Arsenal v Manchester United
Start-of-season shape:
Arsenal The arrival of six new players in July, including Viktor Gyökeres to fill the void at centre-forward, meant Mikel Arteta’s squad looked well equipped to challenge for the title once again and, even, go one better than second. Optimism was somewhat checked by controversy, however, following the allegations surrounding Thomas Partey and Arsenal’s decision to offer the midfielder a new contract.
Manchester United Ruben Amorim’s first full campaign in charge promised much after a summer in which three new attackers had been signed – Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. However, the lack of any midfield arrivals alongside lingering concerns about the head coach’s rigid tactical approach meant supporters were also somewhat apprehensive.
What happened …
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal Riccardo Calafiori scored the only goal of a largely drab contest, the Italian nodding in a Declan Rice corner at the far post to set in a motion the defining trend of Arsenal’s season so far. United had once again lost at Old Trafford but in delivering an encouraging performance, cohesive as well as committed, there was a clear sense of things coming together under Amorim.
Where are they now?
Arsenal Dreaming of a first title since 2004 after finding themselves seven points clear with less than half the season remaining. This surely has to be Arsenal’s season, given the respective shortcomings of their main rivals and their formidable and now largely fit squad. There has also been talk of a quadruple, which while highly unlikely cannot be ruled out given the various strengths of Arteta’s side, most notably in defence and at set pieces.
Manchester United With Michael Carrick again in interim charge after a falling-out between Amorim and United’s hierarchy, most notably the sporting director, Jason Wilcox, had made the Portuguese’s position untenable. Carrick’s task is clear: raise spirits while making a push for the top four, and he has started with a bang with victory in a Manchester derby. The former midfielder also has a clear run of things given United are out of both cup competitions, as well as not competing in Europe.
Bournemouth v Liverpool
Start-of-season shape:
Bournemouth An excellent 2024-25 campaign had, rather inevitably, led to the south-coast club’s best and brightest talents being slowly but surely picked off by bigger clubs. Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez all departed in the off-season, the last joining the team Andoni Iraola’s men were scheduled to face on the opening day.
Liverpool The sudden death of Diogo Jota in early July meant the Premier League champions were in a state of mourning. Excitement about a new season had been tempered, albeit an eye-catching summer outlay, headlined by the £116m arrival of Florian Wirtz and expected to soon include Alexander Isak, had supporters in high expectation regarding what lay ahead.
What happened …
Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth A Friday night thriller in which Liverpool took a 2-0 lead, with their first goal scored by Hugo Ekitiké, another summer arrival, only to be pegged back to 2-2 by a double from Antoine Semenyo, his second goal a stunning solo effort. The visitors appeared to have secured a draw only for Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah to score late on for the hosts. Cue joy and relief inside Anfield.
Where are they now?
Bournemouth In 15th amid a season that has been relentlessly difficult. That is little surprise given the loss of key players, with Semenyo the latest to depart in a £62.5m move to Manchester City at the start of the month. There have still been flashes of excellence from Iraola’s side, with Alex Scott, Eli Kroupi and Evanilson regularly catching the eye. That could, of course, well be a problem for Bournemouth come the opening of the next summer transfer window.
Liverpool Nowhere close to defending their title after a collapse in which Arne Slot’s side lost nine out of 12 games in all competitions. The Dutchman has stemmed the bleeding but his side are performing with little cohesion and conviction amid a series of setbacks, including a serious injury to Isak just before Christmas. And, before that, there was that outburst by Salah. Nonetheless, they sit fourth and retain what it takes to have strong runs in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Start-of-season shape:
Brentford A mess, on paper at least. Thomas Frank, Mbuemo, Christian Nørgaard and Mark Flekken all gone, Yoane Wissa on strike, and the set-piece coach promoted to manager. Few knew what to expect, but most were tipping a serious struggle for Keith Andrews and his side. The return from long-term injury of Igor Thiago, previously the club’s the record signing, was one source of positivity, at least.
Nottingham Forest Fans were anxious mid-summer, seeing Anthony Elanga sold and Morgan Gibbs-White flirt with Spurs. But some dynamism from the owner changed the mood: Evangelos Marinakis convinced Gibbs-White to stay, secured a controversial elevation to the Europa League, and added a series of new faces late on, including the £36m Bologna winger Dan Ndoye. Optimism was high.
