2025-26 Premier League | Syracusefan.com
.

2025-26 Premier League

IthacaMatt

IthacaMatt

Old Timer / Unofficial Contributor for 25+ years
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
27,883
Like
43,822
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.



www.thesun.co.uk

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 www.thesun.co.uk

theanalyst.com

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 theanalyst.com
 
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
 
OrangeFoo said:
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
Expand...

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.
 
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.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
OrangeFoo said:
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
Expand...

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.
 
IthacaMatt said:
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.
Expand...
Newcastle really missed Isak. He would have made a difference in this one
 
orangenauburn said:
Newcastle really missed Isak. He would have made a difference in this one
Expand...

totally agree. I think he's gone to Liverpool, though. They just have to be classier about it the next time they approach them.
 
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.
 
Arsenal with a quality opening win against United. That's a game they might have drawn last year.
 
IthacaMatt said:
Arsenal with a quality opening win against United. That's a game they might have drawn last year.
Expand...
100% said the same thing. Last year the issue was not scoring goals because of the injuries (though it was an issue) it was dropping points late and not holding a lead.

Scrappy win for them. Hoping we have a top quality title race of Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man City.
 
Nottingham Forest looked excellent against Brentford opening weekend, going up 3-0 by halftime of a 3-1 win. I know that one of our gang in the Fantasy League picked NF's Chris Wood as one of their 2 CFs and are very happy with the first week.

I looked at Chris Wood's numbers from last year (20 goals), and they sold Anthony Elanga, who assisted him on 11 or 12 of those goals, and I thought he was sure to fall off this year. He bagged 20 on only 13 expected goals. So, he bangs in a pair of them in the first half of the opening game of the season. Wow, very impressed with them.

And Forest is adding 3 or 4 more attacking players to the squad, too. Great purchases, IMO. I think they are going to remain pretty strong this year.
 
IthacaMatt said:
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.
Expand...
I don’t think Liverpool is selling Leoni as the heir to VVD… he’s a Quansah replacement this year and Konate replacement next year. Guehi is the heir to VVD.
 
OrangeFoo said:
I don’t think Liverpool is selling Leoni as the heir to VVD… he’s a Quansah replacement this year and Konate replacement next year. Guehi is the heir to VVD.
Expand...

I'm just saying there was a big article on that take on Leoni - VVC heir, study from him for 2 years before Virgil's contract runs out, and then take over the starting job.

Maybe it was The Athletic, but it might have also been a UK publication.

And then I just read today that they're talking about sending him out on loan this year.
So much for "learning from the best".
 
Fulham v Brighton last weekend ended in a 1-1 draw, as Rodrigo Muniz got a stoppage time equalizer for Fulham. If they can hold on to him (he has been the subject of quite a bit of transfer interest), I think they have the makings of a pretty solid midtable team. Looking at their lineup, they have a good number of quality players on the bench.

Brighton, of course, always sell and reinvest, so there are always a bunch of new names. We'll have to see how well these new kids develop. They look a little thin on talent to me right now.

I've also read that because so many people are using the advanced analytics these days, and have developed multi-country recruiting networks, Brighton is finding that they have to scout new countries a little further down the totem pole in overall quality to find their next hidden gems.

The step up from a 10th best league to the Premier League, even for the stars of that league, is going to be more of a challenge than stepping up from the 3rd, 4th or 5th best league. It will be interesting to see if Brighton can keep unearthing and developing talent like they have in the past. Or maybe it will take an extra season or two for some of these new kids from the lesser leagues to "ripen". More risk, either way you look at it.
 
Liverpool new boy Jeremie Frimpong has hurt his hamstring, and will be out until after the first International break.
 
Good news! I stopped by Wolff's yesterday afternoon.
They are indeed open for Premier League mornings!
They open 30 minutes before the first game.
I hope to meet some of you there sometime this season, when we have a big game weekend.
 
Chesea v. West Ham to kick off Week 2.

It's approaching halftime, and Chelsea are up 3-1, after giving up the opening goal on a 30 yard screamer by Luis Paqueta.

Cole Palmer with an injury during warm up, give West Ham a surprise boost. Estevao, the young Brazilian phenom with the start at RW. He has been very dynamic.

After going down early, Chelsea burst into action. Goals coming from Joao Pedro, Neto and Enzo Fernandez. Assists all up and down the squad.

They're looking very good, and Graham Potter is in trouble already at the Olympic Stadium.

= = = = = =

Post-Game

Chelsea finish them off 5-1. West Ham were slow in the midfield, and the defense acted like they didn't want to be playing a high line at all.

It was a mess, they lost the crowd, who were streaming for the exits 10 minutes into the 2nd half, when Chelsea got goal #4, and were slicing through the West Ham midfield at will.

Chelsea got opportunities to play all the new guys for at least 20-30 minutes - Andrey Santos, Jorrell Hato, Liam DeLap, Jamie Gittens, and Wesley Fofana, too, back from injury.

Pedro Neto is developing a great attitude, a bit of a nasty streak, and he works very hard off the ball for the team. Estevao showed a little bit of that lazy Brazilian attitude to his defense, but turned it up a few times and made a couple interceptions and ball recoveries.

