Last updated: 21 August 2026 – before the opening match of the season
Premier League 2026/27 – Who Will Win the Title, Who Will Score the Most Goals and Who Will Be Relegated?

The Premier League is back.
And the 2026/27 season could become one of the most unpredictable campaigns in years.
Arsenal enter the season as defending champions after finally ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title.
Manchester City are beginning life after Pep Guardiola and have also lost several players who defined their era of dominance.
Chelsea begin a new project under Xabi Alonso.
Manchester United have rediscovered belief under Michael Carrick but must now prove they can maintain their form while returning to the Champions League.
Liverpool begin Andoni Iraola’s first season without Mohamed Salah – and the search for goals, creativity, assists and wide attacking quality is still not complete.
Tottenham have rebuilt a huge part of their squad.
Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City have arrived from the Championship.
There has also been extraordinary managerial turnover across the league, with new head coaches at several major clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Ipswich.
This ultimate Finter preview includes:
- all 20 Premier League clubs
- the latest transfers
- managers and tactical systems
- last season’s table
- goals scored and conceded
- xG
- clean sheets
- attacking set pieces
- defensive set pieces
- penalties
- European workload
- the new Premier League rules
- predictions from other major media and statistical models
- Finter’s Top 20
- Golden Boot Top 20
- assist predictions
- Golden Glove
- Player of the Season candidates
- Young Player of the Season candidates
- best transfers
- biggest departures
- YouTube videos
- and what every club may still need before the transfer deadline.
Important: The Transfer Window Is Still Open
This article is updated to 21 August 2026.
The Premier League summer transfer window closes on:
1 September 2026 at 23:00 BST
There can therefore still be major transfers after the league season begins.
That could change our assessment of:
- Manchester City
- Liverpool
- Tottenham
- Newcastle
- Brighton
- the title race
- the top-four race
- and the relegation battle.
The summer window officially opened on 15 June and closes on 1 September.
Every transfer list and Finter prediction in this article should therefore be read as:
Status: 21 August 2026
Read More English Football Content on Finter.dk
Throughout this article, we use English-language Finter.dk articles only.
For more English football stories, statistics, player guides and videos:
Finter English Football Homepage
When Does the Premier League 2026/27 Season Start?
The opening match round begins on:
Friday 21 August 2026
The final round will be played on:
Sunday 30 May 2027
The season contains 33 weekend rounds and five midweek rounds.
Premier League Matchweek 1
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 21 August | Arsenal vs Coventry City |
| 22 August | Hull City vs Manchester United |
| 22 August | Everton vs Crystal Palace |
| 22 August | Ipswich Town vs Sunderland |
| 22 August | Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United |
| 22 August | Brentford vs Tottenham |
| 23 August | Brighton vs Aston Villa |
| 23 August | Manchester City vs Bournemouth |
| 23 August | Newcastle vs Liverpool |
| 24 August | Fulham vs Chelsea |
The Premier League has published all 380 fixtures for the new campaign.
Premier League 2025/26 Final Table
| # | Club | Points | Goals | Goals Against | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 1 | Arsenal | 85 | 71 | 27 | +44 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 78 | 77 | 35 | +42 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 71 | 69 | 50 | +19 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 65 | 56 | 49 | +7 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 60 | 63 | 53 | +10 |
| 6 | Bournemouth | 57 | 58 | 54 | +4 |
| 7 | Sunderland | 54 | 42 | 48 | -6 |
| 8 | Brighton | 53 | 52 | 46 | +6 |
| 9 | Brentford | 53 | 55 | 52 | +3 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 52 | 58 | 52 | +6 |
| 11 | Fulham | 52 | 47 | 51 | -4 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 49 | 53 | 55 | -2 |
| 13 | Everton | 49 | 47 | 50 | -3 |
| 14 | Leeds | 47 | 49 | 56 | -7 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 45 | 41 | 51 | -10 |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 44 | 48 | 51 | -3 |
| 17 | Tottenham | 41 | 48 | 57 | -9 |
| 🔻 18 | West Ham | 39 | 46 | 65 | -19 |
| 🔻 19 | Burnley | 22 | 38 | 75 | -37 |
| 🔻 20 | Wolves | 20 | 27 | 68 | -41 |
Arsenal won the league with 85 points, seven clear of Manchester City. West Ham, Burnley and Wolves were relegated.
The Biggest Individual Statistics from 2025/26
| Award / Statistic | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot | Erling Haaland | 27 goals |
| Second-most goals | Igor Thiago | 22 |
| Playmaker Award | Bruno Fernandes | 21 assists |
| Player of the Season | Bruno Fernandes | 9 goals + 21 assists |
| Golden Glove | David Raya | 19 clean sheets |
| Young Player of the Season | Nico O’Reilly | 5 goals + 3 assists |
Haaland won his third Golden Boot in four seasons.
Bruno Fernandes broke the Premier League single-season assist record.
David Raya won his third successive Golden Glove.
Premier League 2025/26 – The Big Statistics Table
The normal league table only tells part of the story.
xG, clean sheets and chance creation reveal more.
| Club | Goals | Against | Approx. xG | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 71 | 27 | 66.1 | 19 |
| Man City | 77 | 35 | 71.0 | 15 |
| Man United | 69 | 50 | 64.7 | 8 |
| Aston Villa | 56 | 49 | 48.5 | 9 |
| Liverpool | 63 | 53 | 59.3 | 10 |
| Bournemouth | 58 | 54 | 62.9 | 11 |
| Sunderland | 42 | 48 | 39.1 | 11 |
| Brighton | 52 | 46 | 56.7 | 10 |
| Brentford | 55 | 52 | 59.9 | 10 |
| Chelsea | 58 | 52 | 66.7 | 9 |
| Fulham | 47 | 51 | 49.7 | 9 |
| Newcastle | 53 | 55 | 58.1 | 8 |
| Everton | 47 | 50 | 47.5 | 11 |
| Leeds | 49 | 56 | 53.9 | 8 |
| Crystal Palace | 41 | 51 | 57.6 | 12 |
| Nottingham Forest | 48 | 51 | 47.2 | 9 |
| Tottenham | 48 | 57 | 42.5 | 9 |
xG models vary slightly between providers, so these numbers should be treated as performance indicators rather than absolute measurements.