What happened …
Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brentford. The visitors were duly overrun, three down at the break to goals from Chris Wood, Ndoye on debut and Gibbs-White. “We will learn a lot from that 45 minutes, especially me,” said Andrews. A goal from Thiago, his first for the club, was one consolation. For Nuno Espírito Santo it was evidence his players were ready to kick on. “I just want to go home and celebrate. It’s a beautiful start.”
Where are they now?
Brentford Seventh in the table, Thiago is second behind Erling Haaland in the top scorers list, and the new signings Jordan Henderson and Caoimhín Kelleher are excelling. “The hinges could have come off the door in the summer because of all the changes,” said Andrews. “But I was well aware of the values of the club, the humility, the way we worked. When you do that and work hard collectively, there’s only one outcome.”
Nottingham Forest So much for the beautiful start. Nuno was sacked after three games for going public on his testy relationship with Marinakis. The owner then hired Ange Postecoglou, sacked him a month later, and turned to Sean Dyche instead. Forest sit 17th, five points above the relegation places. There are signs of life – a win at 18th-placed West Ham and a draw with Arsenal showed fighting spirit – but the display at Braga was feeble.
Burnley v Tottenham
Start-of-season shape:
Burnley After a four-season run of yo-yoing, the target was simple: stick it out. The club’s big strength in the promotion season was a defence which conceded just 16 goals in 46 games, but the key components James Trafford and CJ Egan-Riley departed, as did the captain, Josh Brownhill. Scott Parker added experience in Kyle Walker and Axel Tuanzebe. Up front, much would depend on £20m Armando Broja.
Tottenham Not even the Europa League trophy could save Postecoglou from his 17th-place finish, via 22 defeats. Daniel Levy picked Frank to replace him, preferring the Dane over Iraola and Marco Silva. Son Heung-min left for the US, but Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel and João Palhinha arrived, with reports of a deal close for Eberechi Eze, too. The mood: cautiously upbeat.
What happened …
Tottenham 3-0 Burnley. A dream start for Frank as Kudus teed up two goals for Richarlison, the second a stunning scissor-kick. Brennan Johnson hit the third. Parker, meanwhile, was left to reflect on “the ruthlessness of the Premier League … We’ve got a huge challenge ahead of us, but it’s one we are going to embrace.”
Where are they now?
Burnley 19th, on a 13-game winless run, with Broja having scored once. A spell of seven straight defeats in November and December led to boos from fans which, said Parker, “broke my heart … It was only four months ago that I was standing on the balcony in the town centre and all of us were celebrating.” But a fine point won at Anfield last time out showed spirit. Eight points from the last safe spot, but not buried yet.
Tottenham The positivity did not last. Eze signed for Arsenal and, despite a solid start, Frank’s injury-hit side have now won just twice in the last 13, sit 14th in the table and lost 2-1 to West Ham in their last league game. The pressure on the new manager’s position has reached Postecoglou levels. But could their stylish, surprise 2-0 Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday be a turning point?
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Start-of-season shape:
Crystal Palace Oliver Glasner’s side began the campaign with fresh silverware to their name after beating Liverpool to the Community Shield. There were few ins and outs before the opener, albeit Eze was widely expected to be on his way to Tottenham.
Chelsea Enzo Maresca’s side started the season as – technically – the best team on the planet having won the first iteration of Fifa’s expanded Club World Cup. There was also once again a hive of transfer activity at Stamford Bridge, with João Pedro and Jamie Gittens among those arriving and Noni Madueke and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall among those departing
What happened …
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace The hosts delivered an uninspiring performance and were fortunate not to lose after Eze saw a firmly hit free-kick ruled out by a somewhat pedantic video assistant referee intervention, with Marc Guéhi penalised for straying within a metre of the Chelsea wall as he grappled with Moisés Caicedo. Palace were the better team and, justifiably, felt hard done by.
Where are they now?
Crystal Palace In a state of turmoil and decline. Eze joined Arsenal shortly after the season started with Guéhi also moving, to Manchester City, this week; two blows that led to Glasner accusing the club’s board of “abandoning” the team after confirming he will leave Palace in the summer, when his contract expires. He may well go before then, leaving behind a team in mid-table and seeking to progress in the Conference League.
