2025-26 Premier League

[IthacaMatt]

The 2025-26 Premier League season kicks off a week from Friday, August 15th, with last year's Champions, Liverpool, kicking off at home against Bournemouth. Bournemouth finished in 9th last year under Thomas Frank, who has moved on to Tottenham. Bournemouth has lost a few good players this offseason, while Liverpool has strengthened considerably.

Aston Villa hosts snake-bit Newcastle on Saturday the 16th in the early morning game that will be full of intrigue, with all the trouble with Alexander Isak wanting to leave.

The other big game of the weekend, to me, is Sunday's 11:30 game with Manchester United hosting Arsenal. Arsenal have been runner up 3 years in a row, and have spent big to make a run at the title.

United were terrible in Ruben Amorin's first year in charge, but they were pretty good in the US, giving some hope to their fans.

Man City are flying a bit under the radar, after winning 6 titles in the last 7 or 8 years under Pep Guardiola. They bought well both last January and this summer, but seem likely to add another Right Back to replace Kyle Walker, who has departed. They still haven't replaced their back-up striker, Julian Alvarez, who they sold to Athletico Madrid last year.

Chelsea had a great summer in the Club World Cup, and are full of belief under Coach Enzo Maresca, who just completed his first season in Blue with 2 trophies, beating mighty PSG in the FInal. They have added well, with a couple more still in the works. They have sold well, too, bringing in the most money of any Premier League team this summer, with Liverpool second.

Still time to get in on the SyracuseFan Premier League Fantasy Football game. Look at the Fantasy Football thread in Other Sports for log-in info to join.

Meanwhile, as we finish up the transfer window (also subject of a thread on Other Sports), here are some previews to chew on.

Supercomputer tips Man Utd for nightmare year in 2025-26 Prem predictions

A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted how the 2025-26 Premier League table will finish. And number crunchers at Opta reckon Manchester United and Tottenham will both have disastrous seasons again. A superc…

www.thesun.co.uk

Premier League Predictions 2025-26: The Opta Supercomputer Projections | Opta Analyst

We answer all the key questions with our Premier League 2025-26 season predictions via the Opta supercomputer.

theanalyst.com

 

[IthacaMatt]

Today ESPN came out with a more comprehensive pre-season preview for the season. Here's the link:

Premier League 2025-26 mega-preview: Key stats, questions, predictions for all 20 teams

The Premier League's back! Let's predict how each team will finish by assessing how Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and all the rest look.

www.espn.com

 

[OrangeFoo]

I posted my Liverpool recap in the transfers thread but will summarize here.

Liverpool are going to be impossible to stop going forward with all the talent they have. Once MacAllister and Gravenberch are back they will control the match so it’s not so open. Szobozlai and Jones will be bench players… that is a really strong bench that gives Slot a lot of options… especially if Chiesa stays.

Bradley and Gomez need to get and stay healthy… no way Endo should be on as RB. Robertson has been a great servant, but he is scary when he is on and not in a good way.

This is a team in deep mourning still. At some points the guys will have a scab over the wound that Jota’s passing has created. At some point the new guys will settle. At that some point, if Liverpool is in first they will repeat. I think only injuries can stop Liverpool from repeating

 

[IthacaMatt]

I posted my Liverpool recap in the transfers thread but will summarize here.

Liverpool are going to be impossible to stop going forward with all the talent they have. Once MacAllister and Gravenberch are back they will control the match so it’s not so open. Szobozlai and Jones will be bench players… that is a really strong bench that gives Slot a lot of options… especially if Chiesa stays.

Bradley and Gomez need to get and stay healthy… no way Endo should be on as RB. Robertson has been a great servant, but he is scary when he is on and not in a good way.

This is a team in deep mourning still. At some points the guys will have a scab over the wound that Jota’s passing has created. At some point the new guys will settle. At that some point, if Liverpool is in first they will repeat. I think only injuries can stop Liverpool from repeating

You're right, Liverpool are going to score a lot of goals this year. And their midfield will be better when Gravenberch is back. Their defense is a little fragile this year. Virgil is getting old. They still need another signing or two on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Aston Villa v. Newcastle thoughts. Both competing for European spots. Both with insufficient transfer activity. Both a bit unsettled. Both played pretty poorly, to be honest.

For Newcastle, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes are just not good enough to get you goals. They might connect play well, but neither is really a goal threat.

Aston Villa were lethargic at the beginning, started the 2nd half brightly, but then Konsa pulled down the guy on the breakaway, and the game whimpered to the finish. Emery with no changes for 10-15 minutes after going down a man. Kind of weird game all around.

 

[IthacaMatt]

From The Athletic - "The Young Player to Watch Out For" for every team

The young player to watch out for at every Premier League club this season

Youngsters such as Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha have stood out in pre-season, but who is your Premier League club's starlet this season?

www.nytimes.com

 

[IthacaMatt]

First impression of Manchester City - Pep seems like his new tactic is to start about 6 wingers who can dribble in his lineup.

The real headline is that Rodri will be out for a month.

Stones back with Ruben Dias is a good combination for them.
Stones was out of favor much of last year, and Dias suffered injuries and missed about 20 games last year.

We'll see how good their defense turns out to be.
Doesn't seem like a very well balanced lineup to me right now.

Wolves might be relegated, so I don't know that there's a lot to take from that 4-0 thrashing.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I posted my Liverpool recap in the transfers thread but will summarize here.

Liverpool are going to be impossible to stop going forward with all the talent they have. Once MacAllister and Gravenberch are back they will control the match so it’s not so open. Szobozlai and Jones will be bench players… that is a really strong bench that gives Slot a lot of options… especially if Chiesa stays.

Bradley and Gomez need to get and stay healthy… no way Endo should be on as RB. Robertson has been a great servant, but he is scary when he is on and not in a good way.

This is a team in deep mourning still. At some points the guys will have a scab over the wound that Jota’s passing has created. At some point the new guys will settle. At that some point, if Liverpool is in first they will repeat. I think only injuries can stop Liverpool from repeating

I think Liverpool selling the Italian 18 year old, Leoni, as the heir apparent to Van Dyke is a bit much.

The Athletic has the fawning article talking about him as the next great Italian defender already, comparing him to the all-time legends.

Seems to me 2 years is maybe about right to learn from VVD, but I don't see him helping too much this season. He'll probably only play in domestic Cup games.

 

[orangenauburn]

Aston Villa v. Newcastle thoughts. Both competing for European spots. Both with insufficient transfer activity. Both a bit unsettled. Both played pretty poorly, to be honest.

For Newcastle, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes are just not good enough to get you goals. They might connect play well, but neither is really a goal threat.

Aston Villa were lethargic at the beginning, started the 2nd half brightly, but then Konsa pulled down the guy on the breakaway, and the game whimpered to the finish. Emery with no changes for 10-15 minutes after going down a man. Kind of weird game all around.

Newcastle really missed Isak. He would have made a difference in this one

 

[IthacaMatt]

Newcastle really missed Isak. He would have made a difference in this one

totally agree. I think he's gone to Liverpool, though. They just have to be classier about it the next time they approach them.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Nice to have the Prem back...Watched Spurs-Burnley yesterday...

 

[IthacaMatt]

Chelsea couldn't cope with Crystal Palace's defense. Palace robbed on a disallowed free kick due to a shove by Marc Guehi.

Nice to see Mason Mount playing well for Manchester United. He could be like a new signing for their midfield. But they still need a holding MF, an option to Luke Shaw at LB, and another CB.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Arsenal with a quality opening win against United. That's a game they might have drawn last year.