Five Statistics That Immediately Stand Out
Arsenal – Defence Won the Championship
Only:
27 goals conceded
and:
19 clean sheets.
That is elite-level defensive performance.
Arsenal’s underlying defensive numbers were also exceptional.
Manchester City – Still the Best Attack
City scored:
77 goals.
They remained the league’s most productive attacking team despite finishing second.
Chelsea – Huge Potential Improvement
Chelsea scored only:
58 goals
despite creating chances worth approximately:
66.7 xG.
That gap matters.
If Xabi Alonso can improve finishing efficiency, Chelsea could add eight or ten goals without even creating significantly more chances.
Crystal Palace – Even More Extreme
Palace scored:
41 goals
from around:
57.6 xG.
That suggests their attacking results were far worse than their chance creation.
If finishing moves closer to expectation, Palace could improve significantly.
Liverpool – Defensive Warning Signs
Liverpool conceded:
53 goals.
Their underlying defensive performance was better than that figure.
But one problem was very real:
defensive set pieces.
Set Pieces – One of the Biggest Tactical Stories in the Premier League
Set pieces are no longer a small extra.
They are now a major phase of the game.
The 2025/26 season produced record levels of corner goals, with Arsenal setting a new Premier League record by scoring 19 goals from corner sequences.
Attacking and Defensive Set-Piece Goals
| Club | Set-Piece Goals | Set-Piece Goals Conceded | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 25 | 8 | +17 |
| Tottenham | 19 | 9 | +10 |
| Man United | 22 | 14 | +8 |
| Everton | 15 | 11 | +4 |
| Aston Villa | 18 | 15 | +3 |
| Brentford | 10 | 9 | +1 |
| Brighton | 11 | 10 | +1 |
| Fulham | 12 | 11 | +1 |
| Man City | 11 | 12 | -1 |
| Leeds | 17 | 18 | -1 |
| Liverpool | 18 | 20 | -2 |
| Nottingham Forest | 12 | 15 | -3 |
| Chelsea | 14 | 17 | -3 |
| Newcastle | 15 | 18 | -3 |
| Sunderland | 10 | 15 | -5 |
| Bournemouth | 15 | 20 | -5 |
| Crystal Palace | 11 | 20 | -9 |
Arsenal were comfortably the league’s best set-piece team by net difference, while Tottenham were surprisingly second. Liverpool, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace each conceded 20 non-penalty set-piece goals.
Why Arsenal’s Set Pieces Matter So Much
Arsenal scored:
25 set-piece goals.
They conceded only:
8.
Difference:
+17.
A team that can defend brilliantly and still score from corners when open play is not working possesses an enormous weapon over a 38-game season.
A difficult match can go from:
0-0
to:
1-0
through one delivery.
That can be the difference between second place and a championship.
Tottenham’s Strange Set-Piece Statistic
Tottenham finished 17th.
Yet their set-piece numbers were excellent.
19 scored
9 conceded
+10 difference
If Roberto De Zerbi can retain that advantage and dramatically improve Spurs in open play, their ceiling rises enormously.
Manchester United Were Also Excellent at Set Pieces
United scored:
22 set-piece goals.
Only Arsenal scored more.
Bruno Fernandes was central to much of that production.
Combined with his record 21 total assists, it explains why he remains one of the most important players in the league.
Liverpool’s Set-Piece Problem
Liverpool scored:
18
set-piece goals.
That is good.
But they conceded:
20.
That is not good enough for a team expecting to challenge for major trophies.
Andoni Iraola therefore has two major attacking and defensive problems to solve:
- replace Salah’s output
- improve defensive set pieces.
Penalties – Small Numbers, Big Consequences
Penalty statistics matter for both the table and the Golden Boot.
| Club | Penalties Awarded | Scored |
|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 10 | 8 |
| Crystal Palace | 8 | 8 |
| Chelsea | 8 | 7 |
| Leeds | 8 | 6 |
| Newcastle | 6 | 6 |
| Fulham | 6 | 6 |
| Bournemouth | 6 | 5 |
| Man United | 6 | 4 |
| Sunderland | 5 | 4 |
| Brighton | 5 | 3 |
| Arsenal | 4 | 4 |
| Man City | 4 | 3 |
| Forest | 3 | 3 |
| Liverpool | 2 | 1 |
This is particularly relevant for Brentford’s Igor Thiago.
If Brentford are again awarded a high number of penalties and Thiago remains first-choice taker, he has an additional route towards 20 goals.
The Three Promoted Clubs
Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City replace West Ham, Burnley and Wolves.
Championship 2025/26
| Club | Position | Points | Goals | Against | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coventry | 🥇 1 | 95 | 97 | 45 | +52 |
| Ipswich | 2 | 84 | 80 | 47 | +33 |
| Hull | 6 | 73 | 70 | 66 | +4 |
Coventry are clearly the promoted side Finter believes in most.
Coventry’s Secret Weapon
Coventry scored:
29 set-piece goals
in the Championship.
They also scored:
19 headed goals.
That is enormous.
A promoted team cannot expect to dominate possession every week.
But it can survive through:
- corners
- free-kicks
- long throws
- second balls
- physical duels
- home form.
That is why Coventry are Finter’s promoted team to survive.
How Many Points Are Needed to Survive?
People often talk about:
40 points.
But the real survival target is frequently slightly lower.
Last season was unusual because West Ham were relegated despite reaching:
39 points.
For 2026/27, Finter expects approximately:
38-40 points
to represent the likely survival zone.
That is why Coventry’s predicted 40 points could be just enough.
The New Premier League Rules for 2026/27
There are several important rule changes and refereeing priorities.
The Premier League has confirmed that the mandatory IFAB changes will be implemented for 2026/27.
New Rules – Quick Guide
| Area | What Changes? |
|---|---|
| Injury treatment | Player normally stays off for at least one minute |
| Delayed throw-in | Five-second countdown |
| Delayed goal-kick | Five-second countdown |
| Goal-kick exceeds limit | Opposition awarded a corner |
| Substitutions | Player normally has 10 seconds to leave |
| Slow substitution | Substitute may have to wait |
| Incorrect second yellow | VAR can overturn clear error |
| Holding | Increased referee focus |
| Blocking goalkeeper | Greater protection |
| Handball | Relatively high threshold retained |
| VAR | High intervention threshold |
| Offside | More efficient semi-automated technology |
Five-Second Countdown for Throw-Ins and Goal-Kicks
If a referee believes a player is clearly delaying the restart, a visible countdown can begin.
