The Premier League is back. The world is watching and we’re about to witness another incredible campaign, no doubt filled with drama throughout.
Expectations are high among all 20 clubs, who are set to play 380 matches between now and May. Will Liverpool retain their title? Can Manchester City bounce back in style after a hectic transfer period? Or will the newly crowned Club World Cup champions Chelsea spring a surprise?
As always, the Premier League welcomes three new clubs who will be hoping to survive another season. Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland will all add new dynamics and challenges for the other 17 clubs – but will they be able to break the mould? This is the main question, as last season saw all three promoted sides relegated at the first time of asking.
Once again, money has been splashed across the league, with every club looking to improve on their positions from last season. From those chasing Europe to those looking to survive, this looks like it could be the toughest Premier League campaign – across the board – for quite some time.
The wait is finally over – expect manager sackings, new cult heroes and shock results. We can’t wait – and we’re sure that you can’t either. Let’s dive in and see what we have to look forward to.
Check out the Premier League pre-match odds here.
Season kick‑off and opening fixtures
Before the seasonal drama begins on home soil, the UEFA Super Cup final is set to take place between PSG and Tottenham on Wednesday 13th August.
This European curtain‑raiser, set to be held at Udine’s Stadio Friuli, is a landmark event for Italy, which will be hosting the Super Cup for the first time. With a capacity of just 25,000, it will be a rather different final from what we have witnessed before.
Still, millions will be tuning in from around the world to see how Champions League winners PSG get on against Tottenham under their new head coach. Thomas Frank was appointed after Ange Postecoglou parted ways with this club, and it will be an opportunity for Premier League fans to see how his tactics will differ from the Australian’s.
The Premier League’s fixtures begin less than 48 hours later, with the new season launching on Friday 15th August. Liverpool, fresh from last season’s title triumph, will kick off the campaign against Bournemouth.
Title contenders
Liverpool return as defending champions with an adventurous summer rebuild. Under Arne Slot, the club has spent upwards of £260m to bring in players such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez – all intended to refresh the squad as they look to not only defend their title but also progress further in the Champions League. With Jürgen Klopp’s era firmly behind them, Liverpool fans will be hoping that their new signings will give their team both momentum and a renewed sense of urgency.
However, having lost the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, Slot’s new players may need more time to gel, which will give other teams the chance to challenge.
One of those teams could well be Arsenal, who are never far away under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners have also spent strategically in order to chase that elusive first title since 2004. Martín Zubimendi, Noni Madueke and, perhaps biggest of all, Viktor Gyökeres, arrive for fees of £51m, £52m and £63.5m respectively.
Arteta has clearly wanted to provide his squad with more balance and more ruthlessness and quality in the final third. If the new faces come in and adapt quickly, Arsenal fans will feel that they’ll be closer than ever to going all the way and challenging Slot for top spot.
Manchester City, meanwhile, enter a transitional phase. With Kevin De Bruyne off to Napoli on a free transfer, City have moved quickly to bring in AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders, Wolves’ Rayan Aït‑Nouri, Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, and former goalkeeper James Trafford. The sums – £46m, £36m, £34m and £31m – indicate Pep Guardiola’s eye for value and long-term planning, though much depends on how quickly this fresh core can gel into a title‑challenging unit.
Could any other side crash the top‑three party? Manchester United, fresh off historic spending (Bryan Mbeumo for £71m, Matheus Cunha for £62.5m, and Benjamin Šeško for £73.7m), are intent on reestablishing their credibility. However, a daunting early run of fixtures – against Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool – will be incredibly challenging and may just indicate that they need a few more signings – or seasons – before they can get back on top.
Chelsea, buoyed by their Club World Cup triumph, have injected offensive flair via Jamie Gittens (£51.5m), João Pedro (£60m), Liam Delap (£30m) and Brazilian wonderkid Estevão. Whisper it quietly, but Chelsea may just be the dark horses this season after some very clever business in the transfer window. If the Club World Cup hasn’t taken it out of them, Stamford Bridge will be a tough venue to go and pick up three points.
