With the 2025/26 season kicking off on Friday, Premier League pundits are predicting who will win the title, which teams could be the surprise package, who will win the Golden Boot, and much more.
Champions
Alan Shearer: Liverpool
Michael Owen: Liverpool
They won the league last season and could have done it by more than 10 points - they only took two from the last 12 available after winning it. It looks like they have bought extremely well so I can’t imagine anyone has improved enough to go past them. I think they will win it again.
Darren Bent: Liverpool
They have recruited really well. They were the best team last year and have got even better.
Tim Sherwood: Liverpool
They've had fantastic recruitment and they have a winning mentality.
Shay Given: Liverpool
They’ve got the depth, the firepower, and a real sense of momentum going into the season.
Don Hutchison: Liverpool
The best team by far last season have added even more quality. They will be the team to catch. The firepower they have is incredible.
Matt Holland: Liverpool
On the back of winning the title last season, they have bought well from a position of strength. I am particularly looking forward to seeing Florian Wirtz.
Leon Osman: Liverpool
The best team last season have strengthened.
Glenn Murray: Liverpool
Rob Green: Liverpool
They are the reigning champions and have reinforced considerably.
Verdict: Champions
Shearer: Liverpool
Owen: Liverpool
Bent: Liverpool
Sherwood: Liverpool
Given: Liverpool
Hutchison: Liverpool
Holland: Liverpool
Osman: Liverpool
Murray: Liverpool
Green: Liverpool
Top four
Shearer: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea
Owen: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea
Bent: Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City
Sherwood: Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea
Given: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea
Hutchison: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea (or Newcastle United if they keep Alexander Isak)
Holland: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea
Osman: Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City
Murray: Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal
Green: Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City
Pundits' predicted final tables
You can submit your own predicted table with our Table Predictor game and be in with a chance to win a prize.
Surprise package
Owen: Everton
With a new stadium and new ownership, a couple of new players - and I think there will be more signings, David Moyes has got a lot momentum there at the moment. I think there’s a feel-good factor around the club and I can see them being in the top half and possibly challenging for Europe.
Sherwood: Manchester United
Without any European football, they only really have the league to concentrate on and they have made some good signings of proven Premier League players.
Given: Leeds United
In the last two seasons, all three promoted teams went straight back down but I believe Leeds can stay up.
Hutchison: Everton
I think they can hopefully finish in the top 10.
Holland: Everton
When Moyes took over last season, Everton were just a point above the relegation zone. They ended the season comfortably in 13th place. Going into their new stadium, along with some good recent transfer business, they could even finish in the top half of the table.
Osman: Sunderland
I think one of the promoted teams might make a go of it this year and because of their recruitment it could be Sunderland.
Murray: Everton
I think they will finish in the top 10.
Green: Man Utd
I can see them going from 15th last season to sixth this season. With no European football, Amorim will be able to work more on team shape.
Verdict: Surprise package
Owen: Everton
Sherwood: Man Utd
Given: Leeds
Hutchison: Everton
Holland: Everton
Osman: Sunderland
Murray: Everton
Green: Man Utd
Promoted team to finish highest
Shearer: Leeds
I'll say Leeds because of their home crowd.
Owen: Leeds
They seem to have got the finance to give it a go and they have certainly got the support and the history - in many ways they are a Premier League team. I’m not expecting wild things from them but if there was one promoted team that could stay up then I would say it is Leeds.
Bent: Sunderland
They have signed some exciting players, and also some experienced players, to join the young squad they have. Also, their fans will play a huge part.
Sherwood: Leeds
Like Alan, I'm tipping Leeds to finish above Burnley and Sunderland due to the home support at Elland Road.
Given: Leeds
They’ve got the fanbase and energy to give them an edge over the other promoted sides.
Hutchison: Sunderland
They've made some excellent signings, especially Granit Xhaka who will provide leadership on the pitch.
Holland: Leeds
They finished last season with 100 points and a mammoth +65 goal difference so they are coming into the season in confident mood. Add in the atmosphere that can be created at Elland Road and they may well have enough to survive.
Osman: Sunderland
Murray: Sunderland
Green: Leeds
Verdict: Promoted team to finish highest
Shearer: Leeds
Owen: Leeds
Bent: Sunderland
Sherwood: Leeds
Given: Leeds
Hutchison: Sunderland
Holland: Leeds
Osman: Sunderland
Murray: Sunderland
Green: Leeds
Three teams to be relegated
Shearer: Burnley, Sunderland, Leeds
Owen: Leeds, Sunderland, Burnley
Bent: Leeds, Burnley, Wolverhampton Wanderers
The gap between the Championship and Premier League is just too big and Wolves have lost two of their best players in Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha and haven't replaced them.