If the player still does not restart play:
Throw-in
The opposition receives the throw.
Goal-kick
The opposition receives:
a corner.
That could dramatically change late-game time-wasting.
Imagine a team leading 1-0 away at the Emirates.
A goalkeeper cannot simply waste more and more time on every restart without risking handing Arsenal a corner.
Ten Seconds for Substituted Players
A player being substituted is expected to leave the pitch within:
10 seconds.
If the player deliberately takes too long, the substitute cannot immediately enter.
That means a team can temporarily be forced to play with ten players.
It is a much more meaningful punishment than simply adding 20 seconds of stoppage time.
One Minute Off After Injury Treatment
Players receiving treatment or assessment on the pitch will normally be required to remain off the field for at least:
one minute
after the restart.
The previous Premier League period was 30 seconds.
The aim is clear:
reduce the benefit of using injury treatment as a tactical pause.
VAR Can Correct a Clearly Wrong Second Yellow
VAR will now be permitted to intervene when a player receives a second yellow card resulting in a red card and the decision is clearly wrong.
This does not mean VAR will search for every possible missing second yellow.
It is designed to correct a clear error that has directly led to a dismissal.
More Attention on Holding at Set Pieces
This could be one of the most important changes.
Referees will focus more closely on defenders who:
- grab opponents
- hold shirts
- lock arms
- prevent movement
- or focus entirely on stopping the player rather than competing for the ball.
Given the enormous importance of corners and free-kicks last season, this could directly affect the league table.
Greater Protection for Goalkeepers
Attackers are allowed to occupy space around a goalkeeper.
But deliberately moving into the goalkeeper without attempting to play the ball, purely to block his movement, is likely to receive greater scrutiny.
That could force clubs to redesign some corner routines.
European Football Could Change the League Table
European workload is one of the most underrated variables in any season prediction.
Premier League Clubs in Europe
| Club | Competition |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | Champions League |
| Manchester City | Champions League |
| Manchester United | Champions League |
| Aston Villa | Champions League |
| Liverpool | Champions League |
| Bournemouth | Europa League |
| Sunderland | Europa League |
| Crystal Palace | Europa League |
| Brighton | Conference League |
| Chelsea | No Europe |
| Tottenham | No Europe |
| Newcastle | No Europe |
Arsenal, City, United, Villa and Liverpool qualified for the Champions League through the league table.
Chelsea’s Huge Advantage
Chelsea have no European football.
That means Xabi Alonso can frequently spend complete weeks on:
- recovery
- tactical work
- video analysis
- combinations
- set pieces
- individual coaching.
While Arsenal or Liverpool may play a Champions League match on Wednesday and a major Premier League fixture on Saturday, Chelsea can arrive after a full training week.
That is a major reason why Finter has Chelsea as high as third.
Tottenham Have the Same Advantage
Spurs also have no European competition.
For a team undergoing such a large rebuild, that could be invaluable.
Roberto De Zerbi will have more time to install his positional play and pressing structure.
Manchester United – The Hidden Advantage from Last Season Is Gone
Manchester United finished third last season.
But their season needs context.
They played only around:
40 matches in all competitions.
Arsenal played far more because of their European and cup runs.
United had no European football and exited domestic cups early.
That meant Michael Carrick repeatedly had full training weeks.
Now United must combine:
- Premier League
- Champions League
- FA Cup
- League Cup.
That changes everything.
Carrick’s tactical work will have less time between games.
Players will need more rotation.
Injuries matter more.
Squad depth becomes far more important.
The Latest Major Transfers Before the Season Starts
The market is still moving.
Manchester City have undergone another major central rebuild.
Rodri has officially left City for Barcelona, while Tijjani Reijnders has completed a permanent move to Al-Qadsiah. City themselves confirmed Rodri’s departure on 18 August, and Reijnders’ move was confirmed the following day.
That makes central midfield perhaps the clearest remaining weakness among the title favourites.
What Are Other Media Predicting?
It is useful to compare Finter’s table with other major predictions.
Opta Supercomputer
Opta’s updated pre-season simulation makes Arsenal clear favourites.
| Club | Title Probability |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | 40.6% |
| Manchester City | 19.6% |
| Liverpool | 9.2% |
| Manchester United | 6.6% |
| Aston Villa | around 4.4% |
| Chelsea | around 3.8% |
The important part for this article:
Finter is more sceptical about Liverpool than Opta.
Finter’s Final Premier League 2026/27 Prediction
Updated 21 August 2026
| # | Club | Predicted Points | 2025/26 | Finter Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 1 | Arsenal | 86 | 1 | Champions |
| 🥈 2 | Manchester City | 79 | 2 | Title challenger |
| 🥉 3 | Chelsea | 74 | 10 | Huge improvement |
| 4 | Manchester United | 71 | 3 | Champions League |
| 5 | Liverpool | 69 | 5 | More uncertainty |
| 6 | Tottenham | 65 | 17 | Massive comeback |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 60 | 4 | Top-eight |
| 8 | Brighton | 57 | 8 | Stable |
| 9 | Brentford | 55 | 9 | Stable |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 52 | 6 | Europe costs points |
| 11 | Newcastle | 51 | 12 | Rebuild |
| 12 | Leeds | 50 | 14 | Positive season |
| 13 | Everton | 49 | 13 | Mid-table |
| 14 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 16 | Improvement |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 44 | 15 | European workload |
| 16 | Sunderland | 42 | 7 | Big fall |
| 17 | Coventry | 40 | Promoted | Survive |
| 🔻 18 | Fulham | 36 | 11 | Relegated |
| 🔻 19 | Ipswich | 33 | Promoted | Relegated |
| 🔻 20 | Hull City | 29 | Promoted | Relegated |
This is Finter’s editorial prediction, not bookmaker odds or a statistical model.
1. Arsenal – The Most Complete Team
Manager: Mikel Arteta
2025/26: 1st
Finter prediction: 1st
Europe: Champions League
Expected shape: 4-3-3 / 3-2-5 in possession
Arsenal 2025/26 Statistics
| Statistic | Arsenal |
|---|---|
| Points | 85 |
| Goals | 71 |
| Goals conceded | 27 |
| Clean sheets | 19 |
| Set-piece goals | 25 |
| Set-piece goals conceded | 8 |
Arsenal have the most stable foundation among the title contenders.
