The Premier League is back on Friday evening as Daily Star Sport has taken some time to offer our predictions for the new season as Liverpool and Bournemouth get us underway
10:52, 15 Aug 2025Updated 11:08, 15 Aug 2025
Win a pair of Premier League tickets! Be there for Chelsea v Crystal Palace or Man City v Tottenham this August, thanks to our exclusive giveaway with Betway.
The Premier League is back - but who is going to win it
Football is back, but did it ever truly leave?
In the three short months since Liverpool lifted the Premier League title back in May we've seen the Club World Cup, Euro 2025, countless pre-season friendlies and endless transfer rumours.
The Reds are looking to go back-to-back as Arne Slot has started to splash the cash this summer, but so too as has their big title rivals from last campaign with Mikel Arteta securing the services fo Viktor Gyokeres among others.
But have they done enough for Daily Star Sport'swriters to back them in the back title race? Here are our predictions for the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Neil Docking - Sports Ed
Premier League winner: Arsenal
Champions League spots: Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea
Article continues below
Surprise package: Manchester United
Relegated: Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland
Player of the season: Florian Wirtz
Young breakthrough talent: Rio Ngumoha
Top goalscorer: Mohamed Salah
Champions League winner: Liverpool
FA Cup winner: Manchester City
Carabao Cup winner: Manchester City
First manager sacked: Daniel Farke
Bold/outrageous claim: Jack Grealish, freed from Pep Guardiola’s tactical straightjacket, will remember how to score and assist again at Everton
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool, lifts the Premier League trophy, as Liverpool are crowned the Champions of the Premier League for the 2024/25 Season
Neil Docking doens't think Liverpool can retain the title(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
I expect a very tight title race between the country’s top three teams. Liverpool are rightly favourites, as they won the league at a canter last year and have added stardust in Florian Wirtz.
But for all their spending it’s been a big overhaul with a lot of departures and a new way of playing, plus their players are still dealing with the Diogo Jota tragedy. Manchester City have recruited wisely and Pep Guardiola will definitely have them back in the mix for domestic silverware.
Yet it’s the perennial bridesmaids who I’m tipping to finally become the bride, as Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi in particular are excellent signings for Arsenal - Mikel Arteta just needs to ditch the overly defensive approach and reliance on set pieces!
Elsewhere, Manchester United could surprise a lot of people. If they get off to a good start, with a fair wind and a bit of luck with injuries, don’t be surprised if Ruben Amorim’s revamped Red Devils confound expectations and finish as high as eighth or ninth.
Will Schofield - Sports Rep
Premier League winner: Manchester City
Champions League spots: Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal
Surprise package: Sunderland
Relegated: Leeds, Burnley, Brentford
Player of the season: Erling Haaland
Young breakthrough talent: Chris Rigg
Top goalscorer: Erling Haaland
Champions League winner: PSG
FA Cup winner: Manchester City
Carabao Cup winner: Liverpool
First manager sacked: Daniel Farke
Bold/outrageous claim: Leeds will break Derby's all-time worst Premier League points tally
PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Harry Gray of Leeds United celebrates with the Sky Bet Championship trophy after the teams 2-1 victory, which confirmed that the team has won the Sky Bet Championship and promotion to the Premier League following the Sky Bet Championship match between Plymouth Argyle FC and Leeds United FC at Home Park on May 03, 2025 in Plymouth, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Will Schofield really fears for Leeds United(Image: Harry Trump, Getty Images)
After a season away from the top of the table Manchester City will reclaim their spot atop the Premier League perch. Pep Guardiola looks to have his fire back with a raft of new signings that have improved City across areas they struggled in last season.
Liverpool, however, won't have as dominant season as they did last time out - there's been too much upheaval by Arne Slot. Yes they've spent well, but all those stars will need time to gel.
Down at the bottom I really fear for Leeds United - Daniel Farke's Premier League record is less than ideal and, well, they've still got a Championship squad...
Cameron Winstanley - Sports Rep
Premier League winner: Liverpool
Champions League spots: Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, (Man Utd fifth)
Surprise package: Brighton (finish sixth and miss out on Champions League on the final day) and Patrick Dorgu – watch this space
Relegated: Brentford, Sunderland, Burnley
Player of the season: Florian Wirtz
Young breakthrough talent: Estevao
Top goalscorer: Erling Haaland
Champions League winner: Barcelona
FA Cup winner: Manchester City
Carabao Cup winner: Chelsea
First manager sacked: Daniel Farke
Bold/outrageous claim: Alexander Isak to pull a Peter Odemwingie and turn up outside Melwood on deadline day – but the deal actually gets done
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Patrick Dorgu of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Manchester United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Cameron Winstanley is hoping for big things from Patrick Dorgu(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA, Getty Images)
If it isn’t Liverpool who are champions, then Arne Slot should be fired out of a catapult and into the Mersey. The champions have spent a ridiculous amount, but on some half decent players.