Great to win the game so convincingly without Palmer.
 
Last edited:
Big games tomorrow -

Man City v. Spurs in the early Saturday game. City at home, looking good last week, putting 4 past Wolves behind a Haaland brace and goals from 2 of the new guys - Reijnders and Cherki. Spurs miss out on yet another guy they had hoped to sign. Their spirits must be down. I like City, 3-0.

Aston Villa at Brentford is the interesting 10 o'clock game to me. Villa has been shedding squad players and failing to replace them with less than 2 weeks to go in the window. Emery must be fuming. He expects to be backed.

They are playing in the Europa League again this year, after barely missing out on Champions League on a bad call, on goal difference, in the last game of last season.

Brentford is a selling team, but they probably overdid it this summer. They gutted their entire defense, but more importantly lost coach Thomas Frank to Spurs. Looking at Villa to get healthy here, even on the road.

In the late game, Arsenal hosts Leeds United, fresh off Leeds' opening week win over Everton at home. They won on a late penalty in the last 10 minutes. Arsenal just stole Eberechi Eze out from under Spurs' noses, and now have an elite guy at left wing, too.

Trossard just signed a contract extension, so Eze is eventually going to make Phil Martinelli (who was disappointing last year) expendable. Arsenal should look like title contenders and win by 3.

If they do less than that, City might be the ones to take the early lead in the title chase, as Liverpool look a little disjointed off the mark.
 
Last edited:
Nuno Espirito Santo throws gasoline at his team's Greek owner, just after Nottingham Forest goes out and buys him a boatload of attacking players! Plus they won their opening game with Chris Wood getting a pair! Why now, dude?

Sky Sports says Mourinho or Ange Postecoglu could replace Santo, although the owner says he's not looking to fire him.

Speaking of disgrunted (and talented) coaches, Oliver Glassner at Crystal Palace is upset at them selling Eze, too, toward the end of the window. I think he thought if he still had one of them, he could make it work, but now he has to replace both starting wingers. They have bought new guys, but he's unhappy.

Graham Potter gives a press conference after the hiding his team took at home vs. Chelsea, and curiously claims that they don't need more signings, they have to improve internally. Did you actually see the lack of pace in your squad?

Now that Mohammed Kudus is gone, your midfield is slow, and your high line tactics don't suit your slow footed central defenders. He doesn't have the personnel to be a possession based team. He lacks the talent in midfield. He should be playing counter attacking football.

How does he not see what's lacking in his squad? I guess he could tell that they quit on him today, and he's trying to get them back onside - 'we can make this work on the training ground, guys'.

Unai Emery says at his press conference today, "There's still work to do" on building the squad. A lot of unhappy guys out there right now.
 
Three interesting Sunday games, and quite a buzz around the Monday night broadcast.

Sunday morning Palace host Nottingham Forest. Loss of Eze will hurt. Guehi also might still be sold. Glassner complaining in the press. Forest looks very good, but what the heck did Santo do in his press conference? Things looking really good, and he may be fired?

Everton plays their first game in the new stadium on the river. Brighton offer the opposition. Brighton drew with Fulham 1-1, getting a 2nd half penalty before Rodrigo Muniz equalized at the death for Fulham.

Everton showed very little going forward against Leeds, losing on a late penalty. David Moyes has some interesting signings, but has to turn them into a proper team. Can Jack Grealish or the big guy from France, Thierno Barry, give them the goals? This is the debut in their new stadium.

The third game Sunday is Fulham hosting Manchester United. Fulham have their fullbacks out injured, or on the way back from injury. But they still have a pretty deep and talented squad and a very good manager in Marco Silva.

United lost to Arsenal 1-0, but at least were in the game. This is a very important game for United to win, if they want to compete for Europe this year, and that is far from a certainty. This should be a heck of a game.

And finally, in Monday Night Football (UK Edition), Newcastle hosts Liverpool in the Soap Opera Special of the weekend. It's hard seeing this as anything more than a rout, unless Newcastle somehow gets an early goal, and their very intimidating support turn it up to "11" to take out their wrath at the Isak situation on the perpetrators. Liverpool wins in a canter, if Newcastle don't get the first goal.
 

Similar threads

Powellfan
    • Like
Georgetown Game Preview (3/22/26)
Replies
8
Views
924
FloridaCuse
FloridaCuse
Powellfan
    • Like
Colorado Trip Preview (3/12/26 and 3/16/26)
Replies
6
Views
1K
FloridaCuse
FloridaCuse
Powellfan
    • Like
St. Joe's Preview (2/7/26, Noon)
Replies
14
Views
2K
OrangeXtreme
OrangeXtreme
Powellfan
    • Like
    • Love
Hopkins Preview (3/7/26)
Replies
24
Views
1K
MadNY3
MadNY3

Forum statistics

Threads
175,327
Messages
5,350,133
Members
6,233
Latest member
SUtoga

Online statistics

Members online
302
Guests online
9,776
Total visitors
10,078
Totals may include hidden visitors.


Top Bottom