Arteta remains.
The defensive structure remains.
The core remains.
And the midfield has become even stronger.
Christos Tzolis joined after an outstanding season in Belgium, Piero Hincapié’s move was made permanent and Illan Meslier arrived from Leeds.
The combination of:
Declan Rice + Bruno Guimarães + Martin Ødegaard
has almost everything.
Physicality.
Technique.
Press resistance.
Passing.
Ball-winning.
Creativity.
Biggest Strength
The defence.
27 goals conceded is exceptional.
Second-Biggest Strength
Set pieces.
25 scored.
Only eight conceded.
Big Question
Can Viktor Gyökeres become a genuine 20-goal Premier League striker?
Key Player
Bukayo Saka
Finter Rating
9.2/10
What Do Arsenal Still Need?
Very little.
If they add anything, another individual match-winner in attack would make sense.
Finter Prediction
🏆 1st – 86 points
YouTube
The official Premier League channel has published a video collecting the moments that won Arsenal the 2025/26 title.
2. Manchester City – Can Maresca Rebuild the Midfield?
Manager: Enzo Maresca
2025/26: 2nd
Finter prediction: 2nd
Europe: Champions League
Statistics
| Statistic | City |
|---|---|
| Points | 78 |
| Goals | 77 |
| Goals conceded | 35 |
| Approx. xG | 71.0 |
| Set-piece goals | 11 |
City still had the league’s best attack.
But the club has changed dramatically.
Pep Guardiola is gone.
Rodri is gone.
Tijjani Reijnders is gone.
Several experienced defenders have also left.
Enzo Maresca is not inheriting the same Manchester City team Guardiola controlled at his peak.
The Central Question
Who controls games now?
City can still overwhelm teams in attack.
They still have creative players.
They still have one of the most frightening strikers in football history.
But controlling transitions and protecting the defence without Rodri could be difficult.
Key Player
Erling Haaland
27 Premier League goals last season.
Finter expects him to win the Golden Boot again.
Finter Rating
8.7/10
What Do City Still Need?
Central midfield.
At least one more top midfielder would make sense before 1 September.
Finter Prediction
2nd – 79 points
Read More on Finter
Erling Haaland’s World Cup and Norway Show – 62 International Goals and a Historic Season
3. Chelsea – Finter’s Biggest Title Outsider
Manager: Xabi Alonso
2025/26: 10th
Finter prediction: 3rd
Europe: None
Expected shape: 3-4-2-1
Statistics
| Statistic | Chelsea |
|---|---|
| Points | 52 |
| Goals | 58 |
| Approx. xG | 66.7 |
| Goals conceded | 52 |
| Set-piece goals | 14 |
Chelsea are Finter’s most aggressive top-table prediction.
Why?
Because the underlying attack was much better than the final table suggested.
58 goals from around 66.7 xG offers obvious room for improvement.
And then there is the biggest advantage:
No European football.
Xabi Alonso officially began his Chelsea role on 1 July after previously coaching Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.
Attacking Potential
Cole Palmer remains the central creative figure.
Morgan Rogers adds another powerful, creative attacking presence.
The structure behind them should also suit Alonso’s preference for three central defenders and aggressive wing-backs.
Key Player
Cole Palmer
X-Factor
Morgan Rogers
Finter Rating
8.6/10
Finter Prediction
3rd – 74 points
4. Manchester United – Carrick’s Champions League Test
Manager: Michael Carrick
2025/26: 3rd
Finter prediction: 4th
Europe: Champions League
Statistics
| Statistic | United |
|---|---|
| Points | 71 |
| Goals | 69 |
| Goals conceded | 50 |
| Set-piece goals | 22 |
| Bruno Fernandes assists | 21 |
Manchester United were transformed under Carrick.
But this season will test whether the transformation is truly sustainable.
United can no longer prepare for one Premier League match per week.
Champions League football changes the rhythm.
Bruno Fernandes
21 assists.
A Premier League record.
He remains the team’s most important attacking player.
The Premier League officially confirmed that his 21st assist broke the previous record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Benjamin Šeško
Finter prediction:
17-18 Premier League goals.
If Šeško reaches that level and Bruno continues creating chances at elite volume, United should remain in the Champions League race.
Finter Rating
8.4/10
Biggest Concern
Squad depth.
Finter Prediction
4th – 71 points
5. Liverpool – Huge Quality, But Finter Sees Warning Signs
Manager: Andoni Iraola
2025/26: 5th
Finter prediction: 5th
Europe: Champions League
Liverpool 2025/26
| Statistic | Liverpool |
|---|---|
| Points | 60 |
| Goals | 63 |
| Goals conceded | 53 |
| Approx. xG | 59.3 |
| Clean sheets | 10 |
| Set-piece goals | 18 |
| Set-piece goals conceded | 20 |
Liverpool still have enormous quality.
But there are also genuine warning signs.
Mohamed Salah is gone.
Ibrahima Konaté is gone.
Andy Robertson is gone.
Andoni Iraola has replaced Arne Slot and now has to rebuild both the tactical identity and the hierarchy within the dressing room.
Iraola officially became Liverpool head coach in June 2026 after three successful years at Bournemouth.
Liverpool Still Need Salah’s Goals, Creativity and Assists
This is Liverpool’s biggest problem.
Salah’s departure does not simply mean Liverpool need a new right winger.
They have lost:
- goals
- assists
- chance creation
- penalties
- one-against-one threat
- runs behind the defence
- a player who forced opponents to alter their entire defensive structure.
Liverpool still have:
- Alexander Isak
- Hugo Ekitiké
- Florian Wirtz
- Cody Gakpo
- Rio Ngumoha
- Victor Muñoz.
That is a high-quality attacking group.
But the balance is unfinished.
The Minteh Bid Is Starting to Look Like Desperation
Liverpool have had a bid worth around:
£50 million
rejected by Brighton for Yankuba Minteh.
The particularly surprising part is that Minteh is currently injured and expected to miss approximately eight weeks.
Liverpool are looking for two wide forwards before the deadline.
The club has explored Minteh, Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye as possible solutions.
Minteh is certainly an exciting footballer.