Sherwood: Burnley, Leeds, Sunderland
The gap between the Premier League and Championship is widening every year.
Given: Brentford, Burnley, Sunderland
They are all likely to struggle to have the quality and depth needed for survival.
Holland: Brentford, Burnley, Sunderland
The last two seasons, all three teams promoted from the Championship have gone straight back down and it would be easy to predict that again. However, I do fear for Brentford, having lost Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur and key players Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo to Arsenal and Man Utd respectively. Keith Andrews, in his first managerial role, has got a big job on his hands and I think they may just come up short.
Osman: Burnley, Leeds, Wolves
I think teams coming up are finding it very hard to stay in the league so I’m going for two of those to go back down. Wolves are in my bottom three because of the players they’ve lost. It has weakened them considerably.
Murray: Sunderland, Burnley, Leeds
I think the newly promoted teams will all go down. Brentford and West Ham United could get dragged in but they both have too much Premier League know-how.
Green: Brentford, Burnley, Sunderland
I think Sunderland have had too much of a rebuild too fast. Burnley will struggle for goals and they have lost a large part of their defensive success from last season. Brentford have lost their goalkeeper, their captain, top scorer, manager and reportedly it's possible Yoane Wissa could leave the club too.
Verdict: Three teams to be relegated
Shearer: Burnley, Sunderland, Leeds
Owen: Leeds, Sunderland, Burnley
Bent: Leeds, Burnley, Wolves
Sherwood: Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland
Given: Brentford, Burnley, Sunderland
Holland: Brentford, Burnley, Sunderland
Osman: Wolves, Leeds, Burnley
Murray: Sunderland, Burnley, Leeds
Green: Brentford, Burnley, Sunderland
Bold prediction
Shearer: Sunderland to be relegated!
Owen: Liverpool to win a treble
I think they're streets ahead at the moment. I know Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League last season and beat them on the way there, but I'd have Liverpool as favourites to win it this season. They're also my Premier League favourites and I think they could win three of the four competitions they're in.
Given: Brentford to get relegated
The loss of their manager and key players is going to make this season a struggle.
Hutchison: Newcastle to win another trophy
I think they can follow on from last season's EFL Cup final success.
Holland: Brentford to get relegated
Having been so consistent under Frank, losing him is a massive blow which I don’t think they will recover from.
Osman: Pep Guardiola to walk away from Man City before Christmas
Murray: Everton to get into Europe
Green: Everton to qualify for European football
Top scorer
Shearer: Mohamed Salah
Owen: Salah
I was chopping and changing between him and Isak. Even if Isak joins Liverpool, I think the safest pick is Salah. He will probably score as many goals in open play and then you have got penalties to factor in - I can’t imagine anyone is going to take penalties off Salah so I think I’m going to stick with him.
Bent: Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal create so many chances, they just needed someone to finish them off. I think he's perfect for that.
Sherwood: Isak
He is the best all-round striker in the Premier League.
Given: Erling Haaland
He just doesn't stop scoring.
Hutchison: Salah
He gets lots of service from the players who were already at Liverpool and now he has the brilliant Wirtz to supply him too.
Holland: Haaland
With Salah potentially being away for the African Cup of Nations and missing a chunk of Premier League games, it opens the door for Haaland to regain his crown.
Osman: Salah
He is a goal machine and hardly ever misses a minute.
Murray: Isak
Green: Isak
I predict he will get his transfer to Liverpool and then be on fire.
Verdict: Top scorer
Shearer: Salah
Owen: Salah
Bent: Gyokeres
Sherwood: Isak
Given: Haaland
Hutchison: Salah
Holland: Haaland
Osman: Salah
Murray: Isak
Green: Isak
Playmaker of the Year (most assists)
Owen: Wirtz
Liverpool will probably score more goals than any other team in the league and this lad looks like he's the real deal. He is going to be playing in a position where he is going to be heavily involved in the attacking style of football and I think he could be a very exciting addition to the Premier league.
Sherwood: Wirtz
He is a great talent playing in a team with the most firepower.
Given: Cole Palmer
He is creative, calm on the ball, and always looking for that killer pass.
Hutchison: Wirtz
Holland: Bukayo Saka
He got double figures for assists last season in an injury-ravaged campaign so I expect that number to increase next season. Add in the fact Arsenal have brought in Gyokeres - that should mean more of the chances Saka creates should be converted, adding to his tally.
Osman: Saka
Arsenal now have a striker who should operate inside the box. That should add plenty of assists to Saka’s tally, which has already been impressive.
Murray: Anthony Elanga
Green: Palmer
He is just a class act.
