The Premier League 2025/26 Sense Check
Just in time for the new football season - here's a sense check of all 20 Premier League teams and why they'll be good OR bad this year.
After a summer of overindulgence, we are so back! And what better way to ease us back into things than a little sense check of all 20 Premier League teams ahead of the new season kicking off on Friday. Hop in and take a look at why each team are going to have a good season… or why it’s all going to go horribly wrong…
Arsenal
Why they’ll be good: They’ve finally bought a number nine. They’ve strengthened in midfield with the addition of Martin Zubimendi. Bukayo Saka has had a badly needed summer of downtime. Their back five, for me, is the strongest defensively of anyone else in the title race. Everything is there, returning a very settled squad that has all the components of a title winning team.
Why they’ll be bad: It’s a low key very important year for Mikel Arteta. Having failed to knock off Manchester City the year prior, they let Liverpool pinch a relatively substandard Premier League last season. Now, with both going through a period of regeneration and turnover, Arsenal have retained from last season and strengthened in key areas so it feels like a great chance for Arsenal to return to the promised land. Every time it feels like their biggest enemy is themselves. Can the stay out of their own way long enough to put it all together?
Aston Villa
Why they’ll be good: Unai Emery. He’s arguably the best coach outside of the top four in the league and has a decent squad at his disposal. A more-of-the-same would be acceptable, especially with European football to contend with. Morgan Rogers is a phenom while if Ollie Watkins can stay fit there aren’t many better strikers propelling a team forward across the league.
Why they’ll be bad: PSR sucks, right? Villa have had to scrape and claw in the transfer market and look to have plateaued where they should be rising upwards on the back of a decent Champions League campaign and sixth placed finish. With the goalkeeper position still up in the air and a stagnated squad while teams around them spend like there’s no tomorrow, it’ll be extremely tough to keep up.
Bournemouth
Why they’ll be good: Keeping Antoine Semenyo is a massive plus, in an attack that was so impressive last season with Justin Kluivert making a name for himself, Evanilson leading the line and Dango Ouattara providing some quality, too. Andoni Iraola looks to be the next hot coach off the ranks of a bigger club, but as long as he’s at the Cherries he’ll keep them ticking over.
Why they’ll be bad: Standing still in the transfer market is rarely good, especially for a club that’s lost it’s starting centre half pair from last season to Real Madrid and PSG, and it’s star left back to Liverpool. How they cope with such losses remains to be seen, but it’s hard to say with just a week till the league start that they’ve improved. A slide back into the bottom half seems likely, but where that slide back stops will be the worrying part.
Brentford
Why they’ll be good: A club with solid structures and diligent oversight that’s lost its manager to Spurs, industrious winger to Manchester United and soon, possibly, it’s striker to Newcastle. But if they’re not too worried, why should we?! Brentford pride themselves in doing things differently and will have readied themselves for such losses. Keeping Nathan Collins is a plus, his national colleague Keith Andrews has been promoted from within for a reason. They trust their systems to maintain continuity and there’s little evidence, so far, to doubt that.
Why they’ll be bad: Well, they’ve yet to replace Bryan Mbeumo, Yoann Wissa wants to leave, and their highly coveted manager has finally bailed on them. That leaves rookie manager Andrews in the hotseat with quite possibly the hardest job of any new manager in the league this season. How long can you rely on the club system just working? It could be a very, very long season for Brentford.
Brighton
Why they’ll be good: With question marks around several sides in this bracket, Brighton are in pole position to take advantage. Fabian Hürzeler has adapted to the league quickly and despite losing Joao Pedro, Georginio Rutter feels like a player who can establish himself as a star this season. Holding onto Carlos Baleba would be helpful, but knowing Brighton they’ve his replacement already stashed away in the cupboard. Maxim De Cuyper is a name that we’ll all become familiar with, too.
Why they’ll be bad: Although rejuvenated last season, relying on Danny Welbeck to lead the line for an entire season seems fraught with danger. They’ve only added 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas in attack, while rumours of a Baleba departure this late into the window to what is essentially a rival in Manchester United could prove disastrous, because how often can they strike iron with world class midfield combatants? For all his tactical prowess, Hürzeler must be frustrated that a lot of this cash isn’t being spent on reliable attacking reinforcements.
