oliver Glasner departed to take charge of rivals Nottingham Forest, while central defender Maxence Lacroix was also lured away.
New manager Pierre Sage takes over his first Premier League role without a previous win percentage. Sage was named France's Manager of the Year following spells at Lyon and Lens, and plans to maintain tactical continuity using a three-man defense with wing-backs. Palace retained key players Adam Wharton, Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz. Total squad value is £461million, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring 11 goals as top scorer last season.
Sarr serves as Palace's focal point in attack after scoring 21 goals across all competitions last season while filling the void left by Eberechi Eze and amid transfer uncertainty surrounding Mateta.
Everton
Everton finished 13th last season, and Daily Mail Sport predicts they will reach 10th place. The club ended last season on a seven-match winless streak, collecting just three points and missing out on European qualification.
Manager David Moyes, the league's oldest boss at age 63, holds a 38.5 percent Premier League win rate. Everton lost midfielder Idrissa Gueye to a Saudi Arabian club, but signed Hayden Hackney while integrating young prospects Harrison Armstrong and Tyrique George. The squad's total value is £402million, with Beto finishing as top scorer last season with nine goals as no Everton player reached double figures.
Center-back Jarrad Branthwaite remains Everton's most influential player when fully fit, offering defensive stability following an injury-plagued campaign.
Fulham
Fulham finished 11th last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a drop to 15th place. The club faces uncertainty following the departure of manager Marco Silva, who was the only boss to maintain Fulham in the top flight since Martin Jol in 2013. Top goalscorers Harry Wilson, who scored 10 goals last season, and Raul Jimenez have both left Craven Cottage.
New head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, aged 43, enters his first Premier League job with no previous top-flight win percentage, having managed Real Madrid's reserve and senior teams. Fulham's squad carries a total valuation of £294million.
Arbeloa leveraged his contacts to sign 22-year-old forward Gonzalo Garcia from Real Madrid for £34million, alongside Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid and Shea Charles from Southampton. Garcia, who scored six goals in 30 La Liga appearances last season, is expected to lead the attack during a difficult opening fixture list.
Hull City
Hull City earned promotion by winning the Championship play-offs after finishing 6th, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a 19th-place finish. The club has added nine new signings, breaking its transfer record to prepare for the top flight.
Manager Sergej Jakirovic holds no previous Premier League win record after leading Hull to promotion. The Tigers plan a counter-attacking approach, surrendering possession to defend deep and exploiting space through wingers Mohamed Belloumi and Liam Millar, alongside set-piece threats. Total squad value is £95million.
Striker Oli McBurnie acts as the focal point of the attack after scoring 18 Championship goals last season. McBurnie spent the 2024-25 season with Spanish club Las Palmas and aims to exceed his career best of six Premier League goals in a single season.
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town finished 2nd in the Championship last season, and Daily Mail Sport predicts an 18th-place finish. Having failed to avoid relegation two years ago under Kieran McKenna despite heavy spending on domestic talent, Ipswich have invested £120million in international signings to add physical strength.
New manager Gary O'Neil, who holds a 28.4 percent Premier League win rate from previous spells at Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers, takes over with a pragmatic tactical approach. Ipswich's squad value is £239million, with Jack Clarke having scored 16 Championship goals last season.
Key summer arrivals include Paraguayan World Cup midfielder Julio Enciso, Brazilian defender Emersonn and Japanese forward Daizen Maeda. Maeda joins from Celtic, where he scored 79 goals in 212 appearances over a five-year period.
Leeds United
Leeds United finished 14th last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a rise to 8th position. Leeds avoided relegation by taking 14 points from their final six matches, relying heavily on home form at Elland Road.
Manager Daniel Farke holds a 19.5 percent Premier League win rate and returns with an attacking style of play. Leeds open their season with home fixtures against Brentford, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace. Summer additions include goalkeeper James Trafford, winger Harry Wilson and Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. Total squad value stands at £365million.
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains the key figure in attack after scoring 15 goals in all competitions last season, including 14 in the Premier League, marking his highest goal tally in five years.
Liverpool
Liverpool finished 5th last season, and Daily Mail Sport predicts a 3rd-place finish. The club recorded its lowest points total in a decade, sacking manager Arne Slot one year after he won the league title.
