How will your club fare? Phil McNulty’s Premier League predictions

By admin — In News — August 19, 2026

   ​Can Arsenal retain the Premier League title they won for the first time in 22 years last season? [Getty Images]Time to dust off the crystal ball once more and have a crack at predicting where the 20 Premier League teams will finish this season.Having confidently announced the Premier League title was Liverpool’s to lose last season, they then lost it quite spectacularly, resulting in manager Arne Slot’s dismissal.This season there are nine new managers in the top flight, making this season arguably the toughest set of predictions I’ve made.Breakouts & wildcards – 13 surprise stars for new season1) ArsenalLast season: Champions.Having finally crossed the line to their first Premier League title in 22 years, Arsenal are in perfect shape to retain the crown – and I believe they will.Mikel Arteta’s side have quality everywhere and will have the confidence of being champions. Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis showed they are additions of the highest quality as Arsenal dismantled Manchester City in the Community Shield.The easiest prediction of them all.2) Manchester CityLast season: 2nd.It is the start of a new era, with Enzo Maresca following arguably the greatest manager of the modern era, Pep Guardiola.Huge players and personalities have gone in the shape of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, so there is a real sense of transition at Etihad Stadium.The Community Shield loss to Arsenal may have spooked some, but great players still remain – with the probability of more high-class signings before the season starts. £116m Elliot Anderson has already arrived and Morocco’s brilliant teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is expected to join from Lille.Most significantly of all, any side with the phenomenal Erling Haaland as its striker can never be ruled out of anything. There will be silverware.3) LiverpoolLast season: 5th.Andoni Iraola has arrived from Bournemouth to restore some order after a dismal title defence last season.The start of the post-Mohamed Salah era will not be easy and Iraola’s all-out, intense style may take time to bed in, but there is still lots of quality in Liverpool’s squad and players such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak now know what life at Anfield is all about.If Bradley Barcola arrives from Paris St-Germain and Rio Ngumoha’s rapid progress continues, Liverpool can have a good season.Young central defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are also potential stars. Spain winger Victor Munoz will provide thrust and pace.Definitely a top-four place and in contention for trophies.4) ChelseaLast season: 10th.I can see the raised eyebrows from here, but Xabi Alonso is smart – and enjoyed Bundesliga title success at Bayer Leverkusen. He is not alone in having then been chewed up and spat out at Real Madrid.He must shape a squad that resembles a small commune and deal with a disaffected Enzo Fernandez – if indeed he remains at Chelsea – but there is real quality if he can fashion it into shape. Morgan Rogers and Maxence   

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