The greatest game in the universe is back! Football season has returned, and with it comes the start of the Premier League, the most popular football league on the planet.
Twenty teams will once again battle it out for glory in the 2025/26 campaign, and fans everywhere are wondering: who will lift the trophy in May 2026?
In this prediction, we rank our top 10 finishers, starting from 10th place. But before that, we must address the elephant in the room — quite literally.
AFCON 2025: The Mid-Season Disruptor
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, right in the middle of the Premier League season.
According to records, 51 Premier League players could be involved. That means teams might have to navigate a crucial month without some key stars.
- Manchester United could be without Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and André Onana.
- Nottingham Forest may lose Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi.
- Fulham could miss Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi.
Promoted Sunderland will also have several absentees, while Burnley may lose main striker Lyle Foster. This could significantly influence the relegation battle.
So, who joins Sunderland and Burnley in potentially going down? Or could one of them stay up while a surprise team — maybe even West Ham United — gets relegated? Only time will tell.
Our Top 10 Predictions for the 2025/26 Premier League
10. Nottingham Forest
Last season’s 7th-place finishers face European football for the first time in years. That extra pressure, plus key player departures, could see them drop. However, their knack for clever mid-tier signings keeps them in the top half.
9. Brighton & Hove Albion
No European commitments and minimal AFCON disruption make Brighton strong contenders for another solid season. Their smart scouting could even push them higher, but 9th seems realistic.
8. Manchester United
Benjamin Šeško’s arrival has boosted optimism, but fans have heard similar promises before (remember Rasmus Højlund?). Ruben Amorim’s tactics still need time, and AFCON losses won’t help.
7. Newcastle United
Down from last season’s 5th place. Aston Villa look sharper, and Newcastle’s underwhelming transfer window — plus the risk of losing Alexander Isak — could see them slip.
6. Aston Villa
Unai Emery thrives in the Europa League, and this could be the year they edge ahead of Newcastle. Emery’s experience and tactical consistency will be key.
5. Tottenham Hotspur
The Thomas Frank era begins. With Kudus, Mathys Tel, and João Palhinha joining, Spurs look solid. Yves Bissouma’s AFCON absence hurts, but they have midfield depth to cope.
4. Arsenal
Viktor Gyökeres will add a new attacking dimension, but with Chelsea, Liverpool, and City looking stronger, Mikel Arteta’s men might fall short of last year’s second-place finish.
3. Liverpool
Last season’s champions face the loss of Mo Salah to AFCON and the challenge of repeating their form under Arne Slot. Still, they remain title contenders.
2. Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has never gone more than one season without a league title. Despite losing Kevin De Bruyne and starting without Rodri, his new signings and tactical genius could see City get really close to reclaiming the EPL crown. But not quite.
12. Chelsea
Fresh from winning the FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea’s recruitment has been stellar — João Pedro, Liam Delapy, Gittens, Estevão Willian, and more. Enzo Maresca’s team has a solid chance to end up on top this season.
Final Word
But as we know, football is unpredictable. AFCON, injuries, and surprise packages could completely change the picture. Will City dominate again? Could Manchester United finally return to the top four? Or will we see a shock challenger emerge?
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