Everything you need to know about the 2026/27 Premier League season, including title contenders, clubs to watch, player predictions, and a complete bet365 betting guide covering markets, features, and betting tips.
The 2026/27 English football season arrives with major changes at almost every level of the pyramid.
Arsenal are preparing to defend the Premier League title after ending their 22-year wait to become champions. Manchester City are beginning life after Pep Guardiola, Liverpool must replace Mohamed Salah and Chelsea have turned to Xabi Alonso following a disappointing season.
Further down the pyramid, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley are attempting to return immediately from the Championship. Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday find themselves in League One, while another unpredictable promotion battle awaits in League Two.
Whether you are a lifelong supporter, a Fantasy Premier League manager or someone looking to explore the latest football betting markets on bet365, this guide covers the biggest stories, contenders and predictions ahead of the new season.
The Premier League season begins on Friday, August 21, when defending champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.
The campaign is starting one week later than the previous season to give players additional recovery time following the 2026 World Cup. The final round of Premier League fixtures will be played on Sunday, May 30, 2027.
The calendar includes 33 weekend match rounds and five sets of midweek fixtures. The Premier League has also committed to avoiding situations in which clubs must play two rounds within 60 hours during the crowded Christmas and New Year period.
The summer transfer window remains open until 11 PM UK time on September 1, allowing teams to continue adjusting their squads after the first matches have been played.
The Premier League once again features 20 clubs, each playing 38 league matches.
Every team will play:
The club finishing first will be crowned Premier League champion, while the leading teams will also qualify for European competition. The bottom three will be relegated to the Championship.
Clubs must also balance their league commitments with the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and, for those that have qualified, the UEFA Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.
Squad depth and rotation may be almost as important as tactical preparation, particularly after a shortened post-World Cup preseason.
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After several painful near misses, Arsenal finally ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title in 2025/26.
Mikel Arteta’s team combined defensive consistency with greater midfield control and an improved ability to win matches without always producing their best football. Arsenal now have an opportunity to prove that their championship was the beginning of a new era rather than the completion of a single long-term project.
The Gunners have strengthened from a position of power by signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United. The Brazilian is accustomed to the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League and should form an outstanding midfield partnership with Declan Rice.
Christos Tzolis has also arrived after recording 17 goals and 23 assists in the Belgian Pro League. His direct running and creativity could replace some of the attacking depth lost following Leandro Trossard’s departure.
At the back, Arsenal remain exceptionally strong. David Raya won the 2025/26 Golden Glove after keeping 19 clean sheets, while William Saliba, Gabriel and Piero Hincapie give Arteta a reliable defensive foundation.
The pressure will be different this season. Arsenal are no longer chasing the champions; they are the team everyone else wants to beat. Even so, they enter the campaign with arguably the most settled and balanced squad in the division.
Manchester City enter the season without Pep Guardiola in the dugout for the first time in more than a decade.
Enzo Maresca has been selected to replace him. Maresca understands the club after previously working within City’s coaching structure, but this will not be a straightforward continuation of Guardiola’s project.
Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake have all left, creating considerable turnover in defence and midfield.
City’s headline addition is Elliot Anderson, who has arrived from Nottingham Forest for a reported club-record fee. Anderson developed into one of the Premier League’s leading all-round midfielders and could become a central figure in Maresca’s rebuild.
City can still call upon Rodri, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Erling Haaland. That core alone is enough to make them a leading title contender.
Haaland has won three Golden Boots during his four Premier League seasons. His combination of strength, movement and clinical finishing once again makes him the leading candidate to finish as the division’s top goalscorer.
City’s potential remains enormous, but Guardiola’s departure and the scale of their defensive transition make them less predictable than they have been in recent seasons.
Liverpool’s fifth-place finish in 2025/26 led to another managerial change, with former Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola replacing Arne Slot.
Iraola favours an aggressive approach built around pressing, intensity and quick forward movement. That style should fit Liverpool’s traditions, but introducing it while rebuilding the squad may take time.