Who will win the Premier League golden boot? Find out the odds here.
Headline summer transfers
Arsenal’s influx of Zubimendi’s disciplined midfield play, Madueke’s electric dribbling, and Gyökeres’ goal‑scoring instincts speak to a side ready to move from challengers to champions. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s eye for global talent is clear: Wirtz adds continental flair, Ekitike offers raw power and finishing, while Kerkez shores up the back – a multi‑position approach to sustaining momentum.
However, Liverpool’s departures are equally seismic: Trent Alexander‑Arnold has exited to Real Madrid for just £10 in nominal terms, and Luis Díaz is off to Bayern Munich for £65m. These are generational shifts – one sentimental, the other financial.
At Manchester City, the rebuild feels blueprint driven – Reijnders brings midfield steel, Aït‑Nouri width, Cherki creativity, and Trafford a future‑proofing nod in goal. However, losing Kevin De Bruyne, despite his ongoing injuries last season, will no doubt hurt Guardiola as he looks to adapt without the Belgian star.
Manchester United’s splurge on Mbeumo, Cunha and Šeško may alleviate their scoring deficiencies, but mass investment won’t guarantee cohesion, especially against a brutal schedule.
Chelsea’s spending suggests a shift toward the dynamic and youthful, while Everton’s agreement to sign Jack Grealish on loan could be one of the more exciting signings of the window. Further north, Newcastle’s arrival of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest indicates Eddie Howe’s desire to add more depth in the final third as they look to target a Champions League spot once more.
A team away from the top six to note are definitely Sunderland. The Black Cats have over £120m as they look to survive and avoid relegation. One of their standout signings has to be Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka. The 32-year-old endured an incredibly successful period in Germany, and returns to the Premier League looking to be the main man in the middle of the park for his new side.
Habib Diarra, Enzo Le Fée and Chemsdine Talbi have all signed for Sunderland for big fees – and while the pressure is on for them to deliver, this is a really exciting time for the fans, who will get to see their new-look side in action at home against West Ham on the opening weekend of the season.
Irish players to watch
This season, there are far fewer Irish stars than normal in the Premier League. Most clubs have looked to recruit from further afield, but there are still some notable names and ones to watch ahead of future international matches over the next 12 months.
Brentford have two to keep an eye on. Between the sticks, you’ll find Caiomhin Kelleher, who signed a five-year deal from Liverpool this summer. Having stepped up for the champions last season when they were hit with injuries, the Irish goalkeeper was very impressive, and now gets his first real opportunity in the Premier League as the Bees’ number one.
In front of him, you will find Nathan Collins. The 30-year-old centre-back is highly experienced and a fan favourite. He will need to be at the top of his game, however, with Brentford expected to struggle this campaign.
Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion have made the decision to send their Irish forward, Evan Ferguson, to Italy. He may return to the Premier League at some point, but the striker has the opportunity to impress at Roma for the upcoming season.
Northern Ireland’s 22-year-old full-back Conor Bradley will be hoping to get more opportunities at Liverpool now that Trent Alexander-Arnold has moved to Real Madrid, but he may have to bide his time, especially as he is currently out injured. However, there are high hopes for the young full-back to be a long term replacement at Anfield.
Our expert predictions
As the 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off, anticipation is sky high. Can Liverpool, refreshed with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, defend their title under Arne Slot? Will Arsenal – armed with Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Zubimendi – finally break their two-decade title drought?
Manchester City may be quietly evolving, but can they stay dominant without Kevin De Bruyne? Can Chelsea, after making some strong summer signings including João Pedro and Jamie Gittens, spring a serious surprise?
With over £1bn spent across the league, the new arrivals are set to make or break title ambitions and survival hopes alike. The unpredictability of this season is what makes it unmissable – from Irish eyes watching abroad to fans having pub debates in every corner of the UK.
Whether you’re backing your club or chasing underdog stories, this season is certain to deliver drama. Stay on top of it all and bet on each match throughout the season with Tonybet.