He is:
- quick
- direct
- left-footed
- dangerous in transition
- aggressive one-against-one
- naturally suited to the right wing.
But his Premier League production does not yet resemble Salah’s.
He has scored nine Premier League goals across 66 Brighton appearances.
That is why Finter believes the situation is beginning to look less like calm long-term planning and more like late-window pressure – perhaps even desperation.
Liverpool are willing to spend around £50 million on an injured winger while the obvious Salah replacement is still not in place.
That is a worrying position to be in on the opening weekend.
Barcola, Mbaye, Minteh – Plenty of Names, No Final Solution
Bradley Barcola has been discussed.
PSG’s asking price is reported to be around £145 million.
Ibrahim Mbaye is another exciting PSG talent.
Minteh is now the subject of a rejected £50 million bid.
But the central point remains:
Liverpool are talking to and considering plenty of players – but the attacking problem is still not solved.
Curtis Jones is also nearing a move to Inter, potentially removing another technically strong midfielder from the squad.
Liverpool’s Other Major Problem: Defensive Set Pieces
Liverpool scored:
18 set-piece goals.
But conceded:
20.
For a Champions League club with title ambitions, that is far too many.
Iraola has to improve:
- marking
- second-ball organisation
- goalkeeper protection
- individual duels
- defensive positioning.
Where Will Liverpool’s Goals Come From?
Finter’s prediction:
| Player | PL Goals |
|---|---|
| Alexander Isak | 20 |
| Hugo Ekitiké | 14 |
| Cody Gakpo | 10 |
| Florian Wirtz | 9 |
| Rio Ngumoha | 6 |
| Victor Muñoz | 6 |
If Isak scores 20+, Wirtz becomes one of the league’s best creators and Iraola’s press works immediately, Liverpool can absolutely finish third.
But there is more risk here than at Arsenal.
More uncertainty than at Chelsea.
And more attacking imbalance than Liverpool should ideally have this late in August.
Finter Rating
8.2/10
Finter Prediction
5th – 69 points
English Finter Liverpool Content
6. Tottenham – From 17th to Europe?
Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
2025/26: 17th
Finter prediction: 6th
Europe: None
Tottenham are Finter’s biggest leap.
From:
17th
to:
6th.
It looks extreme.
But Spurs’ underlying situation is very different.
Their set pieces were already excellent:
19 scored
9 conceded
+10
And the squad has been heavily rebuilt.
Sandro Tonali adds elite midfield quality.
Mateus Fernandes adds energy.
Andy Robertson adds experience.
Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi improve the defensive passing structure.
Roberto De Zerbi now has a squad far more suited to his football.
Biggest Question
Goals.
Spurs only scored 48 in the league last season.
Finter Rating
8.3/10
Finter Prediction
6th – 65 points
7. Aston Villa – Quality, But Champions League Comes at a Cost
Manager: Unai Emery
2025/26: 4th
Finter prediction: 7th
Europe: Champions League
Aston Villa had a superb season.
But several major players have left.
Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans are among the most significant departures.
Villa have reacted by rebuilding, while Ollie Watkins remains the proven Premier League goalscorer.
The European Problem
Champions League football is a reward.
But it also means:
- more games
- more travel
- less training
- more rotation
- greater injury risk.
Young Player to Watch
Brian Madjo
The Aston Villa teenager is one of the most exciting young forwards to watch this season.
English Finter Article
Finter Prediction
7th – 60 points
8. Brighton – Another Intelligent Rebuild
Manager: Fabian Hürzeler
2025/26: 8th
Finter prediction: 8th
Europe: Conference League
Brighton continue to do what Brighton do.
Sell.
Recruit.
Develop.
Repeat.
The biggest question is goals.
Danny Welbeck’s departure removes both experience and finishing.
Minteh’s current injury is another concern.
And Brighton now have Conference League football to manage.
What Do They Still Need?
A proven striker would make sense.
Finter Prediction
8th – 57 points
9. Brentford – Igor Thiago Is No Longer a Surprise
Manager: Keith Andrews
2025/26: 9th
Finter prediction: 9th
Igor Thiago scored:
22 Premier League goals.
Only Haaland scored more.
That changes the challenge.
Opponents now know exactly how dangerous Thiago is.
Brentford must find more ways to create chances for him when teams defend deeper.
Their penalty record could again be important.
Finter Prediction
9th – 55 points
10. Bournemouth – Europe Is Both a Reward and a Problem
Manager: Marco Rose
2025/26: 6th
Finter prediction: 10th
Europe: Europa League
Bournemouth’s sixth-place finish was extraordinary.
But two major things have changed.
Andoni Iraola is gone.
Europa League football has arrived.
That means a completely different weekly rhythm.
Bournemouth also conceded:
20 set-piece goals
last season.
That must improve.
Finter Prediction
10th – 52 points
11. Newcastle United – Almost Impossible to Predict
Newcastle are perhaps the most difficult team to rank.
Major central players have departed.
The squad has changed.
The midfield hierarchy has changed.
The tactical project has changed.
But Newcastle have one important advantage:
no European football.
That gives the new setup time to develop.
Finter Prediction
11th – 51 points
12. Leeds United – More Than a Survival Team
Manager: Daniel Farke
2025/26: 14th
Finter prediction: 12th
Leeds have strengthened with players including Harry Wilson, James Trafford and Nico Elvedi.
That gives them more Premier League experience and more end product.
Harry Wilson brings goals, assists and set-piece quality.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin already provides proven Premier League scoring.
Finter Prediction
12th – 50 points
13. Everton – Classic Moyes Stability
Manager: David Moyes
2025/26: 13th
Finter prediction: 13th
Everton were difficult to play against last season.
The club has added more midfield and attacking quality without destroying the existing structure.
That is classic David Moyes squad-building.
Biggest Question
Who scores 12-15 goals?
Everton need a reliable leading scorer if they want to push towards the top half.
Finter Prediction
13th – 49 points
14. Nottingham Forest – Glasner’s Shape Fits the Squad
Manager: Oliver Glasner
2025/26: 16th
Finter prediction: 14th
Forest’s squad suits a 3-4-2-1 surprisingly well.
A back three built around physical centre-backs can make them difficult to break down.
Morgan Gibbs-White remains the attacking reference point.
