It can be both thrilling and enviable to predict how the Premier League table will seem at the start of the next season. Ahead of the 2025–2026 season, 33 different BBC commentators have shared their thoughts on the topic. Before the opening kickoff, the two most important concerns were whether Liverpool could win the championship again and whether a promoted team would finally escape the drop zone after two straight seasons in which no new team had survived.
Can the Gunners, who have finished second for three consecutive years, finally advance elsewhere? After losing their crown after winning four straight, how would Manchester City react? Will anyone else make it into the top division, and will Chelsea improve on their fourth-place performance from the previous season?
Only the top four have been predicted by the BBC’s finest sports commentators on TV and radio, and some of their predictions are sure to cause some people to scoff before the ball has even been kicked off.
33 BBC Pundits Predict Premier League 2025/26 Top Four
The vast majority of BBC commentators think Liverpool will win the title and maintain their lead as England’s most successful club after a summer transfer window in which they are considering whether to break the British transfer fee record a second time to sign Alexander Isak after thwarting interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich to land Florian Wirtz.
Among the 21 commentators who believe the Reds have what it takes are Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, and Wayne Rooney. Six people, including Sue Smith and Martin Keown, believe Arsenal can end their losing streak and win the English league for the first time in more than 20 years, while Joe Hart, a recently hired pundit, is betting on Manchester City along with four other people. Below is a detailed analysis of the predictions:
33 BBC commentators forecast the top four of the Premier League in 2025–2026.
Pundit
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Waddle, Chris
Chelsea
The Arsenal
Man City
Liverpool
Hart, Joe
Man City
Liverpool
Chelsea
The Arsenal
Brown, Michael
Man City
Liverpool
Chelsea
The Arsenal
Houghton, Steph
Man City
Liverpool
The Arsenal
Chelsea
Paul Robinson
Man City
Liverpool
The Arsenal
Chelsea
Onuoha Nedum
Man City
Liverpool
The Arsenal
Chelsea
Williams, Fara
Liverpool
Man City
Chelsea
The Arsenal
Richards, Micah
Liverpool
Man City
The Arsenal
Chelsea
Deeney Troy
Liverpool
Man City
The Arsenal
Chelsea
Johnson, Lindsay
Liverpool
Man City
The Arsenal
Chelsea
Nevin Pat
Liverpool
Man City
The Arsenal
Chelsea
White, Ellen
Liverpool
Man City
The Arsenal
Chelsea
Williams, Ashley
Liverpool
Man City
The Arsenal
Chelsea
Shearer, Alan
Liverpool
The Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Rooney, Wayne
Liverpool
The Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Sutton, Chris
Liverpool
The Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Asante, Anita
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Steve Sidwell
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Rachel Brown-Finnis
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Shay Given
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Dion Dublin
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Danny Gabbidon
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Clinton Morrison
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Theo Walcott
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Danny Murphy
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Rob Green
Liverpool
Chelsea
Man City
Arsenal
Glenn Murray
Liverpool
Chelsea
Man City
Arsenal
Matt Upson
Arsenal
Man City
Liverpool
Chelsea
Martin Keown
Arsenal
Liverpool
Man City
Chelsea
Thomas Hitzlsperger
Arsenal
Liverpool
Man City
Chelsea
Sue Smith
Arsenal
Liverpool
Man City
Chelsea
Leon Osman
Arsenal
Liverpool
Chelsea
Man City
Jermaine Beckford
Arsenal
Liverpool
Chelsea
Man City
Former England, Tottenham, and Newcastle icon Chris Waddle has, without a shadow of a doubt, the most intriguing prediction of the lot. He sees Liverpool stumbling into fourth, while Europa Conference League and Club World Cup winners Chelsea claim first. That, however, mirrors the optimism inside Stamford Bridge, with 97% of their supporters heading into the season with high hopes, according to a recent study.
The only other pundit predicting that the champions won’t finish inside the top two is Matt Upson, who places Arsenal first and Man City second. Perhaps the biggest – and only – stumbling block at Anfield right now is the sheer number of new signings, meaning gelling together could prove tricky.
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