Former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola takes charge with a 36.0 percent Premier League win rate, noting that squad fitness levels must improve to match his high-intensity style during a campaign that includes Champions League matches. Liverpool lost Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, while replacing defenders Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson with Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz. Total squad value is £854million, with Hugo Ekitike scoring 11 goals as top scorer last season.
Record £125million signing Alexander Isak is expected to lead the attack after showing strong pre-season form following an injury-affected debut campaign alongside fellow summer signing Florian Wirtz.
Manchester City
Manchester City finished 2nd last season, and Daily Mail Sport predicts a 4th-place finish. The club enters a new era following the departure of manager Pep Guardiola and senior players John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Rodri, who followed earlier exits by Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson.
New manager Enzo Maresca holds a 49.1 percent Premier League win rate after guiding Chelsea to 4th place, the Europa Conference League title and the Club World Cup. City's squad is valued at £1.3billion, led by striker Erling Haaland, who won the Premier League golden boot with 27 goals last season.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson has been tasked with filling the central defensive midfield role vacated by Rodri to maintain defensive balance.
Manchester United
Manchester United finished 3rd last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a 6th-place finish. Manager Michael Carrick, who holds a 68.4 percent Premier League win rate, faces the challenge of adding Champions League fixtures to his domestic schedule.
United lost veteran midfielder Casemiro to a Saudi Arabian club this summer. They reinforced their central midfield by signing Youri Tielemans for creative distribution and Andrey Santos for athletic mobility. Total squad value stands at £747million, while Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo finished as joint top scorers last season with 11 goals each.
Captain Bruno Fernandes remains United's central playmaker after setting a new Premier League single-season assist record during the previous campaign.
Newcastle United
Newcastle United finished 12th last season, and Daily Mail Sport predicts a 16th-place finish. The club has undergone a major roster reduction, losing manager Eddie Howe alongside core players Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier.
New manager Matthias Jaissle takes over with no Premier League win percentage, having previously coached in Saudi Arabia and Austria. Newcastle have shifted their transfer focus toward acquiring young players with development potential. Squad total value stands at £501million, with former top scorer Guimaraes having registered nine goals last term.
Forward Yoane Wissa is expected to step into a leading role after managing just one league goal during an injury-disrupted season following his £50million transfer from Brentford.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest finished 16th last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts an 11th-place finish. Owner Evangelos Marinakis appointed Oliver Glasner as head coach following the dismissal of Vitor Pereira, who had guided the club away from relegation. Glasner becomes Forest's fifth manager since the start of last season.
Forest have no European fixtures this season following the departure of midfielder Elliot Anderson to Manchester City. The squad total value is £478million.
Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White remains the team's key player and captain after scoring 15 goals last season, aiming to maintain his output after being left out of England's World Cup squad.
Sunderland
Sunderland finished 7th last season, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a 14th-place finish. The club qualified for European competition for the first time since 1973 and completed a league double over local rivals Newcastle United during their return to the top flight.
Manager Regis Le Bris holds a 36.8 percent Premier League win rate after lifting the club from 16th in the Championship to 7th in the Premier League. Sunderland signed defender Thomas Meunier on a free transfer from Lille, while Lutsharel Geertruida returned to RB Leipzig after his loan and Eliezer Mayenda was sold to Rennes. Squad total value is £325million, with Brian Brobbey having scored seven goals as top scorer last season.
Veteran midfielder Granit Xhaka remains the key figure in central midfield after Sunderland rejected transfer interest from Chelsea to retain his leadership.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur finished 17th last season, marking their lowest league finish in 49 years, but Daily Mail Sport predicts a recovery to 5th place. Tottenham avoided relegation on the final day of the season after securing 11 points from their final seven matches under manager Roberto De Zerbi.
De Zerbi holds a 37.7 percent Premier League win rate and has no European mid-week matches this campaign. Tottenham focused their summer spending on central midfield, completing a club-record £85million signing of Mateus Fernandes followed four days later by a £100million transfer for Sandro Tonali. Total squad value is £777million, with Richarlison finishing as top scorer last season with 11 goals.
Tonali is expected to serve as the primary engine in midfield as Tottenham rebuild their core under De Zerbi.