Finter Prediction
14th – 46 points
15. Crystal Palace – Better Than 41 Goals, But Europe Could Hurt
Manager: Pierre Sage
2025/26: 15th
Finter prediction: 15th
Europe: Europa League
Palace scored:
41 goals
from approximately:
57.6 xG.
That is enormous underperformance.
If finishing normalises, Palace should score much more.
But there are two problems.
Europe adds workload.
And Palace conceded:
20 set-piece goals.
That must improve.
Finter Prediction
15th – 44 points
16. Sunderland – The Price of Europe?
Manager: Régis Le Bris
2025/26: 7th
Finter prediction: 16th
Europe: Europa League
Moving Sunderland from seventh to 16th looks brutal.
But this is not a prediction that Sunderland suddenly become a bad team.
It is a workload prediction.
Last season they could prepare properly for Premier League games.
Now they face Thursday-Sunday sequences.
European travel.
Rotation.
Less training.
More injuries.
That can cost a surprising number of points.
Finter Prediction
16th – 42 points
17. Coventry City – Finter’s Promoted Team to Survive
Manager: Frank Lampard
2025/26: Championship champions
Finter prediction: 17th
Championship Numbers
| Statistic | Coventry |
|---|---|
| Points | 95 |
| Goals | 97 |
| Goals conceded | 45 |
| Set-piece goals | 29 |
| Headed goals | 19 |
Coventry’s set pieces are a genuine weapon.
Promoted teams need ways to score when they are not dominating possession.
Coventry have exactly that.
Frank Lampard also has momentum from the promotion season.
Finter Prediction
17th – 40 points
Just enough.
18. Fulham – Finter’s Shock Relegation Pick
Manager: Álvaro Arbeloa
2025/26: 11th
Finter prediction: 18th
This is our most controversial call.
Fulham took:
52 points
last season.
But the squad has changed significantly.
They have lost important attacking production and experience.
They also have a new manager.
There is talent in the rebuild.
But there is much more uncertainty.
Finter Prediction
🔻 18th – 36 points
19. Ipswich Town – Better Equipped, But the Premier League Is Brutal
Manager: Gary O’Neil
2025/26: 2nd in the Championship
Finter prediction: 19th
Ipswich have been ambitious.
The squad now contains more Premier League experience, more physicality and more tactical flexibility.
Daizen Maeda can be particularly valuable in transition.
But over 38 games, avoiding relegation requires very few weak points.
Ipswich still look vulnerable defensively.
Finter Prediction
🔻 19th – 33 points
They are the relegation pick Finter can most easily imagine proving us wrong.
20. Hull City – The Biggest Underdog
Manager: Sergej Jakirović
2025/26: Championship play-off winners
Finter prediction: 20th
Hull reached the Premier League through the play-offs.
They were sixth in the Championship rather than one of the division’s two dominant teams.
That matters.
The step from Championship play-off team to Premier League survival is enormous.
Finter Prediction
🔻 20th – 29 points
What Does Every Club Still Need Before 1 September?
| Club | Biggest Remaining Need |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | Extra attacking X-factor |
| Man City | Central midfield |
| Chelsea | Defensive stability |
| Man United | Champions League squad depth |
| Liverpool | Right winger, goals, creativity, assists |
| Tottenham | More attacking end product |
| Aston Villa | Creative depth |
| Brighton | Striker |
| Brentford | Alternative goalscorers |
| Bournemouth | Europa League depth |
| Newcastle | Experienced central midfield quality |
| Leeds | More defensive depth |
| Everton | Proven goalscorer |
| Forest | Attacking depth |
| Palace | Goals + set-piece defence |
| Sunderland | Europa League depth |
| Coventry | Premier League experience |
| Fulham | Goals and creativity |
| Ipswich | Top-level defensive quality |
| Hull | More Premier League quality throughout the squad |
These are Finter editorial assessments, not confirmed transfer targets.
Golden Boot 2026/27 – Finter Top 20
| # | Player | Club | Goal Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Erling Haaland | Man City | 29 |
| 2 | Viktor Gyökeres | Arsenal | 22 |
| 3 | Alexander Isak | Liverpool | 20 |
| 4 | Igor Thiago | Brentford | 19 |
| 5 | Benjamin Šeško | Man United | 18 |
| 6 | Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa | 17 |
| 7 | João Pedro | Chelsea | 17 |
| 8 | Antoine Semenyo | Man City | 16 |
| 9 | Cole Palmer | Chelsea | 15 |
| 10 | Hugo Ekitiké | Liverpool | 14 |
| 11 | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 14 |
| 12 | Dominic Calvert-Lewin | Leeds | 14 |
| 13 | Bryan Mbeumo | Man United | 13 |
| 14 | Morgan Gibbs-White | Forest | 13 |
| 15 | Jean-Philippe Mateta | Palace | 13 |
| 16 | Evanilson | Bournemouth | 12 |
| 17 | Brian Brobbey | Sunderland | 12 |
| 18 | Gonzalo García | Fulham | 11 |
| 19 | Coventry leading striker | Coventry | 10-11 |
| 20 | Oli McBurnie | Hull | 10 |
Finter Golden Boot Winner
⚽ ERLING HAALAND – 29 GOALS
Haaland scored 27 last season and finished five clear of Igor Thiago.
English Finter Reading
Most Goals Ever: Top 20 in Denmark, the Nordic Countries, Europe and the World
Fastest Hat-Tricks in Football History – Top 25 Records, Stories and Videos
Who Will Make the Most Assists?
| # | Player | Club | Assist Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Fernandes | Man United | 15 |
| 2 | Florian Wirtz | Liverpool | 13 |
| 3 | Martin Ødegaard | Arsenal | 13 |
| 4 | Cole Palmer | Chelsea | 12 |
| 5 | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 12 |
| 6 | Morgan Rogers | Chelsea | 11 |
| 7 | Rayan Cherki | Man City | 11 |
| 8 | Phil Foden | Man City | 10 |
| 9 | James Maddison | Tottenham | 10 |
| 10 | Harry Wilson | Leeds | 9 |
Finter Prediction: Bruno Fernandes
Twenty-one is incredibly difficult to repeat.
But 15 assists could still be enough to finish first again.
English Finter Reading
Golden Glove 2026/27
| # | Goalkeeper / Club | Clean-Sheet Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Raya – Arsenal | 18 |
| 2 | Donnarumma – Man City | 15 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 13 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 13 |
| 5 | Manchester United | 12 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 11 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 11 |
| 8 | Everton | 10 |
| 9 | Brighton | 10 |
| 10 | Leeds | 10 |
🧤 Finter Golden Glove: David Raya
Raya is coming off 19 Premier League clean sheets.
