Ahead of the busy summer transfer period, a supercomputer has already predicted the 2025-26 Premier League table. Last term, everyone had expected Manchester City to rule the roost again, but it was Liverpool – under new manager Arne Slot – who would end up winning their 20th English league crown at a canter, reclaiming their perch as the country’s most successful club.
There were no bonus points handed to those who guessed that Arsenal would finish second – having now achieved that feat three successive seasons on the spin now – while Pep Guardiola’s side’s end-of-season form saw them just about claim third. Other narratives drawn up were that of Nottingham Forest’s surprise run to European qualification, while Tottenham and Manchester United slipped to their worst-ever league campaigns since the 1992 rebranding.
All of the above is still very fresh in the memory, but football really does never sleep, and predictions for the next term are already being drawn up. The predictions below are compiled by AceOdds’ supercomputer, which has simulated the league seasons 100,000 times to see where each side is likely to finish after another dramatic 38 games.
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Relegation Zone
All three promoted sides tipped to go straight back down
A concerning pattern at the foot of the table is tipped to continue next season. This year, the three promoted teams all went straight back down and that could well be the fate for Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland, should the supercomputer prove to be correct.
However, the projections do suggest that this trio will at least put up a stronger fight than last season’s hair-tearing campaign. Sunderland are expected to finish bottom, but with 16 more points than Southampton managed. Burnley are tipped for 19th, but eight points better off than Ipswich Town were. While Leeds will also miss survival, racking up 31 points – six more than Leicester City achieved this past season.
POSITION CLUB GAMES WINS DRAWS LOSSES GF GA GD POINTS
18. Leeds United 38 8.1 7.6 22.3 35.7 69.2 -33.6 31.9
19. Burnley 38 7.5 7.4 23.1 34.2 71.1 -36.9 29.9
20. Sunderland 38 7.0 7.3 23.7 32.8 72.6 -39.8 28.3
Bottom Half
Wolves & West Ham struggle, Nottingham Forest slip back down
Wolves and West Ham might feel they belong higher up the table, especially given both clubs’ recent ventures into European competition. West Ham, in particular, lifted the Europa Conference League just two seasons ago. But both sides are expected to be brought back down to earth once more, with projected finishes of 16th and 17th, respectively.
Everton – now under new ownership, in a new stadium, and with David Moyes set for his first full season since returning – will be hoping to turn a corner. Still, the supercomputer forecasts a 15th-place finish. Fulham fans, who were labelled among the Premier League’s most deluded according to one recent study, are also unlikely to be thrilled with a predicted 14th-place under Marco Silva.
Nottingham Forest were the surprise package of the 2024-25 campaign, but a projected 13th-place finish next season will likely serve as a reality check as they look to juggle European football with domestic demands. As for Brentford and Crystal Palace, finishing 11th and 12th respectively would represent par for the course – though Palace will surely take pride in how they handle the added challenge of European competition following their FA Cup triumph earlier this month.
POSITION CLUB GAMES WINS DRAWS LOSSES GF GA GD POINTS
11. Crystal Palace 38 15.2 8.0 14.8 55.1 55.1 0.6 53.6
12. Brentford 38 14.1 7.8 16.1 54.3 54.3 -5.0 50.2
13. Nottingham Forest 38 13.6 8.9 15.5 45.0 45.0 -4.3 49.7
14. Fulham 38 13.3 8.7 16.0 45.5 45.5 -6.3 48.5
15. Everton 38 12.4 9.2 16.4 40.2 40.2 -8.7 46.3
16. West Ham 38 12.6 8.0 17.4 48.1 48.1 -11.5 45.8
17. Wolves 38 11.3 8.3 18.4 42.7 42.7 -16.3 42.2
Top Half
Manchester United & Tottenham get back on track
Although seventh and eighth would still be seen as failure for Tottenham and Manchester United, their supporters would surely breathe a hefty sigh of relief if either club managed that kind of climb by next May – restoring a touch of formality to their faltering voyages. Both sleeping giants are forecasted to pick up at least 13 more points in the coming campaign, which should lift a weight off the shoulders of two managers who narrowly avoided the sack in the term just gone.
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Brighton and Bournemouth, meanwhile, may continue to serve up an eye-catching brand of football under Fabian Hurzeler and Andoni Iraola, but projected finishes of ninth and 10th could feel like a slight dimming of the spotlight, given how close they came to a European encore this time around.
Two clubs staking a serious claim to the ‘new big six’ status – Aston Villa and Newcastle – are expected to hold their ground with repeat finishes in fifth and sixth. That would mean more Europa League nights for Unai Emery’s men and, most likely, another Champions League adventure for the Eddie Howe project, who is proving that patience is a virtue under his mega-rich hierarchy.
POSITION CLUB GAMES WINS DRAWS LOSSES GF GA GD POINTS
5. Newcastle 38 17.7 7.9 12.4 60.9 48.7 12.2 61.0
6. Aston Villa 38 16.5 8.2 13.2 55.9 48.6 7.3 57.9
7. Tottenham 38 16.5 7.4 14.1 63.5 57.9 5.6 56.9
8. Manchester United 38 15.8 8.2 14.0 54.9 51.1 3.8 55.6
9. Bournemouth 38 15.9 7.8 14.3 58.1 54.5 3.6 55.6
10. Brighton 38 15.3 7.9 14.8 56.7 55.8 0.9 53.9
Top Four
The Champions League places remain unchanged
Liverpool have been backed to retain their Premier League crown by a supercomputer that has predicted a near carbon copy of this season’s top three, with Arsenal once again settling for second and Manchester City falling short of the title again in what could well be Pep Guardiola’s swan song. However, the gap between the contenders is expected to be much tighter this time.
The Reds’ early transfer activity – with Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Florian Wirtz all reportedly closing in on moves – could help them extend their dominance. But despite the reinforcements, the margin at the top is tipped to shrink: just three points, compared to the 10-point cushion they enjoyed last season, while they are tipped to finish with less than 80 points.
Meanwhile, City are expected to finish level on points with Arsenal, while Chelsea are forecasted to round out the top four, seven points off the pace with their 10.6 expected draws to blame.
POSITION CLUB GAMES WINS DRAWS LOSSES GF GA GD POINTS
1. Liverpool 38 23.7 6.6 7.6 81.2 40.3 40.9 77.9
2. Arsenal 38 22.2 7.1 7.8 63.5 31.9 31.6 74.6
3. Manchester City 38 22.4 8.1 8.5 75.0 40.9 34.0 74.3
4. Chelsea 38 19.9 7.5
