With the FIFA World Cup behind us, there is little time to catch our breath, as the new Premier League season is already knocking on the door. In this article, we look at the main title contenders.
Arsenal enter the 2026/27 season as defending champions after ending a 22-year title drought in the spring. Retaining the trophy will not be easy, however, as their rivals have strengthened significantly over the summer – both in terms of players and head coaches.
Premier League 2025/26 top five
| Position | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 85 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 78 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 71 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 65 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 60 |
Across the 34 seasons since the Premier League was founded in 1992, the reigning champions have successfully defended their title on only 11 occasions: Manchester United (6), Manchester City (4) and Chelsea (1). Could Arsenal add their name to that list this season, or will we see a new champion crowned in the spring?
Premier League 2026/27 – main favourites
Arsenal
Arsenal begin this season as the leading title favourites. Mikel Arteta’s side won the league by seven points last season and have retained most of their title-winning squad.
At present, their most significant departure is Belgian left winger Leandro Trossard (31 appearances, 6 goals and 6 assists). Although Arsenal have not yet made any high-profile additions, they still have the whole of August to strengthen their squad.
Manchester City
Manchester City, by contrast, have made several changes, with the biggest taking place in the dugout. Pep Guardiola decided to bring his era at City to an end, with Enzo Maresca taking over as head coach.
The new manager has already completed his first major signing, bringing midfielder Elliot Anderson to the club from Nottingham Forest. A lack of quality players is unlikely to be the problem, but time will tell what City look like under their new head coach.
Premier League 2026/27 – main challengers
Liverpool
Liverpool have also undergone major changes between the two seasons. First, the club decided to part ways with Arne Slot, who led them to the title the season before last, with Andoni Iraola replacing the Dutchman as head coach.
There have also been significant changes to the playing squad, with Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson and Mo Salah no longer wearing the famous red shirt. The question is therefore: who will become Liverpool’s new attacking leader – Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, new signing Victor Munoz from Osasuna or somebody else?
Manchester United
Manchester United’s third-place finish last season showed that, after a long spell, the club are finally moving in the right direction. That is likely why interim head coach Michael Carrick was given the position permanently.
As for player movement, the club have parted ways with Casemiro and signed midfielders Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea.
Premier League 2026/27 – dark horses
Chelsea
Chelsea also changed managers between the two seasons, with Xabi Alonso now in charge of the London club. Although things did not go especially well for the Spaniard at Real Madrid, football fans still vividly remember his achievements with Bayer Leverkusen.
Chelsea supporters are therefore excited and are not dwelling too much on last season’s 10th-place finish. Alonso also has plenty of talent at his disposal: although Andrey Santos and Marc Cucurella left during the summer, the club signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, Marco Palestra from Atalanta and Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa proved last season that success is built not only on big names, but also on a strong system. Under head coach Unai Emery, they finished fourth in the Premier League and won the UEFA Europa League.
Repeating that achievement will be more difficult this season, however, after losing Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Donyell Malen and Enzo Barrenechea to higher-profile rivals. The gaps have so far been filled with the signings of Joan Manzambi from Freiburg and Joao Gomes from Wolves.
Premier League champions since the 2019/20 season:
| Season | Champions | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | Liverpool | 99 |
| 2020/21 | Manchester City | 86 |
| 2021/22 | Manchester City | 93 |
| 2022/23 | Manchester City | 89 |
| 2023/24 | Manchester City | 91 |
| 2024/25 | Liverpool | 84 |
| 2025/26 | Arsenal | 85 |
Who will finish as the top scorer?
In addition to the clubs, the Premier League top scorer race will also be fascinating to follow throughout the season.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has dominated the standings in recent years, but the Norwegian will face competition during the 2026/27 season from Igor Thiago of Brentford, Cole Palmer of Chelsea, Alexander Isak of Liverpool, Viktor Gyökeres of Arsenal and perhaps even a late summer signing.
Premier League top scorers since the 2019/20 season:
| Season | Winner | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) | 23 |
| 2020/21 | Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) | 23 |
| 2021/22 | Mo Salah (Liverpool) & Heung-min Son (Tottenham Hotspur) | 23 |
| 2022/23 | Erling Haaland (Manchester City) | 36 |
| 2023/24 | Erling Haaland (Manchester City) | 27 |
| 2024/25 | Mo Salah (Liverpool) | 27 |
| 2025/26 | Erling Haaland (Manchester City) | 27 |
Premier League 2026/27 opening round:
21 August
22:00 – Arsenal vs Coventry City
22 August
14:30 – Hull City vs Manchester United
17:00 – Everton vs Crystal Palace
17:00 – Ipswich Town vs Sunderland
17:00 – Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
19:30 – Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
23 August
16:00 – Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
16:00 – Manchester City vs Bournemouth
18:30 – Newcastle United vs Liverpool
24 August
22:00 – Fulham vs Chelsea
Premier League 2026/27 betting tips
Although there is still time before the transfer window closes, several pre-season betting opportunities already look particularly interesting.
- Arsenal are deservedly the main title favourites after keeping the core of their squad together.
- Liverpool could offer value if Andoni Iraola can quickly implement his aggressive playing style.
- Chelsea could be one of the season’s biggest surprises under Xabi Alonso.
- In the top scorer market, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is the leading player to consider.
Before placing any bets, however, it is worth monitoring the transfer window until it closes at the end of August, as major new signings could significantly affect both the odds and the balance of power.
How to bet responsibly
- Do not bet based on emotion
- Manage your budget carefully
- Avoid trying to recover losses with new bets
- Assess every match individually and base your decisions on analysis
- Enjoy the Premier League – football itself is still what matters most
- Use our sports betting app to keep complete control of your bets.
The Premier League, the world’s most popular football league, offers countless betting opportunities across 38 rounds and 380 matches this season.
Enjoy the football and bet responsibly. A good strategy, thorough analysis and a responsible approach can turn every match throughout the season into an experience worth enjoying.
Throughout the season, it is also worth keeping an eye on OlyBet’s sports betting section, where you can find great special offers throughout the year that you will not want to miss.
Premier League 2026/27 FAQ
Who are the main favourites to win the Premier League 2026/27?
Arsenal are considered the leading title favourites before the start of the season.
Who are the main challengers in the Premier League 2026/27?
The main title challengers include Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Who is the favourite to finish as the Premier League 2026/27 top scorer?
Erling Haaland is considered the leading favourite, with Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres and Cole Palmer expected to provide the main competition.
When does the Premier League 2026/27 season begin?
The Premier League 2026/27 season begins on 21 August with a match between Arsenal and Coventry City.