Player of the Season – Finter Top 10
| # | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bukayo Saka |
| 2 | Erling Haaland |
| 3 | Declan Rice |
| 4 | Cole Palmer |
| 5 | Bruno Fernandes |
| 6 | Bruno Guimarães |
| 7 | Florian Wirtz |
| 8 | Alexander Isak |
| 9 | Sandro Tonali |
| 10 | João Pedro |
Finter Prediction: Bukayo Saka
If Arsenal retain the title and Saka produces around 20-25 direct goal contributions, he becomes very difficult to overlook.
Young Player of the Season – Finter Top 10
| # | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rio Ngumoha | Liverpool |
| 2 | Brian Madjo | Aston Villa |
| 3 | Max Dowman | Arsenal |
| 4 | Ethan Nwaneri | Arsenal |
| 5 | Jeremy Monga | Man City |
| 6 | Sean Steur | Newcastle |
| 7 | Caleb Yirenkyi | Coventry |
| 8 | Geovany Quenda | Chelsea |
| 9 | Victor Muñoz | Liverpool |
| 10 | Johan Manzambi | Aston Villa |
💎 Finter Prediction: Rio Ngumoha
Breakout Wildcard
🔥 Brian Madjo – Aston Villa
Brian Madjo – Aston Villa’s 17-Year-Old Wonderkid
Summer’s Best Transfers – Finter Top 10
| # | Transfer | Finter Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Guimarães → Arsenal | 9.5/10 |
| 2 | Morgan Rogers → Chelsea | 9/10 |
| 3 | Sandro Tonali → Tottenham | 9/10 |
| 4 | Elliot Anderson → Man City | 8.5/10 |
| 5 | Youri Tielemans → Man United | 8.5/10 |
| 6 | Antonio Silva → Bournemouth | 8.5/10 |
| 7 | Jérémy Jacquet → Liverpool | 8.5/10 |
| 8 | Harry Wilson → Leeds | 8.5/10 |
| 9 | James Trafford → Leeds | 8/10 |
| 10 | Johan Manzambi → Aston Villa | 8/10 |
The 10 Biggest Departures
| # | Player | Club Losing Him |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
| 2 | Rodri | Manchester City |
| 3 | Bruno Guimarães | Newcastle |
| 4 | Sandro Tonali | Newcastle |
| 5 | Morgan Rogers | Aston Villa |
| 6 | Youri Tielemans | Aston Villa |
| 7 | Anthony Gordon | Newcastle |
| 8 | Tijjani Reijnders | Manchester City |
| 9 | Andy Robertson | Liverpool |
| 10 | Harry Wilson | Fulham |
Which Clubs Have Changed the Most?
1. Manchester City
New manager.
Rodri gone.
Reijnders gone.
Several experienced defenders gone.
2. Liverpool
New manager.
Salah gone.
Konaté gone.
Robertson gone.
Wide-forward search still unfinished.
3. Newcastle
A huge part of the midfield has been dismantled.
4. Tottenham
Major squad rebuild.
5. Chelsea
New coach, new structure and major new attacking pieces.
The Five Biggest Tactical Questions
1. Can Arsenal Improve Without Breaking What Already Works?
Arsenal do not need revolution.
They need evolution.
2. Can Manchester City Replace Both Guardiola and Rodri?
This is not one problem.
It is two enormous problems.
Maresca has to replace Guardiola’s system while also finding a new central control structure.
3. How Do Liverpool Replace Salah?
Not with one player.
Probably through combined production from:
Isak.
Ekitiké.
Wirtz.
Gakpo.
Ngumoha.
Muñoz.
But that approach only works if several players improve simultaneously.
4. Can Chelsea Turn xG Into Goals?
58 goals from around 66.7 xG is one of the most interesting statistics entering the season.
5. Can Manchester United Perform Three Times in Eight Days?
That is Carrick’s real test.
Finter’s Three Positive Surprises
Tottenham
From 17th to sixth.
Our biggest prediction.
Chelsea
From 10th to third.
Leeds
We believe Leeds can move comfortably away from the relegation battle.
Clubs That Could Disappoint
Liverpool
If the right wing remains unresolved, even fifth could become challenging.
Sunderland
Europa League workload.
Aston Villa
Major departures plus Champions League.
Newcastle
Huge squad turnover.
Fulham
Finter’s shock relegation candidate.
Finter’s Title Probabilities
These are Finter editorial probabilities, not bookmaker odds.
| Club | Finter Chance |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | 39% |
| Man City | 24% |
| Chelsea | 16% |
| Man United | 10% |
| Liverpool | 8% |
| Tottenham | 2% |
| Everyone else combined | 1% |
How Many Points Will Win the Premier League?
Finter prediction:
84-87 points.
Our top five:
Arsenal – 86
Manchester City – 79
Chelsea – 74
Manchester United – 71
Liverpool – 69.
I do not expect a 98-100-point champion.
There are simply too many strong teams capable of taking points from one another.
Finter’s Complete 2026/27 Awards Prediction
| Award | Finter Prediction |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Premier League Champions | Arsenal |
| 🥈 Second | Manchester City |
| 🥉 Third | Chelsea |
| 4th | Manchester United |
| 5th | Liverpool |
| ⚽ Golden Boot | Erling Haaland |
| 🎯 Most Assists | Bruno Fernandes |
| 🧤 Golden Glove | David Raya |
| ⭐ Player of the Season | Bukayo Saka |
| 💎 Young Player | Rio Ngumoha |
| 🔥 Breakout Wildcard | Brian Madjo |
| 📈 Biggest Improvement | Tottenham |
| 💰 Best Transfer | Bruno Guimarães → Arsenal |
| 😲 Biggest Title Outsider | Chelsea |
| ⚠️ Biggest Fall | Sunderland |
| 🔻 Relegated | Fulham |
| 🔻 Relegated | Ipswich |
| 🔻 Relegated | Hull City |
Premier League YouTube Videos to Use in the Article
For Finter.dk, the safest approach is to embed videos directly from the official YouTube uploader rather than downloading or re-uploading footage.