Florian Wirtz is going to run the show and will have firmly taken Mohamed Salah’s shine. Yes, Liverpool gave the rest of the league hope with a miserable showing in the Community Shield but they will just be too good, unless the wheels come off for Virgil van Dijk…
Manchester United without Europe and a frontline that will actually score goals will make a right good go of it and actually look a cohesive team at times. If they sign Carlos Baleba best believe they will give their neighbours a fright that the balance may shift back again in Manchester.
Down the bottom, Sunderland and Burnley are doomed and a ravaged Brentford side will join them, regardless of how good Kevin Schade’s purple patches will be.
Andy Gilpin - Associate Editor
Premier League winner: Liverpool (by a point)
Champions League spots: Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea
Surprise package:Manchester United
Relegated: Wolves, Burnley, Brentford
Player of the season: Omar Marmoush
Young breakthrough talent: Ethan Nwaneri
Top goalscorer: Erling Haaland
Champions League winner: Paris Saint Germain
FA Cup winner:Everton
Carabao Cup winner: Manchester City
First manager sacked: Vitor Pereira
Bold/outrageous claim: Everton will be good. Fed up of boring the Premier League to death with a new stadium and Jack Grealish at the centre of things they'll have a good season
Liverpool players celebrate with the trophy on an open-top bus during the Liverpool FC Premier League victory parade in Liverpool, England, Monday, May 26, 2025.
Andy Gilpin thinks Liverpool can go back-to-back(Image: AP)
It will be a lot closer at the top this year - probably the last-day ding dong battle we've wanted for so long. But I still think Liverpool have the most complete squad - especially if they bring in Marc Guehi - and a manager who simplifies things so for that reason I'm going for them.
But Manchester City will run them very close - and may just lose it by a point. Seems strange to say that Manchester United may be the surprise package of the season but they can't be any worse than last season with all that perceived talent... can they?
At the bottom I think time has run out for Wolves, Burnley will yo-yo and Brentford have an unproven boss and have been shorn of their best talent. They may be well adrift (feel free to quote tweet me in this when they finish ninth).
The other two promoted sides will stay up and the natural order of things has returned.
Richard Brown - Assistant Editor
Premier League winner: Liverpool
Champions League spots: Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal (and Man Utd in fifth)
Surprise package: Wolves
Relegated: Sunderland, Burnley and Brentford
Player of the season: Florian Wirtz
Young breakthrough talent: Estevao
Top goalscorer: Erling Haaland
Champions League winner: Man City
FA Cup winner: Chelsea
Carabao Cup winner: Brighton
First manager sacked: Scott Parker
Bold/outrageous claim: Liam Delap and Joao Pedro will both separately score more Premier League goals than Viktor Gyokeres
Josep 'Pep' Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City, issues instructions to Rodri of Manchester City during a training session open to the public advertised as the 'City are Back' event at Joie Stadium on August 05, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Richard Brown has gone against his beloved Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)
If I’d answered these questions in early July, my answers would have been very different. As an optimistic Man City fan, I was thrilled by our early and seemingly excellent transfer business and thought a real bounceback was on the cards…
Then Liverpool spent approximately £8billion, signed a generationally-talented midfielder to become the new Kevin De Bruyne and ruined everyone’s fun.
It’s hard to look past Arne Slot’s men again this year, even after a pretty shambolic defensive performance against Palace in the Community Shield. Elsewhere, however, there’s plenty of intrigue.
Arsenal should be there or thereabouts again, even if I have grave concerns over Viktor Gyokeres hitting the ground running; Chelsea finally look like they’ve got the depth to compete after four years assembling youngsters from across the globe...
And as much as it pains me to say it, I think Man Utd will rapidly improve. The Jim Reaper (to quote Richard Keys) is still a problematic figure but I think Amorim will finally get to grips with his ragtag bunch of misfits and craft an actually-threatening attacking group.
