Premier League predictions: Liverpool and Arsenal title race, top four, relegation debated

Club World Cup this, transfer window that - it's nearly time for the good stuff again. The 2025-26 Premier League season kicks off next Friday, with Liverpool at home to Bournemouth serving as a curtain-raiser.

The trophy is safely at Anfield after Arne Slot's side ran away with it last term, and now the challenge for the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City is to take it from them. Next is the battle for the Champions League, where Manchester United haven't been for two years.

And what about the relegation scrap? We will see all three promoted teams go straight back down for the third year running?

Over the next 10 months, we'll find out. All we can do for now is ask the Mirror Football team to look into their crystal balls, so that's exactly what we did.

Here are our writers' 2025-26 Premier League predictions.

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Andy Dunn: They won it in a ten-point canter last season and have done storming business in the transfer market so it really is hard to back against Liverpool retaining their Premier League title and against Mohamed Salah collecting another Golden Boot, especially when he will have the best signing of the window, Florian Wirtz, to help him out.

You would expect Erling Haaland to rival Salah for the Golden Boot but the Manchester City striker might well find the going tough with a new-look side taking a good while to gel. City’s transitional period will mean Chelsea and Arsenal giving Liverpool the most to think about and with Cole Palmer pulling the strings, Enzo Maresca’s Club World Cup champions should show improved Premier League form.

Arsenal have also had a good summer of recruitment and I expect more big things from their brilliant youngsters, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, but they will still come up just short.

Unfortunately, it will be another struggle for the three promoted clubs but Leeds United should have enough to survive. In his short time there, Graham Potter has yet to convince at West Ham United and they could be mildly surprising candidates for the drop at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Chris McKenna: Liverpool to retain the English league title for the first time since the 1980s and overtake Manchester United with No 21. Why? Because they’ve spent big and spent well while their rivals are playing catch up.

Florian Wirtz is a huge signing and I think he will have a starring role in their success to make him not only the best buy of the winner but a contender for player of the year. Manchester City will push them though as Pep Guardiola rebuilds his team but I expect them to find their peak again in the following campaign while Arsenal and Chelsea will fill up the rest of the top four.

Who'll win the Premier League title? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

Burnley and Leeds will struggle to stay up but I reckon Sunderland may surprise a few with their new faces. Brentford have lost their manager and best players, they could be in trouble. Manchester United a surprise package? Only because they won’t be as awful as they were last season and will push for a top six spot.

Erling Haaland will find his shooting boots again and edge out Mo Salah in the race with the latter to miss some games due to AFCON. Leny Yoro looks a promising defender and could star for United this term.

But I did predict Nottingham Forest would get relegated last season and they qualified for Europe - so I wouldn't bet on any of these!

Neil McLeman: There are four genuine contenders in the most open title race for years. Champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal have spent massively but the Man City rebuild began in January while years of Chelsea spending saw them win the FIFA Club World Cup last month. The after effects of playing a major summer of one of many unknowns this season.

Arne Slot was superb in his first Anfield season but faces an arguably an even more difficult task in this campaign of integrating big money signings as title favourites. Pressure will start to build quickly on Mikel Arteta if the Gunners are not competing for silverware.

Without European football, Ruben Amorin will have the chance to stamp his identity on Manchester United and can achieve a top-six finish. But another summer of slow transfer activity at Selhurst Park threatens to make Crystal Palace’s first full European campaign a big challenge after their historic FA Cup success.

Any promoted side staying up is now a minor miracle. Will Burnley’s more pragmatic defensive solidity be more successful in the top flight than Vincent Kompany’s more open approach back in 2023-24? Can Marc Guiu save Sunderland? And how long will Daniel Farke last at Leeds?

James Whaling: Liverpool won the league at a canter last term and it's hard to imagine they could have had a better transfer window. With the potential addition of Alexander Isak still to come, it's hard to back against the Reds going back-to-back.

Arsenal also look stronger and I fancy they will be Liverpool's closest challengers, making it more of a race than last term. A change of scenery could be just the tonic for Noni Madueke as he bids to nail down a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for next summer's World Cup.

Manchester City don't look quite ready to reclaim their crown, although I think Erling Haaland will return to the top of the goal charts, fitness permitting. Chelsea to complete the rest of the top four.

At the other end, I think we will have more of a battle on our hands in the race to stay afloat. Leeds and Burnley look more well-equipped than promoted sides from the last couple of years to retain their top-flight status. A whole host of clubs could be in the mix, including Wolves and Everton, but I've plumped for Brentford and West Ham to join Sunderland in the drop zone.

The Bees in particular have had a disappointing summer, losing boss Thomas Frank to Spurs and main marksman Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United. I think rookie manager Keith Andrews has a real job on his hands to maintain the club's upward trajectory.

Florian Wirtz looks like being the Premier League's newest superstar and I think he will be right in the mix for Player of the Year come next May. Myles Lewis-Skelly is in a great position to continue his development and will be one of the favourites to scoop the Young Player award.

Ben Husband: Liverpool were head and shoulders the best team in the Premier League last season...and they may have got even better during the summer. I expect Manchester City to put up a much better challenge this time around, but I'm backing Arne Slot to do what Jurgen Klopp couldn't - and go back to back.

And with that, I can’t look past Mo Salah winning another Golden Boot and being the best player in the division. Jeremie Frimpong will also slot in seamlessly at right back and perhaps offer what his predecessor Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t.

Arsenal will still be comfortably in the top four, but I don't anticipate them being as close when it comes to the title race. Their transfer business doesn't inspire me and I wouldn't be surprised if they fall off slightly.

That being said, 25/26 promises to be a huge season for Ethan Nwaneri. He should become an even more important part of Mikel Arteta’s squad and will make it into Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad.

At the other end of the table, there's no doubt the three promoted sides will put up a better first of staying up than in previous years, but until I see otherwise, I still think the gap will prove too much - despite their spending.

Wolves have lost plenty of talent during the window, but the acquisition of Jhon Arias should reap immediate benefits. He looked one of the better players at the Club World Cup and could hit the ground running.

Tom Victor: This season’s Premier League campaign is a tough one to call, given the level to which all the big hitters have strengthened. Liverpool are unlikely to be as comfortable as they were last term, but I’m anticipating Manchester City and Chelsea’s Club World Cup exploits to leave them just behind the reigning champions and last season’s runners-up Arsenal.

At the other end of the table, West Ham weren’t far above the drop zone last term and have lost Mohammed Kudus without a replacement coming in, leaving relegation as a real concern. Elsewhere, James Trafford’s Man City return is likely to damage Burnley and Sunderland will need a flurry of new signings to hit the ground running if they are to survive.

Speaking of hitting the ground running, Liverpool’s record signing Florian Wirtz should be key to their success. I’m predicting the opposite on the other side of Merseyside, though - David Moyes had a horrible record with big-money signings at West Ham, and I fear the same could happen with Everton new boy Thierno Barry.

Brentford need some players to step up after more high-profile exits, and I’m backing Igor Thiago to make up for his lost year, though I don’t see anyone catching Erling Haaland in the golden boot race now that his supply line has been bolstered.

Finally, Spurs will surely improve on last season’s league showing, and Archie Gray - still just 19 - has a chance to enjoy a more settled second season under new boss Thomas Frank.

Daniel Orme: Liverpool were by far and away the best team in the league last season - and a lucrative summer has only made the champions even stronger. Given the new faces that they have welcomed to Anfield, it would be fair to say that they’ve once again got the strongest squad on paper which should be enough to see them win the league once again.

That should also see Salah thrive and win the Player of the Year and while Gakpo is not an unknown quantity, I reckon he could hit even bigger heights and even be in the running for that gong too.

But the same might not be said of summer arrival Hugo Ekitike. The Frenchman is far from a bad signing but he will need some adaptation and might not get as many goals as his lofty price tag suggests. Among their rivals, Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki should sign, while Viktor Gyokeres will catch the eye for Arsenal.

Meanwhile, two of the three promoted clubs will drop back into the Championship and might well be joined by Brentford, who have taken a massive risk by replacing Thomas Frank with Keith Andrews. The exit of Bryan Mbeumo and the potential departure of Yoanne Wissa haven’t helped.

Oli Gamp: It would have been hard for me to go against Liverpool for the title even if they had made zero signings. After splurging £300m - and on some terrific new signings - they look dead certs to lift the Premier League crown once again.

I feel in particular the £116m addition of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen will turn them into an even more lethal force. Mark my words, Wirtz will be known as 'The Locksmith' after this season because he's demonstrated how he can unlock even the tightest of defences and make things happen. In the last two seasons alone, he has 34 goals and 28 assists. He's quite simply a weapon and that's reflected in me backing him for best signing and POTY.

Man City should push Liverpool close after strengthening too and while Arsenal have made good signings in this window, I feel they will come up short once again in what could be a crossroads moment for Mikel Arteta next summer. It seems like the right time for Alexander Isak to push on and show why he is one of Europe's best strikers right now and he could add to his 27 strikes from last season, especially if he joins Liverpool.

I also feel Leeds will break the hoodoo of promoted teams going straight back down after some good additions that have gone under the radar and their existing quality, but time could be up for Brentford after losing Thomas Frank. And while I think Arsenal will have a disappointing season, I can see Ethan Nwaneri dazzling individually and showing why he is one of the brightest talents we have in this country.

Alan Smith: The chasing pack will put up a bigger challenge than last season but Arne Slot's squad is stronger and could be boosted further. The only weakness appears a lack of depth at centre half, meaning an injury to Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate could derail them. Once they are available the Reds have to be favourites.

Pep Guardiola's revamped midfield will see them climb to second above Arsenal while Chelsea will be fourth in a tightly-packaged group.

It is becoming a familiar, concerning pattern but the promoted three appear likely to go straight back down. Their only chance of surviving is if an established club ends up in turmoil.

West Ham need more additions in the transfer window, while the demands of European football could mean a regression at Nottingham Forest. Yet both should still be better than the new boys.

Erling Haaland will be top scorer as City fall just short, while Mohamed Salah will again be player of the year because Liverpool’s new firepower should distract opposition defences.

Scott Trotter: Arsenal's pre-season hasn't been too convincing but it has to be their year at some point, right? Liverpool may have introduced too many changes, while Manchester City have some catching up to do after last season.

Chelsea may have a tougher time than many expect too with greater competition to come in the Champions League and a big squad still to manage, though they may be best placed for fourth place unless Aston Villa make some smart moves. Florian Wirtz will light up the league once Liverpool settle but they could have too much to do if Viktor Gyokeres hits the ground running.

Manchester United will not be as bad as last season, and could find some fluency with one game each week but still some way off competing with the best. A scenario that will leave nobody quite content after they had one eye on relegation last season.

Brighton could push into the European spots as a period of stability sees them take advantage of those with busier schedules, while the teams promoted from the Championship will inevitably face a tough time. Vitor Pereira could spring a surprise with Wolves, along with Jorgen Strand Larsen, and despite their high-profile exits should enjoy a safe year.

Sam Meade: City, after their year off, will come back with renewed motivation and I think that'll be enough to get them over the line. Liverpool still look electric, but if they do land Alexander Isak I start to wonder where all of the pieces of the jigsaw fit in. Newcastle, even if they lose their talisman, are incredibly well coached and could spring a surprise despite their poor summer.

The feeling around West Ham isn't great, but Graham Potter showed time and time again that he was able to maximise his resources at Brighton. I've got big wraps on Cherki, who looked sensational for Lyon against Manchester United in Europe last year, and looks every inch a Pep Guardiola player.

Nwaneri has come on every year and, with injuries to Arsenal's frontline last year, probably saw his development accelerated. His team-mate Myles Lewis-Skelly gets a lot of attention, and rightly so, but Nwaneri's ability to influence big moments in games is something to keep an eye on.

Felix Keith: Liverpool have recruited brilliantly so far this summer and look – at paper at least – stronger than last year. I’m backing Mohamed Salah to shine again, partly because he was my only accurate prediction last season. Milos Kerkez was awesome for Bournemouth last season and is a major upgrade on Andy Robertson, who was shaky at times in 2024/25.

This time last year I tried to be clever and looked beyond just predicting the promoted teams to go straight down and I won’t make that mistake again.

Newcastle look a mess this summer and, if they lose Alexander Isak it will become even worse. Kevin Schade is going to step up and bang at Brentford after Bryan Mbeumo left.

Dan Marsh: It's hard to look past Liverpool again, isn't it? They were lightyears ahead of the rest last year. And the fact they've added three top quality players with Alexander Isak still in their sights means it would take a very brave (or foolish) person not to back them for successive titles.

Manchester City will recover from their 2024-25 malaise to challenge them, while I fancy Chelsea to stick around longer this year. Maybe I've got it all wrong, but I see them both finishing ahead of Arsenal, who will take the last Champions League spot.

At the other end of the table, I think Burnley and Leeds will succumb to the current trend of newly promoted teams plummeting straight back down. I worry for Brentford, too: losing your star man (Bryan Mbeumo), captain (Christian Norgaard) and Thomas Frank in one summer is absolutely rotten luck. Keith Andrews might go on to be a fine head coach but he's got a daunting task ahead of him this season.

I fancy Everton to emerge as the season's surprise package. David Moyes did a fine job after returning last season and I like the signings of Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. On the other hand, I think Viktor Gyokeres will struggle to replicate the magnificent goalscoring feats that made him such hot property at Sporting Lisbon. I'm backing Florian Wirtz to establish himself as the summer's shrewdest acquisition, even with that £116million transfer fee.

Erling Haaland will reign supreme in the battle for the golden boot (not exactly breaking news but y'know) while Cole Palmer will be the leading light for Chelsea, who I think are in store for a strong season. Willian Estevao, the exciting young attacker who shone at the Club World Cup, is my outsider pick for Young Player of the Year (everyone else had Lewis-Skelley or Nwaneri!).

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