Robbie Slater’s ultimate team-by-team 2025-26 Premier League preview

However, in his assessment of every club ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Socceroos great and EPL winner Robbie Slater believes the trophy won’t be moving when all is said and done in May next year.

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LIVERPOOL

Manager: Arne Slot

Last season: Champions

Key In: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, SuperCoach price £8,000,000)

Key Out: Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich)

Star player: Mo Salah (SuperCoach price £15,550,000)

Slater says: I’m tipping the Reds to win back-to-back titles. Their squad has already been strengthened by the signings of Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, and the icing on the cake would be the acquisition of star striker Alexander Isak, who has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield from Newcastle.

MANCHESTER CITY

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Last season: 3rd

Key In: Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan, SuperCoach price £6,500,000)

Key Out: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli)

Star player: Rodri (SuperCoach price £3,750,000)

Slater says: Expect a better City this season, particularly with the return of Spanish midfield general Rodri from injury. Erling Haaland’s goals will again keep City in the title picture. While he didn’t have his best Premier League campaign in 2024-25, he still found the back of the net 23 times. Imagine if he has a “good” season.

ARSENAL

Manager: Mikel Arteta

Last season: 2nd

Key In: Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP, SuperCoach price £7,500,000)

Key Out: Jorginho (Flamengo)

Star player: Bukayo Saka (SuperCoach price £10,470,000)

Slater says: If new signing Viktor Gyokeres can maintain the goal-scoring form he showed for Portuguese club Sporting, the Gunners will fancy their title chances. The Swedish forward netted 54 goals in 52 matches in all competitions for Sporting last season.

CHELSEA

Manager: Enzo Maresca

Last season: 4th

Key In: Joao Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion, SuperCoach price £8,440,000)

Key Out: Noni Madueke (Arsenal)

Star player: Cole Palmer (SuperCoach price £12,720,000)

Slater says: Confidence is sky high in the Chelsea camp after perhaps unexpectedly winning the recent FIFA Club World Cup, which included a 3-0 victory in the tournament decider over European champions PSG. Snaring Joao Pedro from Brighton is a smart piece of business.

ASTON VILLA

Manager: Unai Emery

Last season: 6th

Key In: Zepiqueno Redmond (Feyenoord, SuperCoach price £3,750,000)

Key Out: Marco Asensio (End of loan)

Star player: Ollie Watkins (SuperCoach price £8,300,000)

Slater says: There is talk that Villa might be able to secure Spanish star Marco Asensio on another loan spell from PSG. That would be a huge bonus for Unai Emery’s men in their bid to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Manager: Thomas Frank

Last season: 17th

Key In: Mohammed Kudus (West Ham, SuperCoach price £6,590,000)

Key Out: Son Heung-min (Los Angeles FC)

Star player: Cristian Romero (SuperCoach price £5,980,000)

Slater says: Ange Postecoglou’s parting gift to Spurs was guiding them to Europa League glory, which secured them Champions League football this season. It’s now up to new Tottenham manager Thomas Frank to lift Spurs back up the Premier League ladder. James Maddison’s knee injury is a blow Frank didn’t need.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Manager: Eddie Howe

Last season: 5th

Key In: Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest, SuperCoach price £7,550,000)

Key Out: Sean Longstaff (Leeds United)

Star player: Sandro Tonali (SuperCoach price £7,240,000)

Slater says: With star striker Alexander Isak wanting to leave Newcastle to join Liverpool, the mood isn’t great at the Magpies. However, Anthony Elanga is a good pick-up from Nottingham Forest, and there remains an abundance of talent in Eddie Howe’s squad.

MID-TABLE

Manchester United

Manager: Ruben Amorim

Last season: 15th

Key In: Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford, SuperCoach price £12,380,000)

Key Out: Christian Eriksen (released)

Star player: Bruno Fernandes (SuperCoach price £11,490,000)

Slater says: After last season’s disaster, Ruben Amorim is under pressure to significantly improve matters at Old Trafford. The signing of attacking weapon Bryan Mbeumo will help United’s cause, as will not having European football to deal with.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

Manager: Fabian Hurzeler

Last season: 8th

Key In: Charalampos Kostoulas (Olympiacos, SuperCoach price £3,750,000)

Key Out: Joao Pedro (Chelsea)

Star player: Georginio Rutter (SuperCoach price £5,990,000)

Slater says: Losing Joao Pedro is a blow, but there are big wraps on Brighton’s new 18-year-old Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas. Manager Fabian Hurzeler has a habit of finding some gems in the transfer market, and Kostoulas looms as his next discovery.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo

Last season: 7th

Key In: Dan Ndoye (Bologna, SuperCoach price £6,000,000)

Key Out: Anthony Elanga (Newcastle)

Star player: Morgan Gibbs-White (SuperCoach price £9,460,000)

Slater says: Forest punched above its weight to finish seventh last season, an achievement that locked down a spot in the 2025-26 UEFA Conference League. Juggling European and domestic commitments will be a huge challenge this season, with the goals of Kiwi star Chris Wood set to again be crucial.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Manager: Oliver Glasner

Last season: 12th

Key In: Borna Sosa (Ajax, SuperCoach price £5,000,000)

Key Out: Joel Ward (released)

Star player: Eberechi Eze (SuperCoach price £10,270,000)

Slater says: Like Forest, Palace will also face the tough test of combining continental and domestic duties after winning last season’s FA Cup. Beating Manchester City in the final secured Palace its first major trophy in the club’s 164-year history. Palace fans will be hoping for another fairytale this season.

