Although it’s far too early to make any real conclusions on what will happen at the end of the 2025/26 Premier League season, half the fun of being a football fan is predicting outcomes and spitballing the future, then seeing just how wrong we were when the season unfolds with its ultimate surprises.
So far, the beginning of the Premier League campaign has been as advertised with some of the marquee signings already making a big impact, such as Liverpool star striker Hugo Ekitike and Tottenham’s new attacking hero Mohammed Kudus.
After two Matchdays, let’s take a look at how the top five Champions League slots in the Premier League could go. Who sneaks in? Who is left out? And which team is the current favorite to win the title?
5. Tottenham
I don’t think a single team has been more impressive to start the 2025/26 season than Tottenham Hotspur under Thomas Frank, who has turned this club from one of the most disorganized tactically into an absolute machine.
Spurs suddenly have a dominant midfield with the inclusion of Joao Palhinha, who has added the right amount of steel next to the effervescent running of Pape Sarr, who just might end up being the biggest breakout midfielder in the Premier League this season.
Tottenham still have question marks in the attack that need to be addressed in the summer transfer window, because they are asking an awful lot from Richarlison to stay healthy and currently don’t have any real playmaking beyond Kudus on the wing.
If Spurs can settle those question marks with two smart transfer acquisitions before the September deadline hits, then we may not just be talking about Tottenham as favorites to clinch a top-five spot but also as legitimate Premier League title contenders.
4. Manchester City
Tottenham cleaned up Manchester City quite nicely 2-0 at the Etihad, and while some would suggest that this head-to-head dominance should give the North London giants a slight nod over the Boys in (Light) Blue, that’s not really how football works.
It’s certainly not how things worked out last season, because even though Spurs defeated Man City in a down year for both clubs, a down year for City meant finishing near the bottom of the Champions League pile. A down year for Spurs meant finished just above the relegation places.
Manchester City bolstered their squad this summer with the additions of Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, and the former is already paying dividends for Pep Guardiola.
Honestly, Manchester City should have done more in the transfer window to upgrade a defense that was highly suspect without a healthy Rodri shielding it, but even so, it’s hard seeing Man City at risk of falling outside the Champions League spots.
3. Chelsea
Any of these teams in the top four can be considered legitimate Premier League contenders at this very second, and I think it would be foolish for anyone to sleep on Chelsea or discount what they can do this season.
Chelsea cleaned up nicely on the summer transfer market, bringing in two new strikers and two new wingers while still being in contention for multiple targets in the attacking midfield, including Barcelona’s underrated Fermin Lopez.
Although Chelsea have a suspect defense, they have such a strong midfield and well-rounded and versatile attack that the positives in this squad significantly outweight the negatives.
After all, Chelsea trounced PSG in the Club World Cup Final without any sort of issue, completely breaking down the convincing champions of European football last season.
Chelsea proved that they can go toe-to-toe with any team on this planet, and if one of the young guns like Estevao Willian or Jamie Bynoe-Gittens breaks out into superstardom this season alongside Cole Palmer, they may very well be a Champions League darkhorse.
2. Arsenal
This could be the year that Arsenal win the Premier League after three straight seasons of coming short in second, though, in truth, they were second in name only last season, such was the advantage Liverpool held over everyone else in the English top flight.
But Arsenal finally didn’t just rest on their laurels this summer, and while you could argue that they should have signed a new left winger instead of Chelsea retread Noni Madueke, they did well to snag a true No. 9 in Viktor Gyokeres.
A lot rests on the broad shoulders of the Swedish striker this season, as a big year from Gyokeres in his maiden Premier League campaign could mean the difference between first and second or third for the title-hungry Gunners.
Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze will also make a huge impact in midfield, while one of Arsenal’s biggest X-Factor this season will be the presence of the clutch David Raya in goal.
Arsenal no longer have a glaring weakness in the XI if we assume that Gyokeres can score even half the 38 goals he put past Primeira Liga goalkeepers last season for Sporting.
1. Liverpool
Until proven otherwise, the crown is Liverpool’s to lose. The Reds were so dominant last season in the Premier League that it wasn’t even a title race throughout the season, and even in Europe, they distinguished themselves by annihilating Real Madrid in the group stages and standing out as the only team to push PSG to their true brink in the Champions League knockout stages.
Liverpool have the best player in the Premier League, bar none, in Mohamed Salah, and judging by his output over the years at Bayer Leverkusen, the young Florian Wirtz could very well prove to be a top-five Premier League player right off the bat, too.
At every level of the pitch, Liverpool have at least one of the best players in the league in that realm. Salah among forwards, Ryan Gravenberch among midfielders, Virgil van Dijk among defenders, and Alisson Becker among goalkeepers all come to mind as unquestionably elite players and legitimate Player of the Season candidates.
Arsenal and Chelsea have the potential to be great teams, but Liverpool are already a great team. And as we have seen against Newcastle and Bournemouth, it’s their ability to consistently do what it takes to beat tough opposition that sets them apart from their peers.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.