There is an amnesty at this time of year when the most outlandish, ridiculous and inevitably incorrect football takes are permitted.
Spurs to do a Leicester and win the whole thing? Mikel Arteta sacked by Christmas? The Premier League actually releasing the verdict for Manchester City’s 115 charges?
With that in mind, we tasked our football writers with the unenviable task of predicting the champions, three relegated teams and dark horses, as well as giving their most unpopular opinions ahead of the 2026-27 season. Feel free to bookmark them and come back to them in May.
Who wins the title?
Arsenal, with more comfort than they did in 2025-26. Champions usually suffer a fatigue slump but each of Arsenal’s supposed challengers are facing seasons of transition or regression and all have new managers. It would take a significant decline for them to get caught.
Who goes down?
Last season I said the three promoted clubs and was wrong. This season I’m saying one of them stays up so will also be wrong. Coventry and Hull to go with one of Crystal Palace and Fulham, just to be edgy. Let’s say Palace because a few of their fans already hate me.
Surprise package
I think Brentford and Leeds can do well out of no Europe, but I’ll go Leeds finishing in the top eight nine.
My unpopular opinion
Justin Bieber and Harry Styles actually have some decent tunes.
Who wins the title?
I didn’t think Arsenal had done enough this summer. But neither have their rivals – Manchester City start the summer with a worse midfield than they started. The addition of Bruno Guimaraes gives that midfield an edge it lacked and if they can get a left-winger over the line in the final weeks, it’s very hard to see past them.
Who goes down?
I am going to be generous and only go for two of the promoted teams – Coventry and Ipswich. Coventry are almost entirely a Championship squad – only seven players have featured in the top flight previously – and although Frank Lampard is pulling a few strings at Chelsea to help with recruitment, this is a squad that will live or die on having Premier League quality throughout. Despite Ipswich’s spending elsewhere, the Emersson deal feels make or break in terms of goal output.
Where it gets interesting is at Nottingham Forest, who have managed to combine the most volatile manager in the league with the most volatile owner. Like your long-distance university relationship, it’ll all be over by Christmas. They survived last season in part because Tottenham helpfully gave them a buffer above the relegation zone, but this time there is no Elliot Anderson or Taiwo Awoniyi and potentially no Morgan Gibbs-White – nearly a third of their goal contributions last season.
Surprise package
There was a school of thought that Hull defied the statistics to go up in the first place. On top of that, their net spend is actually the lowest of the promoted clubs, but I think it might just be the smartest recruitment. The ones to watch are Nobel Mendy, who is a huge addition to their defence, and Japan international Hidemasa Morita in midfield. Oli McBurnie returns to the Premier League with a point to prove. Plenty of people have written them off but they could just do a Sunderland.
My unpopular opinion
In June, Tottenham had won the transfer window. In August, I’m not so sure. It was a gargantuan task after finishing 17th and the midfield and defence have improved, but there is a risk they are still going to struggle to create.
There were many reasons Thomas Frank’s reign collapsed and among them were 1) failure to sign a proper Son replacement 2) lack of a fit, consistent centre-forward 3) injuries on the right to Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus. All three are still issues for Roberto De Zerbi, unless Spurs make progress on Savinho or Cody Gakpo.
Who wins the title?
Arsenal. I still feel Arsenal lack something in attack but losing Pep Guardiola and Rodri in one go is too much for Manchester City to recover from. Liverpool aren’t there yet, neither are Manchester United. It might not be pretty (again) but last season’s experience will only leave the Gunners wanting more.
Who goes down?
Hull, Ipswich and Crystal Palace. Losing big players is nothing new for Palace but Oliver Glasner is a tough act to follow. Keeping hold of Adam Wharton in the next week is key. Hull and Ipswich come up with a squad far from being of Premier League calibre.
Surprise package
Chelsea. I believe that finally, after having a labour turnover similar to a seasonal holiday park, Chelsea have finally got it right and will be Arsenal’s closest challengers for the Premier League title this season. Xabi Alonso has assembled a seriously talented squad that will push the champions right to the wire.
My unpopular opinion
Manchester United have had an impressive window. United supporters needed a transfer window like this. Like a spoilt child, toys were launched from the pram at spending dwarfed by Ipswich’s so far this transfer window, but spending money lavishly does not guarantee success. Look at United’s most expensive purchase – it’s a who’s who of big-money flops. Sometimes it’s better to take stock and have a proper assessment of the lay of the land.
Who wins the title?
Arsenal. They might not have got any better, but they certainly haven’t got any worse. Indeed, better luck on the injury front and they could repeat as champions at a canter.
Who goes down?
Ipswich Town, Fulham, Crystal Palace. So much of Ipswich’s identity was built around Kieran McKenna, it’s hard to see them do anything but struggle under Gary O’Neil. Fulham have also had an unwanted managerial departure, which may hurt more than Harry Wilson’s exit. Crystal Palace simply haven’t recruited anywhere near the levels they did since Dougie Freedman left and are an Adam Wharton exit from total meltdown.
Surprise package
Yorkshire. James Trafford finally gets to show why he’s the best goalkeeper in England by helping Leeds back into Europe, while Hull have at least been aggressive in the transfer market. Centre-halves won’t fancy going up against Oli McBurnie, who has an added point to prove after being left out of Scotland’s World Cup squad.
My unpopular opinion
Manchester City will go through a transition, but people have forgotten they did win titles before Pep and they should still finish comfortably second. Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola cannot afford a repeat of last season’s slow start at Bournemouth. If that happens again, the Anfield hot seat could warm up very quickly.
Who wins the title?
New coaches have won the Premier League in debut campaigns before, but I can’t see beyond Arsenal because of the transitional phases Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are all in. I don’t think Mikel Arteta’s side will exactly blow away the competition, but confidently picking their nearest challenger is, for me, impossible.
Who goes down?
Having looked at Ipswich Town and Coventry City’s summers, I am confident at least one can stay up. Perhaps Coventry given I have reservations about Ipswich’s forwards. So it’s them, Hull City, and I think there might be a shock third name. Am I certain? No. But do I believe a new manager appointment will backfire somewhere? Yes. Torn between Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, I’ll say Palace get relegated.
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Surprise package
I am not sure Coventry can quite replicate Sunderland’s campaign but they have a solid foundation with Carl Rushworth in goal and I can’t see them being pushovers (famous last words).
My unpopular opinion
Tottenham won’t provide anywhere near the levels of entertainment they have done the past two seasons. I don’t think they’ll come close to relegation, and will more likely push for Europe. Unpopular for the sake of how many revel in their misfortune.