The most significant departure is Mohamed Salah, who has joined Trabzonspor. Replacing Salah’s goals is only part of the challenge. He also created chances, attracted multiple defenders and provided a reliable match-winning presence in close games.
Victor Munoz is among the players expected to take on a larger attacking role, while Jeremy Jacquet has been signed following Ibrahima Konate’s departure.
Alexander Isak gives Liverpool an elite centre-forward around whom Iraola can construct his attack. If Isak remains healthy and the new wide players settle quickly, Liverpool should return to the Champions League places.
Winning the title may be difficult during such a substantial transition, but Liverpool still have enough quality to remain part of the conversation.
Manchester United finished third in 2025/26 after making encouraging progress under Michael Carrick.
The club have since rebuilt their midfield by signing Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea. Tielemans adds experience and passing range, while Santos offers mobility, energy and ball-winning ability.
Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia have left, while Rasmus Hojlund’s transfer to Napoli has become permanent. Marcus Rashford has returned after loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona, although questions remain about his long-term future.
United now look more organised than they did during the chaotic stages of their previous rebuilds. Bruno Fernandes remains the team’s creative leader, while Bryan Mbeumo supplies pace and Premier League-proven production in attack.
A championship challenge would require another substantial step forward. However, United should be confident of remaining in the top-four race.
Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso after finishing a disappointing tenth last season.
Alonso’s first objective will be to provide the team with a consistent tactical identity. Chelsea have accumulated an enormous amount of individual talent, but their performances have too often appeared disconnected.
The club have made another spectacular investment by signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. Rogers can operate through the middle or from the left and has developed into one of England’s most influential attacking players.
Chelsea have also added Emmanuel Emegha, Maxence Lacroix, Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson. The arrivals of Welbeck and Henderson are particularly interesting because they add experience to an otherwise youthful squad.
Cole Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap give Alonso numerous attacking combinations. Chelsea’s problem should not be talent. Their campaign will depend on whether the new manager can deliver clarity, consistency and defensive stability.
A return to European competition should be expected. A top-four finish is possible if Alonso can quickly establish his preferred system.
Tottenham only narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 17th, but their summer recruitment suggests they should move quickly away from the bottom three.
Sandro Tonali has joined from Newcastle, while Jan Paul van Hecke has arrived to strengthen the defence. Tonali should provide greater control in midfield and help Tottenham avoid the frantic, open matches that regularly exposed them last season.
A title challenge is unrealistic, but Spurs have too much attacking ability to spend another campaign fighting relegation.
A return to the top half should be the minimum target, with the European places within reach if the new additions settle successfully.
Aston Villa qualified for the Champions League, but several important members of that team have since left.
Morgan Rogers has joined Chelsea, Youri Tielemans has signed for Manchester United and Lucas Digne has moved to Paris Saint-Germain. Amadou Onana is also recovering from a serious injury suffered during the World Cup.
Villa have attempted to rebuild by signing Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi and Modou Keba Cisse, while Alejandro Garnacho has arrived on loan.
Unai Emery remains one of the Premier League’s leading coaches, and Villa can still call upon reliable performers including Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, Emiliano Martinez and Ezri Konsa.
However, combining Champions League football with a substantial squad transition could make another top-four finish difficult.
Newcastle have experienced one of the Premier League’s most disruptive summers.
Bruno Guimaraes has joined Arsenal, Sandro Tonali has moved to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon has signed for Barcelona. Eddie Howe has also departed, with Matthias Jaissle taking over as manager.
Newcastle have recruited promising replacements, including Bazoumana Toure, Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur, but losing three established stars in one transfer window will be difficult to overcome.
After finishing 12th last season, Newcastle could find themselves in the middle of the table again while their new squad develops.
Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City will compete in the 2026/27 Premier League, replacing West Ham, Wolves and Burnley.
Frank Lampard guided Coventry to the Championship title and their first Premier League appearance in 25 years.
Coventry have strengthened with the additions of Aurele Amenda, Caleb Yirenkyi and Loum Tchaouna. Frank Onyeka and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth have also completed permanent moves following successful loan spells.
