Premier League 2025-26 Power Rankings title favorites, Top Five, and European hopefuls as well as relegation battles.
The long summer is coming to an end and every Premier League team would believe they are prepared for what is coming—even those that have had difficult weeks wouldn’t count themselves out.
The race will kick off again, with each team already familiar with their priorities, while not ruling out surprises, both the good and the not-so-good.
The heavyweights resume the race for the title again, with new challengers set to join the established favourites, while some heavyweights have lost their swagger, the arrival of new faces for more than modest fees will reignite their beliefs.
The minors, most importantly the newcomers, avoiding the fate of their predecessors will be priority earlier on—and if stability can be achieved, then they will eagerly explore the next fair haven, in hope of the possibility of a fairy tale.
From the top to the bottom, Oltsport writer Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi ranks the powers of the 20 Premier League teams, the battle to be fought and the opponents to be beaten.
Premier League 2025-26 Power Rankings
In every league campaign, the priorities of entrants differ. While the heavyweights battle for the league and chances to secure European places, mid table teams seek to upgrade their status, while newcomers battle for survival.
It wasn’t always the case, but recently, the Premier League has become so competitive that the only challenge for newcomers is still to survive the drop, something none have managed to achieve in the previous three seasons.
Premier League 2025-26 Power Rankings: Title Favourites
All the members of the top four last season are considered favourites. Chelsea, who took time before picking up last season after their good start, managed to secure a top-four finish, and are now more deserving of the acknowledgement after the summer they had.
How unfortunate for Newcastle United, their summer didn’t go as planned as efforts to strengthen their team were undermined, no thanks to their lack of pool to attract players, which saw their primary targets join top rivals.
Out of the four teams, made up of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City, here is how they rank in order of the one most likely to be crowned champions next May.
Premier League 2025-26 Power Rankings: Top Five Prediction
Premier League Top Five
Fifth Place | Aston Villa
While Newcastle United have the better project, the summer has shown that sometimes, the better manager is all needed to overcome your opponents.
It is damning for Newcastle supporters to see their primary targets join rivals, but what about Eddie Howe, the team manager who was unable to convince any of those players to come and play in his team?
Several times players have made the switch just for the wish to play under a manager, and it wasn’t the case for Newcastle, who watched almost 10 players they scouted stolen from their grasp by their rivals, who either boast better pedigree or have better presentation.
This is where Villa may potentially get a Champions League spot next summer. After narrowly missing out through controversial calls on the final day of last season, Unai Emery’s charge has added Marco Bizot as a goalkeeper in anticipation of Emiliano Martinez‘s exit.
They’ve managed to keep all their other top players, and although there haven’t been further incomings, they do have the quality and depth to compete, as shown from last season, and this time, we expect them to take that one step further, provided no misfortunes befall them.
In contrast, apart from losing out on top targets, The Magpies are also faced with the possibility that Alexander Isak will leave this summer—the Swedish striker has submitted a transfer request after offers from Liverpool were turned down.
Reports revealed that the entourage of the player has informed the club that Isak will leave this summer, and they’re not happy as Newcastle is playing hardball.
The narrative surrounding both Aston Villa and Newcastle United this summer gives the former the advantage to finally get what was denied last season. Villa to finish fifth.
Premier League Top Four
Joint-Third Place | Chelsea
Chelsea have all it takes to go on and win the title just like any other in the top four—but since the race itself will be determined by margins, a lazy mind would like to conclude that the most possible placement is fourth.
Strength lies in midfield and attack, while defence is not too bad. However, just as Jamie Carragher said in a recent interview, in a league defined by slight margins, it is highly unlikely that you win the league with Robert Sanchez in goal.
Experience is already in the team, even though it is made up of young players. Still, the youth part will always have its tool, just like it did last season, when they initially looked like genuine title contenders, only to be relegated to a Champions League qualification battle.
The team has seen new faces arrive this summer and have settled in nicely, some even playing a crucial part in their FIFA Club World Cup success in the United States.
Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Estevao Willian, Dario Essugo, and Jorriel Hato have come in, while there are also players on the brink of joining—Xavi Simons, Alejandro Garnacho, and another center back.
Andrey Santos, who was one of the best players in Ligue 1 last season while on loan at Strasbourg, is also back with the team, and Enzo Maresca has been able to get rid of several dead wood, while the club is actively looking for a solution for the others.
The loss of Levi Colwill to an ACL injury is unfortunate, but the good news is that it came earlier, and allows the club to sign a replacement before the window closes.
Important to note that placing fourth here does not mean they can’t or won’t win the league, it only reflects that three others have better chances now that the odds are paused. But things are set to get more intriguing when the season kicks off.
Joint-Third Place | Manchester City
The most difficult decision is placing Pep Guardiola’s charge at least top two, but the last ten months have shown even the best teams can become vulnerable.
Manchester City looked set to have put behind them their underwhelming performances from last season after adding top players to bolster their squad before heading off to the United States for the Club World Cup, only to be served with another upset.
They managed to dominate their group games by winning all three games, even scoring 13 times and keeping two clean sheets. But they were completely exposed in their first game of the knockouts.
The Mancunians got beaten by Saudi club, who scored four goals in 120 minutes to seal a shocking 4-3 win.City also did not have much preseason preparation with their only known one coming in a 3-0 win over newly promoted Serie A side, Palermo, on Saturday, where summer signing Tijjani Reijnders scored a second-half brace to add to Erling Haaland’s opener.
The transition from one set of players to another will have its impact in their first season, while Rodri, the engine of the team, has not had enough preparation since returning from a long-term injury, and is even sidelined for the same reason currently.
A finish above Chelsea is still unlikely, but since the margins are tight, permit us to, for now, place them in third in the Premier League 2025-26 power ranking for the main prize.
Premier League Top Two | Liverpool & Arsenal
Joint-First Place | Arsenal
From title favourite to giving a guard of honor, Arsenal became the second team to finish runner-up in three consecutive Premier League seasons last season, after Arsenal itself between the 2000-01 and 2002-03 seasons. What followed then, was their INVINCIBLE season.
If there’s a team that could go on to achieve that, it is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. The team that has not lost to any of the other big six members in the previous two seasons, and has not’t conceded more than two in any competitive game, even when the odds were stacked.
Nevertheless, for now, it is considered a close contest, although a bit of luck and activity before the closure of the transfer window could see them move to pole position for the title.
The Gunners have not won the league title since 2004 but they continue to get closer and closer in the previous three seasons. This could be the one they go all the way, provided no unfortunate mishap denies them, as has been the case in previous seasons.
No team in the league has a better defence, while a stacked midfield also adds to their strength. Even though the attack still leaves question marks, they’ve added Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke this summer, and would hope these will be enough.
Arsenal have also signed Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard as replacements for Thomas Partey and Jorginho. Cristhian Mosquera has also come in to add needed depth in defence, baking up William Saliba and the right-back.
After sealing a fourth consecutive Emirates Cup success in a 3-0 win over Athletic Club on Saturday evening, Mikel Arteta, while responding to questions in an interview, said the club is still active in the window as there are expected departures.
Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Sambi Lokonga, and Leandro Trossard are not left out of those who could be sold out of the club, to raise funds for further additions.
A left-winger is considered a priority, and Eberechi Eze has been linked with a return to the club after over a decade since his departure. He could just be all that’s needed for the club to finally end their long wait for league success.
While they’ve become the laughing stock in recent years due to their failures, it would also be worth it to factor that they’ve never had such a productive transfer window like this one, and their investments could give them that final leap.
But this is Arsenal. Known for failing to take that one final step needed to reach their destination. So far this summer, they’ve proven otherwise, and maybe in Andrea Berta, they will finally have all their wishes granted. Maybe, just maybe.
Joint-First | Liverpool
Defending champions are always favourites to retain their title as they have all the takes, both in belief and winning mentality. Liverpool could still do that under Arne Slot.
Despite having no significant additions to the squad, the Dutch tactician delivered the league title in his debut season, and now that the cash has been splashed, more glory is expected.
Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez have all joined the team this summer, while Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was signed last summer has also teamed up with the squad.
Players with a combined transfer fee of €335 million have joined this summer while there is also the potential arrival of Alexander Isak, who will cost British transfer record, one the club already shattered earlier this summer after signing Florian Wirtz in a €125 million deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool, although they could still do with depth in certain areas, remain active in the window, with the latest news suggesting a bid of £29 million to Crystal Palace for England international defender Marc Guehi.
The reality that their title triumph was not expected last season would make it a more even affair, which is why almost nothing separates them from Arsenal, and maybe Manchester City if they manage to overcome their current phase.
Liverpool had it all going their way last season. Mohamed Salah, in the league, was on a form never seen from any player in this century, bar Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, while no serious injuries to their crucial players.
In the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberg, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker (if he stays), and the Egyptian, Liverpool boasts some of the best players in the world, and their contributions will remain decisive, as long as they are available.
Premier League 2025-26 Power Rankings: Other European Places
The positions were evenly contested last season, with the two teams who fell under these categories even hoping for Champions League places until the final day of the season.
But as luck would have it, Chelsea and Newcastle United took them, the latter of whom we are predicting to fall this time around.
Eighth | Tottenham Hotspur
The fatigue of having to play in the Champions League could affect Spurs’ league form, but we are predicting that Thomas Frank’s charges will still make Europe, closely contested with Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
They’ve made some impressive signings during the summer, with the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha, while they’ve also secured permanent deals for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso.
It was the unfortunate injuries that defined their league form last season, but Spurs are expected to be better, even though the toughness of their European fixtures will play some part.But an early exit could improve their league form. Who knows.
Seventh | Manchester United
This position may be far-fetched for a team in transition, but Manchester United literally defied the odds during the summer window and signed some of the most exciting attackers in Europe, even without boasting continental engagement.
It’ll not be easy, even more so because it’s their first season playing together, and the club still has a lot to make up for in certain areas before the window closes. Still, seventh. If they try.
Sixth Place | Newcastle United
Closer to fifth than they’ll be to seventh. It’s the lack of stability during the summer that costs The Magpies their Champions League spot in our prediction.
Premier League 2025-26 Power Rankings: Relegation Prediction
In each of the previous three seasons, newly promoted teams have been returned to the Championship, a trend we are predicting will finally end this season.
With all three of Sunderland, Leeds United, and Burnley taking a more proactive approach in the transfer window, the end could be near for a couple of teams who have been lucky to remain in the top flight.
In past seasons, a series of underwhelming performances by top-flight teams have not been too costly due to the lack of competitiveness of the newly promoted teams, but the new trio are on course to change that.
While it remains uncertain which three will avoid relegation, it is still very early to say just how there’ll also be, until the season gets underway.
But among the top-flight sides that could head to the second tier is Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were only able to avoid it last time due to the new manager bounce, with Vitor Pereira leading a remarkable run after replacing Gary O’Neil midway through the campaign.
They’ve already lost top players like Matheus Cunha, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Nelson Semedo, Pablo Sarabia, Goncalo Guedes, and Craig Dawson this summer, with just a few incomings.
Surprises to Expect | Premier League 2025-26 Power Rankings
Given the course of their summer, Fulham have barely made any additions to improve the side that finished 11th last season, and may have to make way for those who have heavily invested.
Bournemouth have also lost almost the entirety of their starting defenders, goalkeeper included, and may have difficulty because replacing such quality players not only require proper scouting, but as well time for the new players to settle in.
Everton enjoyed a brilliant second half of the season following the return of David Moyes, and with the Scottish manager starting this season with them, it is expected that they improve on their 13th-place finish.
Conclusion | Premier League 2025-26 Power Rankings
From the predicted biggest winners to losers, a fine margin will define it all. The top of the table sees Liverpool as the favourites, but their chances are as good as those of Arsenal, while Chelsea’s are as good as Manchester City’s.
An interesting season awaits — and get ready to be surprised, because you will be.