Burnley
Why they’ll be good: A record smashing defensive effort last season could carry over to the Premier League, keeping games tight and tense against bigger teams. A smash and grab here and there will keep opposition on their toes. This is Scott Parker’s third go at the Premier League and second time leading a team from the Championship, which is invaluable experience. Staying up will be a monumental effort but for a team who pride themselves in defending and keeping clean sheets, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility, especially since the alternative has failed for so many recent promoted clubs.
Why they’ll be bad: They might have only conceded 16 goals last season, but they only scored 69 goals, 26 short of Leeds United. Adding Armando Broja from Chelsea will help slightly but its really hard to see where their goals come from. A long season ahead for a team that will defend for their lives, but likely come up too short, too often.
Chelsea
Why they’ll be good: On paper, their squad is somehow finally looking to take shape. The strategy of signing everyone didn’t exactly bear fruit, but they’re starting to fashion a side that has layers of quality in all areas, while they move on from the likes of Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson and Joao Felix. Liam Delap could be a star striker in the making, while Joao Pedro adds so much class alongside Cole Palmer. And as for Palmer, although he had a poor second half of last season by his standards, he was in Player of the Season conversation at Christmas. He’s off the back of a fine Club World Cup - expect him to really push on and become an established world class, Premier League elite version of himself.
Why they’ll be bad: Well, winning the Club World Cup is great, but just now returning after some R&R means Chelsea will have a pretty weird start to the season. Expectations will be high but surely the legs can’t continue for a whole season after a summer of action in a sweltering hot America? And, despite binning off some of the deadwood, there’s still an air of unknown to their squad and bedding down that will be required. And with a raft of defenders, losing Levi Colwill is still a huge blow. And although Enzo Maresca is now a European and World champion, it does feel like the leash could get tightened quite quickly, especially given fan frustrations at their playing style.
Crystal Palace
Why they’ll be good: Pride and a newfound anti-UEFA agenda will propel them forward with a huge chip on their shoulder. Getting off to winning ways against Liverpool in the Shield will have them bouncing into the new season, too. With Ismaila Sarr they have as threatening an attacker as any outside the top four, while Jean-Philippe Mateta will be a force to be reckoned with. If Palace can hold onto Eberechi Eze, which feels like a challenge at this point in the window, they’ll thoroughly enjoy a season chanting about the UEFA mafia on European away trips mixed in with bettering teams they’re always capable of beating in the league. Oliver Glasner, also, is a really good manager. That helps.
Why they’ll be bad: I skirted past it in the above paragraph, but losing Eze would be a huge disaster. He’s exceptional and not easily replaced. There also seems to be a bit of tension between Glasner and the club, which is odd coming off of a double trophy haul, but they simply haven’t strengthened in the transfer window and now have a European Conference League to mix into their schedule. Better transfer business and they could’ve dreamed about winning it. Maybe they still do, but many clubs at this level will show evidence of the struggle of domestic and European football when the squad is not tuned for it.
Everton
Why they’ll be good: A new stadium and new sense of hope under the old guard in David Moyes. He rescued the club from disaster last season and they’ll, thankfully, be playing their inaugural season at Bramley-Moor Dock in the top tier. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s vanishment at Chelsea is over and he can now become a focal point at Everton, while guys like Iliman Ndiaye coupled with Carlos Alcaraz, now a permanent addition, provide threatening attack options, while Jack Grealish will be a really fun addition if he can relive old glory. Defensively they’re excellent. There’s a lot of scope to rise into the top half of the table.
Why they’ll be bad: Although Moyes saved the day, is he the manager to carry them beyond just relegation avoidance? A 13th placed finish was the stuff of imagination last Christmas, now there’ll be hopes to go even better than that with the new stadium bounce, if there’s such a thing. With talk of Beto leaving, there’ll be a lot of hope placed on Thierno Barry, while they’re still relying on a 35-year-old Idrissa Gueye in midfield. They could do with some more reinforcements in that departement.
Fulham
Why they’ll be good: Easily the most under-the-radar team in the league, nobody really talks Fulham up or down. They just exist. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Their transfer business has been non-existent. They’ve lost nobody, but haven’t added anybody either. Marco Silva is an excellent manager. They’re very settled, have sparks of quality in players like Emile Smith-Rowe and Harry Wilson and all 34 years of Raul Jimenez had a wonderful return to form last season with 12 goals. They definitely won’t be relegated.
Why they’ll be bad: Well, they definitely won’t be relegated… but they almost definitely won’t be better, either. It must be frustrating for Fulham fans not to be more active in the transfer window. Even just one young striker would add a new dimension to the squad that they’re lacking.
