The Premier League is back, baby!
And, as is now customary, the writers at 101 Great Goals offer their predictions, placing their reputations on the line to provide you with plenty of talking points.
So, who wins the league, who is going down and who will walk away with the individual honours?
Jon Fisher
Who will win the Premier League?
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta provides the stability lacking in the Gunners’ competitors. They could’ve done more to strengthen the squad this summer but they should still retain the trophy.
Which teams will complete the top four?
Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa: City and Liverpool are obvious choices. I think Villa will edge out Chelsea for fourth unless Xabi Alonso can streamline a bloated squad.
Who will go down?
Hull, Fulham and Newcastle: Ipswich have learned from previous mistakes and bought Premier League experience while Coventry ought to be good at home. Fulham have lost their best player in Harry Wilson while Alvaro Arbeloa has no Premier League experience. Newcastle are a mess and could implode.
Top scorer?
Erling Haaland: The obvious choice but the Norwegian may be pushed harder this year by the likes of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres.
PFA Player of the Year?
Declan Rice: The best player at the title-winning club.
Biggest surprise?
Leeds: Impressive last season with a style of football that suggests they can kick on. In Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic and James Trafford they have recruited well. They are more than capable of challenging for Europe.
Biggest flop?
Matthias Jaissle: To be fair to the German, he has been thrown in at the deep end with Newcastle selling Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon. He will be gone by Christmas.
Nicholas McGee
Who will win the Premier League?
Arsenal: With Manchester City transitioning to a new era under Enzo Maresca, it’s difficult to see any team producing the consistency to rival the Gunners.
Which teams will complete the top four?
Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool: I expect Chelsea to make strides under Xabi Alonso, while Liverpool should have enough despite some concerning words from Andoni Iraola about his team’s fitness to start the season.
Who will go down?
Coventry City, Ipswich Town, Hull City: Coventry are best-placed to beat the odds but, even with some worrying signs for more established teams, it’s hard to see anything but all three promoted teams returning to the second tier.
Top scorer?
Erling Haaland: Rinse and repeat. The change in manager is unlikely to have much negative impact on City’s goal machine. Another prolific campaign beckons.
PFA Player of the Year?
Declan Rice: With Bruno Guimaraes coming in to take some of the burden off his shoulders, Rice can be freed up to spearhead the Gunners’ title defence.
Biggest surprise?
Leeds United: Leeds have recruited smartly and, with the improvement they have made in the goalkeeping department, have a team with the ability to challenge for the top half.
Biggest flop?
Manchester United: While the midfield is bolstered, the Red Devils don’t look to have a squad capable of competing on four fronts following a quiet transfer window. The first full season under Michael Carrick will bring a step back.
Cian Cheesbrough
Who will win the Premier League?
Arsenal: I was expecting a City bounceback, but that Community Shield defeat and the loss of Rodri has to be taken into account. Arsenal remain the most settled contender and they should defend their title.
Which teams will complete the top four?
Man City, Chelsea, Aston Villa: Man City remain Arsenal’s biggest threat, while I think Chelsea’s easier schedule will see them take third (see Man Utd last season). Despite several changes over the summer, Unai Emery will continue to have Villa competing with the top teams and once again pip Liverpool to fourth.
Who will go down?
Hull, Fulham, Everton: Hull were the last team to secure their place in the PL 2026-27 line-up and they could be the first to leave,, but I do think both Coventry and Ipswich will survive. I can see Fulham struggling under Arbeloa in the post-Marco Silva era, I’m not sure just signing a load of youngsters from Real Madrid’s academy is the smartest move! Newcastle are in for a tough season, but I think Everton may be in trouble and Moyes could be one of the first managers to go.
Top scorer?
Erling Haaland: I’d be shocked if anyone says anything different. Regardless of how City perform, Haaland’s stranglehold on the Golden Boot is unlikely to be challenged.
PFA Player of the Year?
Declan Rice: With Bruno Guimaraes next to him, the England man will have the freedom to showcase his ability even more in another title triumph.
Biggest surprise?
Brentford: Brentford were unlucky to miss out on Europe last season but I think it could work in their favour this time around with so many of their rivals occupied by an increased schedule and workload. I think there’s a chance the Bees could break into the top six.
Biggest flop?
Tottenham: I don’t think spending £200m+ is enough to solve the issues at Spurs and Roberto De Zerbi doesn’t exactly feel like the guy who’ll provide the stability they need. I’m tipping the North Londoners to finish in the bottom half, which, to be fair, is still an improvement on the last two seasons!
Mitch Fretton
Who will win the Premier League?
Arsenal: Pains me to say it but they’re the best prepared to win the title due to the amount of change at challengers like Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Which teams will complete the top four?
Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham: City’s squad is too good to be outside the top four; Chelsea have one game a week and a good manager in Alonso; Tottenham’s bottom half experiences will be gone with De Zerbi, who is undoubtedly aiming for the stars.
Who will go down?
Coventry, Ipswich and Hull: Coventry will struggle to adapt after such a long time away from the Premier League; Ipswich are a yo-yo team and lack the quality to compete; Hull were not even the best team in the play-offs last season and could struggle because of it, feels like another Luton Town scenario.
Top scorer?
Erling Haaland: I wish I could choose someone else but he’s the best finisher in the world and will comfortably claim the Golden Boot once more.
PFA Player of the Year?
Declan Rice: Will likely miss out on this year’s award due to Bruno Fernandes breaking the assist record, but I fully expect him to have another strong season and claim it in 2027 should Arsenal win the title.
Biggest surprise?
Tottenham: Will be written off as usual but with no Europe, some good signings and a top manager in De Zerbi at the helm, will be in the mix to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Biggest flop?
Aston Villa: Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans are hard to replace, even for Unai Emery. Add Champions League commitments on top of that every week and I can see Villa struggling this season.
Tom Rostance
Who will win the Premier League?
Arsenal: Look best-placed to retain their crown with squad stability and high-profile additions like Bruno Guimarães, while their major title rivals undergo managerial transitions.
Which teams will complete the top four?
Manchester City, Chelsea, and Man Utd: They should claim the Champions League spots, leaving Liverpool to miss out on the top four following a transitional summer.
Who will go down?
Hull, Ipswich and Nottingham Forest: Promoted sides Hull City and Ipswich face an immediate drop back down, with an established Premier League side in Forest joining them in the relegation zone after a few turbulent years.
Top scorer?
Erling Haaland: It’s a boring answer but Haaland remains the default frontrunner to take home the Golden Boot provided he avoids any sustained injury setbacks.
PFA Player of the Year?
Cole Palmer: The England man is going to bounce back under Xabi Alonso and will scoop the individual honour as the central figure driving a revamped Chelsea side back into title contention.
Biggest surprise?
Tottenham Hotspur: Could surprise many with a sharp climb back into top-four contention under Roberto De Zerbi with no European distractions.
Biggest flop?
Enzo Maresca: Replacing Pep is a big ask for anyone but nothing about Maresca’s time in charge at both Leicester or Chelsea suggests he has what it takes.
Blake Hurst
Who will win the Premier League?
Manchester City: I expect City to bounce back with a refreshed squad and reclaim the title under Enzo Maresca.
Which teams will complete the top four?
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United: I expect these three to have the quality and consistency to finish above the rest with Liverpool just missing out.
Who will go down?
Ipswich, Hull and Sunderland: I think all three will struggle, with Coventry doing just enough to survive.
Top scorer?
Erling Haaland: Alexander Isak is an outside shot but I still expect Haaland to finish in a league of his own.
PFA Player of the Year?
Antoine Semenyo: I expect him to play a huge role in City’s title challenge and emerge as one of the league’s standout players.
Biggest surprise?
Chelsea: One game a week could be a huge advantage, and under Xabi Alonso I think they could surprise a lot of people.
Biggest flop?
Sunderland: Balancing Europa League football with the Premier League could prove too much, and I fear they’ll ultimately go down.
George Nash
Who will win the Premier League?
Manchester City: Despite the rather big shoes he’s got to fill, Maresca knows what City are all about having previously worked under Pep Guardiola at the club. With a history of winning trophies and a new-look squad, Maresca could ensure City have a memorable season.
Which teams will complete the top four?
Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool: The holders will likely run City close, while traditional heavyweights Manchester United and Liverpool have every chance of having stellar campaigns.
Who will go down?
Coventry, Crystal Palace, Hull: It’s typically an uphill battle for newly promoted clubs, but of the three, Ipswich, having recently tasted top-flight football, will be the one to survive. After several departures, Crystal Palace, despite winning the Conference League last term, are in danger of taking a major step back this season.
Top scorer?
Erling Haaland: Buoyed by a history-making World Cup campaign with Norway, the towering striker will be back to his frightening best this season.
PFA Player of the Year?
Bruno Fernandes: The United captain will have another impressive campaign as the Red Devils go from strength to strength under Michael Carrick.
Biggest surprise?
Tottenham: Having avoided relegation on the final day of the season last term, it’s hard to see how things could get much worse for Spurs. But after several shrewd-looking signings and full pre-season under Roberto De Zerbi – a talented and crucially, no-nonsense manager – the north London club may just right some wrongs this season and, in doing so, surprise a few people.
Biggest flop?
Xabi Alonso: The former Liverpool midfielder will be expected to produce immediate results, meaning that, unless he gets off to a flyer, he could quickly find himself walking through the seemingly endlessly revolving manager’s door at Chelsea.
You Should Also Read