At the bottom, it’s always easy to look at the newly-promoted teams, but Leeds are quite clearly a cut above Burnley and Sunderland. It’s a popular take, but Brentford look like they could struggle. It’s hard to lose your manager, best player, goalkeeper and captain in one summer!
Simon Hamalienko - Assistant Editor
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and ACF Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 09, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Simon Hamalienko thinks Ruben Amorim will be sacked(Image: Getty Images)
Premier League winner: Manchester City - I can't see City being as bad as last year and Pep will make sure his team want it again
Champions League spots - Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal - I think business as normal for the real big four of the Premier League
Surprise package: Sunderland - Not saying they are Champions League bound or anything but a lot think the three who came up will go down but I think Sunderland have bought well and may be more than safe.
Relegated: Burnley, Leeds United, Wolves - I feel Leeds and Burnley will find it too tough with the squads they have, plus Cunha no longer at Wolves, who got them out of trouble last year, will see them massively struggle this year
Player of the season: Florian Wirtz - Such a huge talent that i really think will take to the Premier League very easily
Young breakthrough talent: Josh King (Fulham) - Will be the next young star to come from the academy, following the likes of Harvey Elliot but will hopefully stay longer
Top goalscorer: Erling Haaland has a big point to prove and I think both he and Man City will come out fighting
Champions League winner: Liverpool - They have brought in some good players but I still think the back may be an issue for them. Can see some Premier League disappointment making them focus on Europe
FA Cup winner: Manchester City - I think will be a huge force and will do the treble
Carabao Cup winner: Manchester City
First manager sacked: Ruben Amorim - They have spent big on the forward line but defence and midfield is a huge issue still. I think if he starts really badly then he could be gone.
Bold/outrageous claim: Ruben Amorim, Mikel Arteta and Thomas Frank will all be sacked before season ends - I feel it could be difficult for all three clubs and the Arteta out lot growing stronger if its another wasted season of lost opportunities.
Adam Cailler - Senior News Reporter
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott
Adam Cailler is high on Rio Ngumoha(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Premier League winner: Liverpool - In style, over 100 points
Champions League spots: Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, City
Surprise package: Bournemouth
Relegated: Nottingham Forest - they will not cope with European football, even if Marinakis takes them all hostage - Burnley, Leeds
Player of the season: Florian Wirtz or Granit Xhaka (dark horse)
Young breakthrough talent: Rio Ngumoha
Top goalscorer: Mohamed Salah
Champions League winner: Real Madrid
FA Cup winner: Liverpool
Carabao Cup winner: Bournemouth
First manager sacked: Nuno Santos
Bold/outrageous claim: Man Utd will score less than 30 goals all season, with Sesko accounting for more than half of them, and will finish 17th
Harry Brent - Central team Judas
Premier League winner: Arsenal
Champions League spots: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea
Surprise package: Tottenham
Relegated: Brentford, Wolves, Leeds
Player of the season: Florian Wirtz
Young breakthrough talent: Estevao... but that's a bit boring and obvious, so keep an eye out for Chris Rigg and Andrey Santos too
Top goalscorer: Erling Haaland
Champions League winner: Barcelona
FA Cup winner: Liverpool
Carabao Cup winner: Chelsea
First manager sacked: Daniel Farke
Bold/outrageous claim: Nicolas Jackson leaves Chelsea and turns into a behemoth or Mo Salah ends the season with his lowest goal tally ever in a Liverpool shirt. In fact, why not have a third: Savinho will have a great season, whether at Man City or Spurs
Arne Slot knows Florian Wirtz has the ability to succeed at Liverpool
Harry Brent expects a big season from Florian Wirtz(Image: PA)
Article continues below
Arsenal will finally get it right with an actual goalscorer in their midst. Liverpool will be topsy-turvy; brilliant one week and dodgy the next. Man City will fall short since, for me, this is the weakest their squad has looked since Pep Guardiola took over. Tottenham will surprise people by pushing for the top four - if they can avoid another injury crisis. Chelsea will improve, but will be out of the title race by February - don't be surprised to see them push deep in cup competitions though.
Man Utd will be all over the place since they haven't - at the time of writing - addressed their main problem areas: defence and goalkeeper. Ruben Amorim will be under intense pressure all season, but will keep picking up points whenever he's a defeat away from the sack (like Ole did). As for players: Florian Wirtz will pip Cole Palmer to the Player of the Year award. Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko will have good, if slightly underwhelming, seasons goalscoring-wise. Estevao will be electric and clinch Young Player of the Year.