Leeds
Why they’ll be good: Championship winners that have added some interesting pieces to their squad, whilst losing no one of note. Daniel Farke has been here before and has to be more prepared this time with an idea of what’s to come, but he does have a squad that has goals, with 19 from Joel Piroe last season, and tufts of quality in Wilfried Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson. On paper they seem the best equipped of the three promoted clubs to survive.
Why they’ll be bad: Because Daniel Farke has been here before and failed each time. There’s no shame in being a good Championship manager, but there must be a worry that his newly promoted side struggle once again. They’ve spent big and Sean Longstaff is a solid addition, but if it’s enough to carry them over that promotion hump remains to be seen. You look at players like Dan James and Jack Harrison and wonder, despite their top flight experience, if they have the quality required to deliver for a club at the top level.
Liverpool
Why they’ll be good: Reigning Premier League champions that have spent a boat load of money on fresh new toys, not least one of the best young players in the world Florian Wirtz. As transfer windows go, they’re probably a centre half and an Alexander Isak away from it being one of the greatest ever. Arne Slot has proven himself to be the real deal and retaining the services and leadership of Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah for another season, while he can integrate all these new guys, is a dream scenario for any manager. It really should be back-to-back titles.
Why they’ll be bad: Well, Van Dijk (34) and Mo Salah (33) were they worst players on the pitch at the Community Shield and although it gets said at the start of every season, they have to slow down eventually. Should they snap out of it, there’s still the question of replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold. Jeremie Frimpong adds a whole different dimension from right back, but how they get the ball into Wirtz and Co. is still up in the air. After coming under the radar last season the target is firmly on their backs and with all the hype and expectation of going back-to-back, reality could be a hell of a drop back to earth. Despite all of the success over the last decade or so, it’s very unfamiliar territory for Liverpool.
Manchester City
Why they’ll be good: Because they are Manchester City, have a freakazoid up front off of a fresh summer and Pep Guardiola will forever and always do Pep Guardiola things. Last season they were awful and that just won’t stand. But they’ve bolstered across every line on the field and Tijjani Reijnders could sneakily be one of the signings of the season. Saying goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne was a blow, but they’ve done that with several talismans over the years and been just fine and have Omar Marmoush to step up in his first full season alongside the Norwegian. Pep and his side will smell blood this season.
Why they’ll be bad: Do Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Aït-Nouri really feel like City signings? It does kind of seem like a project slowing down and if Erling Haaland can’t get the service he got from De Bruyne, City will have a huge problem on their hands. With Rodri already sidelined, there’s not a lot of evidence lately that City will be able to replace what he does. Pep’s intensity is unwavering but surely difficult for players to deal with, Liverpool have bought from a position of strength while Arsenal are a more steady side at the minute. Getting back to the summit - coming off a disappointing Club World Cup - will not be one bit straightforward.
Manchester United
Why they’ll be good: Well, the only way is up for a club that were just outrightly terrible last season, culminating in Europa League defeat to the equally terrible Spurs. Alas, no European football will be major for United and Ruben Amorim - especially with a new front three to play with in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. They couldn’t score for love nor money last season and those additions will go a long way to filling the gap. With some of the deadwood getting processed in the other direction, it does feel like the Amorim project is beginning to take shape and the club are crafting an identity and a quality that will, undoubtedly, carry them back into the right side of the table.
Why they’ll be bad: That’s a lot of money to spend on a striker who’s statistics don’t exactly jump off the page. United’s transfer business has left a lot to be desired, so reverting to established and proven Premier League names is a good strategy, but are Cunha and Mbeumo at this level where the microscope is so intense? One bad spell could have things spiraling. In addition, the goalkeeper situation isn’t ideal. There’s still a funky cloud over United that if they don’t shake off in the first few months of the season will have them mired in a status quo.
Newcastle
Why they’ll be good: I mean, if ever a team had a reason to be good and shove it in everyone else’s faces, it’s Newcastle. Eddie Howe should be playing the everyone is against us card - including his star striker - and turning what he has, which, to be fair, isn’t a bad squad, and eeking every last bit out of it. He’s a good coach and what they have added can certainly help the team.
Why they’ll be bad: Because Joao Pedro chose Chelsea, James Trafford returned to City, Liverpool beat them to Hugo Ekitike, Manchester United pinched Benjamin Sesko, and Newcastle are left with a squad in dire need of some improvements and a £150million striker who doesn’t want to play for them anymore. Yikes.