Chelsea Managed by Liam Rosenior after Maresca was sacked on New Year’s Day following a falling-out with the club’s hierarchy that reared its head in the shape of comments made by the Italian after a 2-0 victory over Everton in December. Qualification for the Champions League – and from the Champions League league phrase – remains achievable for the new man in charge, albeit both are far from certain.
Everton v Leeds
Start-of-season shape:
Everton A first summer under new owners, The Friedkin Group, meant Everton were notable spenders in the market, yet it was a loan deal that had supporters most excited. Jack Grealish’s arrival from Manchester City very much pointed towards an exciting and ambitious campaign ahead for David Moyes’s team.
Leeds There was much excitement surrounding Daniel Farke’s side after promotion back to the Premier League and a summer of notable spending. Eight new players had arrived at the club, including the imposing German midfielder Anton Stach from Hoffenheim and, intriguingly, Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer.
What happened …
Leeds 1-0 Everton Elland Road rocked on the first Monday night of the campaign and the majority of those in attendance were rewarded for their backing with a win. Lukas Nmecha, another summer arrival, scored the only goal of the game, converting an 84th-minute penalty awarded for a handball by James Tarkowski that the visitors deemed to be a hugely unfair call.
Where are they now?
Everton Slap-bang in mid-table. Moyes’s men are 10th having displayed curious form throughout the campaign – woeful home losses and excellent away wins sprinkled alongside frustrating and/or dull draws. What’s for sure is that this will not be another season defined by a relegation battle, albeit it will be one in which Everton once again fail to win a trophy.
Leeds In 16th and very much looking up after a turnaround in performances and results sparked by a change of system – from 4-1-4-1 to 3-5-2 – by Farke. The German has gone from dead man walking to the toast of West Yorkshire, helped in sizable apart by Calvert-Lewin’s prowess in front of goal. A fourth-round trip to Birmingham also offers Leeds the very real prospect of extending their run in the FA Cup.
Fulham v Brighton
Start-of-season shape:
Fulham The west London’s club’s transfer dealings had been incredibly quiet in the buildup to the opening weekend, with the only addition to Silva’s ranks being the 34-year-old reserve goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte from Montpellier.
Brighton A busy summer of transfer activity featured about £70m spent on eight new additions, including Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiakos and Maxim De Cuyper from Club Brugge, while a host of players also departed, no one more notable than João Pedro, who joined Chelsea for £60m in early July.
What happened …
Brighton 1-1 Fulham Fabian Hürzeler’s side started the season very much how they had performed throughout the previous one – by giving up a lead. Matt O’Riley had put the hosts in front via a 55th-minute penalty before Rodrigo Muniz converted a Harry Wilson corner deep in stoppage time to give the visitors something to take with them from the south coast.
Where are they now?
Fulham One place and one point ahead of Brighton in 11th, which feels right given their mix of results this season. In their last four games alone, Silva’s side have won two, drawn one and lost one. Fulham also have a tricky-looking FA Cup fourth-round tie, travelling to a Stoke team firmly pushing for promotion from the Championship.
Brighton Sitting 12th feels right for a team whose form has been mixed throughout the season and could very much go either way between now and the end of the season. There could be a decent run in the FA Cup but for that to happen Liverpool will have to be beaten at Anfield in the fourth round. Such an outcome is unlikely but by no means impossible.
Manchester City v Wolves
Start-of-season shape:
Manchester City After finishing a distant third and losing the FA Cup final, a reset. Pep Guardiola overhauled his staff and reshaped the squad with signings including Rayan Aït-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and the goalkeeper Trafford. Plenty of focus too, on managing Rodri’s comeback from long-term knee injury. “It’s difficult but he’s desperate to play,” said Guardiola. “We need his ambition, his personality, his quality.”
Wolves The target was no repeat of 2024-25’s nightmarish start: nine points from their first 16 games and Gary O’Neil sacked. Vítor Pereira replaced him and turned it round, and approached his first full season in bullish mood. But losing Cunha, Aït-Nouri and Nélson Semedo left the squad looking depleted during a winless, frustrating pre-season. Hopes were high, though, for the new arrival Jhon Arias.