Verdict: Playmaker of the Year
Owen: Wirtz
Sherwood: Wirtz
Given: Palmer
Hutchison: Wirtz
Holland: Saka
Osman: Saka
Murray: Elanga
Green: Palmer
Most clean sheets
Shearer: David Raya
Owen: Raya
I think Arsenal have got a very good goalkeeper and a strong defence. I think Liverpool probably take more risks and that leaves them a bit more exposed, they don’t mind that trade-off, whereas Arsenal are quite efficient and don’t give too many chances away so I’ll go for Raya to win the Golden Glove.
Sherwood: Raya
Arsenal are always solid defensively.
Given: Alisson
Liverpool have a solid defence and a top goalkeeper to back it up.
Hutchison: Raya
They have fantastic centre-backs and a protecting midfielder.
Holland: Raya
Arsenal had the best defence in the Premier League last season and I expect the same this time around. If first-choice Raya plays every game, then he should retain the Golden Glove he shared with Nottingham Forest's Matz Sels.
Osman: Raya
If Arsenal are to have a good season they’ll need to be great at the back.
Murray: Jordan Pickford
Green: Raya
Arsenal are a defensively solid team
Verdict: Most clean sheets
Shearer: Raya
Owen: Raya
Sherwood: Raya
Given: Alisson
Hutchison: Raya
Holland: Raya
Osman: Raya
Murray: Pickford
Green: Raya
EA SPORTS Player of the Season
Shearer: Salah
Owen: Wirtz
I think he’ll be top of the assists and I think he has got loads of ability – he plays in a position where he is going to be involved in so much of the good stuff that Liverpool do. I think if he adapts to the Premier League, then he could be absolutely anything and one of the stars of the show.
Sherwood: Isak
If he joins Liverpool, I predict he will be a Premier League champion and the Golden Boot winner.
Given: Palmer
He is the man for the big moments.
Hutchison: Virgil van Dijk
In my opinion, he is the best centre-half the Premier League has ever had.
Holland: Saka
He's regularly in double figures for goals and assists, and is such a consistent performer. If he stays fit he has a great chance of winning this award.
Osman: Saka
Murray: Isak
Green: Palmer
He will thrive in Maresca-ball.
Verdict: EA SPORTS Player of the Season
Shearer: Salah
Owen: Wirtz
Sherwood: Isak
Given: Palmer
Hutchison: Van Dijk
Holland: Saka
Osman: Saka
Murray: Isak
Green: Palmer
Who will be the Barclays Manager of the Season?
Shearer: Arne Slot
Owen: Slot
There is no question in my mind who is going to be the Manager of the Year. Obviously there is an advantage to being at one of the top teams - you need to almost create a total miracle to win the award at a lower club. Most of the time, the manager who wins the league will get it and I think that will be Slot.
Sherwood: Slot
The title-winning manager should always win this award.
Given: Slot
I predict Slot will pick up from where he left off and deliver again.
Hutchison: Slot
He will win it as Liverpool will retain the title.
Holland: Slot
I’m tipping Liverpool to retain their title and therefore I’m tipping Slot to be Manager of the Year again.
Osman: Slot
Murray: Slot
Green: Farke
I think he will win it for bucking the trend of all three promoted sides getting relegated.
Verdict: Barclays Manager of the Season
Shearer: Slot
Owen: Slot
Sherwood: Slot
Given: Slot
Hutchison: Slot
Holland: Slot
Osman: Slot
Murray: Slot
Green: Farke
Best young player
Shearer: Valentino Livramento
Owen: Max Dowman
I’m joining the hype train really as I haven’t seen enough of him to form a strong opinion, but my sources tell me that he is a little bit special so I’ll follow that as opposed to my own eyes at the moment. We might not see him play an awful lot this season but even glimpses of his talent would be an exciting thing.
Sherwood: Carlos Baleba
He had a great second season for Brighton, and he will get better and probably move to a 'bigger' club.
Given: Wirtz
He is silky, fearless, and ready to make his mark in England.
Hutchison: Adam Wharton
A brilliant young player who reminds me of a midfielder from the 1990s, he can do everything.
Holland: Kobbie Mainoo
Perhaps a left-field choice given he didn’t play as much as he would have liked last season. He has such natural ability and I’m a huge fan of his. I expect Man Utd to be much better this season and that will help him have a bigger impact in the Premier League.
Green: Myles Lewis-Skelly
He will improve positionally and he has the ability on the ball to dictate in the hybrid role of right-back/defensive midfielder.
Verdict: Best young player
Shearer: Livramento
Owen: Dowman
Sherwood: Dowman
Given: Wirtz
Hutchison: Wharton
Holland: Mainoo
Green: Myles Lewis-Skelly