Nottingham Forest
Why they’ll be good: Outside of the top four, they might have the best defence on paper in the league. And keeping Morgan Gibbs-White is a massive coup that nobody really expected. Chris Wood will do Chris Wood things and altogether, Nuno Espirito Santo managed to mark his name as a genuinely good coach last season after a couple of years in the wilderness. Matching last season’s 7th feels difficult, especially with Europe, but a top ten season and a knockout run in the Europa League wouldn’t be a bad return.
Why they’ll be bad: Is Santo really a good manager? He’s coaching a club well beyond expectations so a return to the status quo at the other end of the table feels inevitable. Plus, he has owner man-child Evangelos Marinakis in his ear, likely questioning every selection and decision the coach makes. Something’s gotta give eventually and that may well be the coach’s job if they don’t start the season strongy.
Sunderland
Why they’ll be good: A Premier League feels different with Sunderland involved and they’re always fun, for better or worse. They’ve been very busy in the transfer window - essential, give their rise through the playoffs - and mixing in the experience of Granit Xhaka with the youth of Habib Diarra feels like a blend that could work and keep them up. The Stadium of Light isn’t an easy place to go to and if they can cause a few shocks early in the season, there’ll be a swell of belief and support from the Mackems.
Why they’ll be bad: They’ve bought a lot of new players but at least four of those could be off to the African Cup of Nations this winter. Unless their plan is to stock up on points in the early half of the season and coast home, it is most certainly a bold strategy, Cotton. We know the trend of promoted teams lately. Are Sunderland good enough to overcome that? Probably not.
Tottenham
Why they’ll be good: A “big” club finally landed Thomas Frank and he can show all the other “big” clubs that they’ve missed out on. The Dane has been one of the best managers in the league over the past five years and has routinely had Brentford playing above and beyond their station with limited resources. Now at Spurs, somehow coming off a European cup winning season, the only way is up and if Frank can turn things around nice and quick - I mean, they should instantly be better defensively - then there’s no reason why they can’t get back into top six conversations.
Why they’ll be bad: It’s a big step up for Frank, all the same, into a furnace that has eaten many manager alive including his predecessor. Despite finishing 17th last season (17th!), there’ll still be a lot of pressure and expectation from the fanbase. Mohammed Kudus is a great addition from rivals West Ham, but they still feel light in attack, with injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, while Dominic Solanke will need to step up massively on last year’s nine league goals. They will be better, but it might not be pretty.
West Ham
Why they’ll be good: Well, it couldn’t be much worse than last season where Graham Potter really struggled to get a tune out of his team. Jarrod Bowen is a reliable talisman that scores plenty of important goals, while Lucas Paqueta - now free from his gambling turmoil - can concentrate on playing football, should he stay at the club. And for any Fantasy Football nerds, El Hadji Malick Diouf could be the find of the summer with very healthy attacking returns from a left wing back position. Opposite Aaron Wan Bissaka, who was outstanding towards the end of last season, West Ham have good pieces in key areas.
Why they’ll be bad: Niclas Füllkrug wasn’t particularly good last season and it looks like West Ham will be relying on him more this season, with only Callum Wilson enlisted in attacking areas after leaving Newcastle. Selling Mohammed Kudus is a big blow too, and he hasn’t been replaced. West Ham were an old squad that are slowly getting younger, but there’s still a lot of old heads in that squad that are very much past their best. It’s not hard to see them being in a relegation race this season, but will likely be marginally better than the promoted sides.
Wolves
Why they’ll be good: We still don’t know too much about Vítor Pereira, but the journeyman manager did relatively OK with what he had at his disposal last season. Jhon Arias is an exciting addition that had a lot of success at Fluminense, while Jørgen Strand Larsen is now a fully fledged Wolves player who showed signed of being good to excellent last season while on loan last season. Success for Wolves is maybe 15th and above and that’s the bucket they seem destined to land in.
Why they’ll be bad: Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri were two of the best players outside of the top ten last season. Losing both without adequate replacing is a bit dodgy, especially the goals and tenacity of Cunha. Again, they fall into the bracket of being better than the promoted sides, but even still, should Arias not deliver and Larsen struggle in front of the net, it’s hard to see how Wolves turn to - and Vítor could be an early sack race favourite.
ICYMI: I joined
of the wonderful for an impromptu livestream on Substack a few weeks back, looking ahead to the new season and reflecting on the summer of football across the Club World Cup and beyond. You can catch that here.