What happened …
Wolves 0-4 Manchester City. A vintage City display headlined by two goals from Haaland and a superb Reijnders debut. For Wolves, Marshall Munetsi had an effort ruled out for offside, but that was as close as they came to making an impact. Pereira looked for the positives, though. “I didn’t lose my smile because each mistake that we committed, they punished us with a goal. I will take good things from the game.”
Where are they now?
Manchester City After beating Wolves they lost the next two – but it seemed like a blip. By the end of November they were second, and set off on a six-game winning run. But 2026 has been bruising: no league wins in four, defeat in a Manchester derby, and a 3-1 humiliation at Bodø/Glimt. Rodri has laboured; Haaland likewise. Guardiola: “We have the feeling that everything is going wrong in many details. We have to try to change.”
Wolves Adrift, via a familiar opening few months: eight defeats in their first 10 league games, with Pereira sacked in November. Rob Edwards, the new manager, then lost the next eight. Arias has underwhelmed and last season’s key scorer, Jørgen Strand Larsen, has misfired and looks set to leave. They are, though, unbeaten in the last four, including a stirring 3-0 win over relegation rivals West Ham. So … maybe?
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Start-of-season shape:
Newcastle An Isak-shaped cloud hung heavy over the entire club going into the opening day. Eddie Howe’s star striker was refusing to play as part of his attempt to force a move to Liverpool but was going nowhere until the champions met Newcastle’s £150m valuation. Attempts to lure Wissa from Brentford were also proving difficult.
Aston Villa The mood around Unai Emery’s side was not great given the previous campaign had ended with them being pipped to Champions League qualification by the team they were facing at Villa Park and a summer in which profitability and sustainability rules meant they could not spend more than €5m net.
What happened …
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle Amid chants of “There’s only one greedy bastard” from their fans, Newcastle delivered a united, defiant display but one that highlighted their lack of cutting edge without Isak, with Anthony Gordon largely ineffective as their central striker. Villa were ultimately happy with a point given they had been reduced to 10 men after Ezri Konsa’s sending-off on 66 minutes.
Where are they now?
Newcastle In eighth on the back of very good home form and very poor away form. Nick Woltemade – Isak’s replacement – has blown hot and cold, as has Wissa following his eventual arrival and recovery from injury. Howe’s men are well placed to qualify for the Champions League playoffs and are still in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, albeit a semi-final exit from the former is likely.
Aston Villa Firmly ensconced in third on the back of 11 successive wins at Villa Park, a run brought to an end by defeat to Everton last weekend. They could still win the title but almost certainly will not. Decent runs in the FA Cup and Europa League should not be ruled out, however, especially if Morgan Rogers continues to deliver eye-catching displays between now and May.
West Ham v Sunderland
Start-of-season shape:
West Ham Would this be the real start of the Graham Potter era, his first full season after replacing Julen Lopetegui in January? Or would it be more of the same? Potter brought in a sports psychologist and pre-season signs looked fairly positive, despite Kudus departing to Spurs. Hopes were high for the new left wing-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, and for Niclas Füllkrug to come good.
Sunderland No lack of ambition: £132m on 11 signings, with arrivals including Roma’s Enzo Le Fée, the Paraguay defender Omar Alderete, Arsenal old boy Granit Xhaka and the £30m midfielder Habib Diarra. The departed Jobe Bellingham was a loss, though, and doubters wondered whether the manager, Régis Le Bris, could blend so many new faces into a cohesive top-flight unit.
What happened …
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham. The hosts fielded seven of their new signings, but old faces made the difference: Eliezer Mayenda and Dan Ballard put them two up, before Wilson Isidor rounded it off in added time. For Potter and West Ham fans, it was a bleak start. “We have to learn the lesson that it’s difficult to win matches,” he said. “It’s one game but we have to bounce back. We have to be better. We have to make it happen.”
Where are they now?
West Ham Potter lasted until last September, with his side 19th. Nuno has them 18th, including a run of 10 games without a win, and no clean sheets in any of his 17 league games so far. A 2-1 win at Spurs last time out showed spirit, but the mood remains toxic, with fans still protesting against the board. The £27.5m striker Füllkrug, meanwhile, was loaned out this month, after three goals in 29 appearances.