Lampard’s team should bring organisation, energy and confidence into the top flight. Opening away to Arsenal is a daunting assignment, but Coventry appear to have the best survival prospects of the three promoted clubs.
Ipswich have returned to the Premier League at the first attempt after securing automatic promotion.
Their previous top-flight campaign ended in relegation, but that experience should give the club a better understanding of where its squad must improve.
Ipswich’s survival chances may depend on defensive recruitment and their ability to turn competitive performances into victories.
Hull defeated Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final after finishing sixth during the regular season.
The Tigers enter the campaign as the most obvious relegation candidate. They have less top-flight experience than most of their rivals and will need to adapt quickly to the speed and depth of the Premier League.
The promoted clubs will inevitably feature prominently in relegation predictions, but several established teams may also be vulnerable.
Nottingham Forest have lost Elliot Anderson and are beginning a new era under Oliver Glasner. Crystal Palace have replaced Glasner with Pierre Sage and must balance domestic football with a European campaign.
Leeds United should be better equipped after strengthening their squad, while Sunderland will attempt to build on a remarkable seventh-place finish during their first season back in the Premier League.
Coventry appear capable of surviving, while Hull face the steepest challenge. Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace could be pulled into the battle if their managerial transitions do not proceed smoothly.
The Premier League is the main focus of this guide, but the Championship, League One and League Two contain several compelling stories that could shape the future of English football.
Bet365 News has published complete 1–24 predictions for all three EFL divisions, with football analyst Gab Sutton assessing every club rather than simply following the preseason betting favourites.
West Ham, Wolves and Burnley enter the Championship with recent Premier League experience and the financial assistance provided by parachute payments.
However, Sutton does not predict any of them to finish inside the top two. His 2026/27 Championship predictions place Southampton first, Norwich City second and West Ham third.
Southampton begin with a four-point deduction but carry considerable momentum. Tonda Eckert’s team collected 47 points during a 19-match unbeaten league run after he initially took charge as caretaker manager. A settled squad and growing siege mentality could make the Saints a serious promotion threat.
Norwich also finished last season strongly under Philippe Clement. The Canaries collected 56 points from 31 matches following his appointment, a pace that would produce approximately 83 points across a complete Championship campaign.
West Ham remain the market team to beat, but relegated clubs do not always adjust immediately to the Championship’s physical demands, demanding schedule and competitive balance.
Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday are among the biggest names in League One, while Luton Town continue trying to recover from a remarkable decline following their Premier League relegation.
Leicester’s financial resources and remaining squad quality make them the market favourites. However, Sutton’s 2026/27 League One predictions place Luton first, Plymouth Argyle second and Leicester third.
Luton collected 26 points from their final 10 games last season and missed the play-offs by only one point. If Jack Wilshere’s side maintains that momentum, a title challenge is realistic.
Plymouth also improved dramatically during the second half of the campaign. Argyle won 18 of their final 31 matches after settling into a more stable 4-4-2 formation under Tom Cleverley.
Leicester possess the highest ceiling in the division, but three relegations in five seasons point to structural problems that may not disappear simply because the standard of opposition has fallen.
League Two may be England’s most unpredictable professional division.
Salford City, Bristol Rovers and Barnet are prominent in the promotion market, but Sutton’s 2026/27 League Two predictions select Grimsby Town to win the title.
The Mariners have improved steadily under David Artell, progressing from a survival battle to narrowly missing the play-offs and then reaching the postseason last year. Artell’s teams have finished higher than the previous season in six of his seven completed managerial campaigns.
Bristol Rovers are predicted to finish second after winning 11 of their final 14 matches last season under Steve Evans. Barnet complete Sutton’s projected automatic-promotion positions, with Salford fourth.
At the other end, Newport County are predicted to finish last following five consecutive seasons in which their final points total has declined.
The Premier League is one of the world’s most heavily bet-on football competitions, and bet365 provides markets on fixtures throughout the English football pyramid.
Customers can find pre-match and In-Play betting across the Premier League and EFL, along with season-long outright markets.