Arsenal – The Moments That Won the Title
Official Premier League video:
Ideal placement:
after the Arsenal section.
David Raya – Best Saves
Official Arsenal video:
Ideal placement:
Golden Glove section.
Bruno Fernandes – Record Assist Season
Manchester United’s official video platform has a compilation of Fernandes’ 2025/26 assists, including his record-breaking campaign.
Ideal placement:
Manchester United or assists section.
More Football Videos on Finter.dk
The Ultimate Football YouTube Encyclopedia – 300 Greatest Football Videos Ever Made
This English Finter guide includes football skills, goals, dribbling, historic matches and legendary YouTube videos.
More English Finter.dk Articles
Liverpool
Aston Villa / Wonderkids
Haaland
Goals
Most Goals Ever: Top 20 in Denmark, the Nordic Countries, Europe and the World
Dribbling
World’s Best Dribblers 2025/26: Top 20 for Completed Dribbles, Attempts, Success Rate and Per 90
Assists
Hat-Tricks
Fastest Hat-Tricks in Football History – Top 25 Records, Stories and Videos
Football Videos
The Ultimate Football YouTube Encyclopedia – 300 Greatest Football Videos Ever Made
FAQ – Premier League 2026/27
Who Will Win the Premier League?
Finter predicts:
Arsenal.
They have the best combination of continuity, defensive quality, set pieces and midfield control.
Who Will Finish Second?
Manchester City.
City still possess Haaland and enormous attacking quality, but losing Guardiola, Rodri and Reijnders makes them less predictable.
Where Will Liverpool Finish?
Finter predicts:
5th.
That is more pessimistic than several statistical models.
Why Only Fifth for Liverpool?
Because Liverpool still have not adequately replaced:
- Salah’s goals
- Salah’s assists
- his wide threat
- his penalty production
- his creativity.
The defence also conceded 20 set-piece goals last season.
And Iraola has to install a new system while competing in the Champions League.
Is Yankuba Minteh Joining Liverpool?
Not as of 21 August 2026.
Brighton rejected Liverpool’s approximately £50 million bid.
Minteh is also currently injured.
Why Does Finter Call the Minteh Pursuit Desperate?
Because the club is approaching the start of the season without an obvious Salah replacement while bidding approximately £50 million for an injured player who has not yet demonstrated Salah-level goal or assist production.
That does not mean Minteh is a bad player.
It means the timing and context of the pursuit suggest significant pressure on Liverpool’s recruitment team.
Who Will Win the Golden Boot?
Erling Haaland.
Finter prediction:
29 goals.
Who Will Make the Most Assists?
Bruno Fernandes.
Who Will Win the Golden Glove?
David Raya.
Who Will Be Player of the Season?
Bukayo Saka.
Who Will Be Young Player of the Season?
Rio Ngumoha.
Who Is the Biggest Title Outsider?
Chelsea.
Which Team Will Improve the Most?
Tottenham.
Which Promoted Team Will Survive?
Coventry City.
Who Will Be Relegated?
Finter predicts:
18. Fulham
19. Ipswich
20. Hull City
When Does the Transfer Window Close?
1 September 2026 at 23:00 BST.
SEO Keywords
Premier League 2026/27, Premier League preview 2026/27, Premier League transfers 2026, Premier League transfer news August 2026, Premier League final table prediction, Premier League predictions, Premier League statistics, Premier League xG, Premier League set pieces, Premier League penalties, Premier League new rules 2026/27, Premier League Golden Boot, Erling Haaland goals, Premier League assists, Bruno Fernandes assists, Premier League Golden Glove, David Raya clean sheets, Arsenal 2026/27, Manchester City 2026/27, Chelsea 2026/27, Manchester United 2026/27, Liverpool 2026/27, Liverpool transfer news, Yankuba Minteh Liverpool, Mohamed Salah replacement, Andoni Iraola Liverpool, Tottenham 2026/27, Aston Villa 2026/27, Premier League promoted clubs, Coventry Premier League, Ipswich Premier League, Hull City Premier League, Premier League relegation predictions, Premier League YouTube videos, Premier League highlights, Premier League table prediction 2026/27.
Conclusion – Finter’s Final Premier League 2026/27 Verdict
Arsenal start the season as the most complete team.
They have continuity.
They have the best defence.
They have extraordinary set pieces.
They have an elite midfield.
Manchester City still have a huge ceiling because they have Erling Haaland and enormous attacking talent.
But life after Guardiola will already be difficult.
Doing it without Rodri and Reijnders makes the challenge even greater.
Chelsea are our major outsider.
Xabi Alonso.
Cole Palmer.
Morgan Rogers.
A huge squad.
And no European football.
Manchester United are back.
But Carrick must now prove his project works when Champions League matches are added to the schedule.
Tottenham could become the season’s biggest comeback story.
And Liverpool?
They may be the most fascinating team of all.
There is plenty of talent.
But also several warning signs.
Salah’s goals are gone.
Salah’s assists are gone.
Important leaders have left.
The defensive set pieces need fixing.
And the attacking transfer plan still does not look finished.
Liverpool’s rejected £50 million bid for an injured Yankuba Minteh only increases the feeling that recruitment is under serious pressure as the deadline approaches.
That is why Finter goes against some of the more optimistic models.
FINTER’S FINAL TOP FIVE
| # | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 1 | Arsenal | 86 |
| 🥈 2 | Manchester City | 79 |
| 🥉 3 | Chelsea | 74 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 71 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 69 |
Relegated
🔻 18. Fulham
🔻 19. Ipswich Town
🔻 20. Hull City
Golden Boot
⚽ ERLING HAALAND – 29 GOALS
Most Assists
🎯 BRUNO FERNANDES
Golden Glove
🧤 DAVID RAYA
Player of the Season
⭐ BUKAYO SAKA
Young Player of the Season
💎 RIO NGUMOHA
Biggest Positive Surprise
📈 TOTTENHAM
But one thing can still change everything:
THE TRANSFER WINDOW DOES NOT CLOSE UNTIL 1 SEPTEMBER 2026.
Manchester City could sign another elite midfielder.
Liverpool could finally land one or two high-level wide forwards.
Tottenham could complete another major attacking deal.
Brighton could sign a striker.
A relegation contender could suddenly find its goalscorer.
So this prediction can still move.
But as of:
21 AUGUST 2026
this is: