The Premier League season resumes on Friday with Coventry City’s journey to Arsenal, marking their first top-level match in 25 years. This season could be notably unpredictable, as nine clubs have new managers. Manchester United’s Michael Carrick and Tottenham Hotspur’s Roberto De Zerbi are relatively new in their roles.
Five of the traditional Big Six—Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham—are beginning the 2026-27 season with different managers from last year. Arsenal remains the only title contender with managerial stability. Questions arise: How will the new managers perform? Which teams have successfully recruited? Can promoted teams succeed?
Season Predictions from The Athletic Writers
The Athletic’s global team, including Carl Anka, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Nick Miller, Tim Spiers, Cerys Jones, Thom Harris, Stuart James, and Emma Paton, have shared their predictions.
Who Will Improve?
Anka suggests Tottenham and Nottingham Forest will aim for European positions rather than relegation. Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa could return to form. Stafford-Bloor predicts successful outcomes for Florian Wirtz under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth. Lastly, Miller believes Tottenham and Manchester United have the potential for a strong season.
Harris looks forward to Chelsea improving under Xabi Alonso, utilizing a shape similar to his style at Bayer Leverkusen. Jones sees Chelsea’s experienced squad and Tottenham’s signings as assets for improvement.
Spiers expects Nottingham Forest to surpass 16th place strongly, especially with Oliver Glasner leading. James sees Tottenham potentially outperforming last season.
Who Will Decline?
Anka points to Fulham as a team that might struggle with Marco Silva’s departure. Stafford-Bloor notes Aston Villa could have challenges after losing key players like Tielemans and Amadou Onana. Miller concurs, believing Villa may not adequately replace departing players.
Harris suggests Sunderland’s limited signings could impact their performance, given their struggles last season. Jones agrees, questioning Sunderland and Villa’s potential to maintain past success.
Spiers and James believe Bournemouth and Sunderland could experience downturns. Paton sees Newcastle potentially struggling after significant departures and managerial changes.
Best Managerial Appointments
Anka supports Glasner’s appointment at Nottingham Forest. Stafford-Bloor advocates for Iraola with Liverpool’s structure. Miller highlights Glasner’s proven capacity for handling chaos.
Harris predicts success for Marco Rose at Bournemouth, while Jones expects Alonso at Chelsea to contribute to improved team performance. Spiers sees Maresca as a strategic choice for Manchester City.
James agrees with Glasner’s potential, but bets on Alonso making an impact. Paton concurs, highlighting Alonso’s purposeful coaching style.
Title Contenders
Anka believes Arsenal will win the league by more than five points, highlighting their strong out-of-possession game. Stafford-Bloor and Miller support Arsenal due to squad stability, while Harris sees City as a challenger with key signings like Haaland.
Jones leans towards Arsenal amid competition from Chelsea, City, and Liverpool. Spiers implies Arsenal’s defense makes them favorites, while James appreciates Arsenal’s consistent success under Arteta. Paton echoes Arsenal’s position as front-runners.
Notable Transfers
Anka praises Brentford’s Sangare for his defensive capabilities. Stafford-Bloor notes Schlager’s solid acquisition by Nottingham Forest. Miller touts Tielemans as a bargain for Manchester United.
Harris emphasizes Ipswich’s strategic summer signings, including Florentino Luis. Spiers foresees Gomes’ potential at Aston Villa. James highlights Manzambi’s talent, while Paton commends Trafford’s potential at Leeds.
Players to Watch
Anka anticipates Tielemans reducing creative pressure at Manchester United. Stafford-Bloor is intrigued by Toure’s development at Newcastle. Miller hopes Wirtz thrives under Iraola at Bournemouth.
Harris looks forward to Cherki’s performances, while Jones expects Fernandes to excel with newfound support at Manchester United. Spiers emphasizes Haaland’s ongoing prowess, and James is curious about Dowman’s future at Arsenal.
Paton anticipates Rogers flourishing at Chelsea with Alonso’s guidance.
Managers Under Pressure
Anka spots pressure on Iraola managing Liverpool’s squad challenges. Stafford-Bloor and Miller focus on Maresca, who succeeds Guardiola at Manchester City. Harris sees Jaissle facing a challenging role at Newcastle, dealing with major player losses.
Jones views unspoken expectancy on Arteta to maintain results at Arsenal. Spiers questions Everton’s patience with Moyes, while pressure mounts on Glasner at Forest. James sees Maresca tasked with replicating Guardiola’s success.
Paton agrees with Maresca’s challenging role, emphasizing the difficulty in following Guardiola’s legacy.
Mid-Season Predictions
Anka foresees Arsenal leading by Christmas and promoted clubs struggling. Stafford-Bloor predicts Liverpool leading, Hull trailing. Miller anticipates Arsenal at the top and Ipswich at the bottom.
Harris expects Manchester City at the top and Hull at the bottom. Jones, Spiers, James, and Paton echo similar predictions, with Arsenal leading and Hull trailing.
Promoted Clubs’ Survival Chances
Anka doubts survival chances due to lacking offensive capabilities. Stafford-Bloor sees potential in Ipswich’s strategic summer strengthening. Miller and Harris agree that Ipswich could stay up. Jones doubts promoted clubs can overcome existing Premier League teams, despite Coventry’s improvements.
Spiers sees potential for Coventry and Ipswich to make an impact but questions their longevity. James contends survival may be challenging for all promoted teams. Paton remains hopeful for Ipswich, citing infrastructure and resource support.
Early-Season Matches of Interest
Anka expects the Manchester derby on September 13 to be insightful into the city’s football dynamic. Stafford-Bloor and Miller pinpoint Liverpool versus Newcastle and the first Liverpool against Manchester City match as important fixtures.
Harris highlights Arsenal against Chelsea as a key deterministic match. Jones supports the Manchester derby. Spiers focuses on enforcement of new regulations affecting gameplay, while James anticipates insights from early rule impacts in matches.
Paton awaits Newcastle versus Liverpool’s tactical display under new managers.