Popular football markets include:
Market availability can vary by competition and fixture.
Long-term betting is one of the highlights of the English football season.
Before and during the campaign, bet365 may offer outright markets including:
These prices evolve throughout the season as teams gain momentum, suffer injuries or strengthen during the transfer window.
Promotion betting can provide more room for error than selecting a league champion. Depending on the settlement rules, teams may qualify through an automatic position or the play-offs. Customers should read the applicable market rules before placing a wager.
One reason football bettors use bet365 is the selection of features available alongside traditional markets.
Bet Builder allows customers to combine multiple selections from the same match into a single wager.
For example, an eligible Bet Builder could include:
The available selections vary by fixture.
Eligible football markets update as matches develop, allowing customers to place bets after kickoff.
Prices may move following goals, substitutions, red cards, injuries and changes in momentum. In-Play betting requires quick decisions, making it particularly important to set limits and avoid impulsive wagers.
Cash Out gives eligible customers the option to settle selected bets before the event has finished.
The offered amount can change or become unavailable as the match develops. Cash Out is not guaranteed on every market or wager.
Bet365’s Sub On Play On feature gives selected players another opportunity to score after being substituted in eligible matches.
If a backed player is substituted without scoring, the qualifying bet may transfer to the player who replaces him. Full eligibility requirements and exclusions should be checked before betting.
More Time to Win applies to selected football markets and can extend a qualifying bet into extra time.
It is mainly relevant to knockout matches rather than Premier League fixtures, which end after 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
Accumulator Insurance may provide a return when one selection lets down an otherwise successful qualifying football accumulator.
Minimum-leg, price, competition and stake requirements may apply. Customers should check whether an accumulator is eligible before placing it.
No betting system can guarantee a profit, but research and discipline can support better decisions.
Sutton’s EFL predictions also demonstrate the importance of looking beyond the obvious market favourites. Southampton, Luton and Grimsby are all rated more highly in his divisional projections than conventional preseason expectations might suggest.
Although surprises are inevitable, these are our early selections for the season:
Premier League champions: Arsenal
Premier League runners-up: Manchester City
Top-four contenders: Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea
Premier League dark horse: Tottenham Hotspur
Golden Boot prediction: Erling Haaland
Premier League relegation selections: Hull City, Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest
Championship champions: Southampton
Championship runners-up: Norwich City
Championship relegation selection: Blackburn Rovers
League One champions: Luton Town
League One runners-up: Plymouth Argyle
League One third place: Leicester City
League Two champions: Grimsby Town
League Two runners-up: Bristol Rovers
League Two third place: Barnet
The Premier League season begins on Friday, August 21, 2026, with Arsenal hosting Coventry City.
Twenty clubs compete in the Premier League. Each team plays 38 matches: 19 at home and 19 away.
Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City were promoted for the 2026/27 season.
West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley were relegated from the Premier League.
Bet365 offers pre-match and In-Play markets across eligible Championship, League One and League Two fixtures, subject to availability and local regulations.
Bet Builder is available for many Premier League fixtures, allowing customers to combine multiple selections from the same match.
Bet365 offers promotion and relegation markets for several English divisions. Availability and settlement rules vary, so customers should check the individual market before betting.
The 2026/27 Premier League season promises another compelling campaign filled with title drama, battles for European qualification and a potentially unpredictable relegation fight.
Arsenal begin as the team to beat, but Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea each enter the season with reasons for optimism. The changes at City and Liverpool could create opportunities for the more settled contenders.
The story extends well beyond the Premier League. Southampton and Norwich are attempting to challenge the relegated clubs in the Championship, Luton and Plymouth are trying to outperform Leicester in League One, and Grimsby hope their steady progress can culminate in the League Two title.
For bettors, bet365 provides outright markets, player props, Bet Builder, In-Play betting, Cash Out and football features such as Sub On Play On, More Time to Win and Accumulator Insurance.
Odds, offers and market availability are subject to change. Always confirm the latest information directly with the operator before betting.
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