BOURNEMOUTH

Manager: Andoni Iraola

Last season: 9th

Key In: Adrien Truffert (Rennes, SuperCoach price £3,750,000)

Key Out: Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid)

Star player: Justin Kluivert (SuperCoach price £8,750,000)

Slater says: Andoni Iraola is a brilliant manager and has worked wonders with the Cherries. Losing key pair Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez isn’t ideal, but Iraola’s high-pressing tactics will ensure his team will again hold its own against the competition heavyweights.

EVERTON

Manager: David Moyes

Last season: 13th

Key In: Thierno Barry (Villarreal)

Key Out: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (released)

Star player: Jarrad Branthwaite (SuperCoach price £7,530,000)

Slater says: Excitement should be high at the Toffees as they embark on a new era in their new stadium. Breaking into the top half of the ladder should be Everton’s primary goal under experienced manager David Moyes.

WEST HAM UNITED

Manager: Graham Potter

Last season: 14th

Key In: El Hadji Malick Diouf (Slavia Prague, SuperCoach price £3,750,000)

Key Out: Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham)

Star player: Jarrod Bowen (SuperCoach price £11,730,000)

Slater says: After a forgettable 2024-25 campaign, the Hammers have a point to prove this season, and there’s plenty of pressure on Graham Potter to lift his team up the ladder. Some more work in the transfer market wouldn’t go astray.

RELEGATION SCRAP

FULHAM

Manager: Marco Silva

Last season: 11th

Key In: Benjamin Lecomte (Montpellier, SuperCoach price £4,500,000)

Key Out: Willian (released)

Star player: Alex Iwobi (SuperCoach price £9,500,000)

Slater says: The Cottagers could be in for a tough season if they’re not careful. Marco Silva’s a fine manager, but his squad, which is ageing, is in need of some replenishment.

WOLVES

Manager: Vitor Pereira

Last season: 16th

Key In: Jhon Arias (Fluminense, SuperCoach price £5,500,000)

Key Out: Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)

Star player: Joao Gomes (SuperCoach price £6,180,000)

Slater says: The loss of key pair Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri will hurt Wolves, who were among the Premier League’s poorer teams last season. More work is needed in the transfer market.

BRENTFORD

Manager: Keith Andrews

Last season: 10th

Key In: Jordan Henderson (Ajax, SuperCoach price £4,500,000)

Key Out: Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United)

Star player: Yoane Wissa (SuperCoach price £9,560,000)

Slater says: The Bees have not only lost star attacker Bryan Mbeumo, but also crafty manager Thomas Frank, who has replaced Ange Postecoglou at Spurs. Frank’s successor at Brentford, Keith Andrews, was previously the club’s set-piece coach, and has no experience as a head coach.

LEEDS UNITED

Manager: Daniel Farke

Last season: 1st in English Championship

Key In: Anton Stach (Hoffenheim, SuperCoach price £4,500,000)

Key Out: Junior Firpo (Real Betis)

Star player: Daniel James (SuperCoach price £3,900,000)

Slater says: Of three promoted clubs, Leeds, last season’s English Championship winner, have the best hope of avoiding relegation. The signing of Anton Stach will help, but it’s still going to be a tough task for Daniel Farke’s men to stay up.

SUNDERLAND

Manager: Regis Le Bris

Last season: 4th in English Championship (won playoffs)

Key In: Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen, SuperCoach price £6,500,000)

Key Out: Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

Star player: Dan Neil (SuperCoach price £4,200,000)

Slater says: French manager Regis Le Bris worked wonders last season to secure promotion for the Black Cats, and if he can somehow ensure his team avoids going straight back down to the English Championship, it will be a miracle. The signing of the experienced Granit Xhaka will help Sunderland’s cause.

BURNLEY

Manager: Scott Parker

Last season: 2nd in English Championship

Key In: Kyle Walker (Manchester City, SuperCoach price £4,200,000)

Key Out: James Trafford (Manchester City)

Star player: Maxime Esteve (SuperCoach price £3,900,000)

Slater says: The Clarets have been a yo-yo club for the past few years, and that trend is likely to continue. However, signing Kyle Walker, who won trophies for fun during his time at Manchester City, will add grit and a winning mentality to the Burnley squad.