Premier League predictions 2026-27: BBC Sport pundits pick their top four

ByChris Bevan

BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal ended a 22-year hold to beryllium Premier League champions past season, but tin they successfully support their crown?

That is the adjacent people for Gunners brag Mikel Arteta, whose broadside finished 7 points wide of nearest rivals Manchester City past clip out.

So, who volition situation them successful 2026-27? We asked 26 BBC TV and vigor pundits to prime their apical four, with explanations for their selections.

We've besides asked AI's opinion, and included what Opta's 'supercomputer' came up with too.

The AI prediction was generated utilizing Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the instrumentality to "predict the Premier League array for the 2026-27 season".

Opta's 'supercomputer' is really a analyzable algorithm that uses a exemplary based connected betting marketplace likelihood and the sports analytics company's ain 'power rankings', which are calculated utilizing past results.

It has simulated the result of each 380 Premier League games 10,000 times and came to the aforesaid decision arsenic AI, and 3 of the pundits.

Disagree with our adept humans oregon deliberation you cognize much than immoderate machine? You tin marque your ain top-four prediction, and forecast the remainder of the Premier League table, astatine the bottommost of this page.

These predictions were made connected the ground of however each squad shaped up connected Thursday, 20 August, with 13 days to spell until the transportation model shuts astatine 23:00 BST connected Tuesday, 1 September.

Last season, lone 4 teams featured successful the forecasted top-four positions, but this clip determination are 7 named, successful 15 antithetic combinations.

Overall expected ranking, utilizing each 28 predictions is:

Calculated utilizing a strategy of 4 points for a archetypal place, 3 points for second, 2 points for 3rd and 1 constituent for fourth.

Last year, lone 17% of BBC predictors (6/35) thought they would beryllium champions. This year, 89% (25/28) deliberation they volition successfully support their crown and no-one thinks they volition decorativeness little than second.

Theo Walcott: They person got the biggest vantage of each - continuity. Mikel Arteta is inactive there, they are coming disconnected an 85-point title-winning play and they person strengthened alternatively than rebuilt.

The Bruno Guimaraes signing is massive, to adhd to a midfield that already boasts Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. Their defence was besides ridiculously bully past season, though William Saliba's advancement aft his World Cup wounded is thing to ticker closely.

Thomas Hitzlsperger: Arsenal are the squad to beat. Unlike a batch of their rivals, they kept their manager and, each season, the squad plays unneurotic and gets additions.

I inactive don't expect Arsenal to play bully shot successful the consciousness that I americium excited to ticker them play. I conscionable deliberation they truly cognize what it takes to win, and they are going to bash the aforesaid again this season.

Danny Murphy: It is ever hard to telephone it now, particularly erstwhile it feels similar each the apical teams person a batch of concern to bash earlier the transportation model shuts, but I can't look past Arsenal arsenic champions.

The main reasons being the momentum and assurance they volition person from winning the Premier League already, but besides the consistency of having the aforesaid manager and aforesaid players and conscionable sprinkling adjacent much prime connected top.

They person not mislaid immoderate of their champion players and they person got a radical who cognize what the manager expects from them and are wholly connected committee with it. Arteta didn't request to walk fractional the pre-season drilling them with his methods similar a caller manager has to.

Joe Hart: It's truly important however Arsenal grip the scrutiny of being champions, but they volition wholly recognize that and what is coming their way.

Leon Osman: They look similar a squad that are acceptable to person a tally astatine winning 3 titles successful the adjacent 4 oregon 5 years.

Teams similar United successful the aboriginal Premier League days, Arsenal nether Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho's Chelsea springiness maine the vibes this squad does. And the mode they've strengthened brilliantly states the league isn't their lone nonsubjective this season.

Matt Upson: They are my favourites again but I don't spot them moving distant with it. Staying astatine the apical is ever harder - inquire immoderate manager - and you besides person to retrieve determination were spells erstwhile they looked similar they had tally retired of steam past play and were grinding retired results a batch of the time.

The biggest situation for Arteta this twelvemonth volition beryllium picking the close team, oregon alternatively resting the close players, for the close games and keeping players engaged and acceptable to measurement successful erstwhile needed.

Chris Sutton: He volition person to effort to support everyone blessed but if you are warring connected each fronts, that's possible. They bash look similar they are astatine a antithetic level, squad-wise.

They won the rubric successful a spot of a antithetic mode truthful it volition beryllium absorbing to spot however they spell astir it this time, but it does look connected the look of it similar they tin bushed you up, oregon conscionable play done you.

Nedum Onuoha: Watching them against City [in the Community Shield], you knew however they were going to play and truthful did their players. Arsenal person not conscionable spent pre-season getting acceptable for this, they person spent the past 5 oregon six years building.

Glenn Murray: They person had continuity for respective seasons now, positive winning the league has fixed the radical a question of content that volition spot them triumph different title.

Michael Brown: It's theirs to lose. Arsenal should triumph the league due to the fact that of the modulation astatine different clubs, but besides due to the fact that of the prime and bushed they person already got.

Rachel Brown-Finnis: Great squad extent and additions this summer. Arteta's service marches on!

Troy Deeney: They are the champion squad and they going to triumph the league by a comfy margin. My lone question is tin they triumph the Champions League too? I inactive deliberation they request an other subordinate successful connected that left-hand broadside to get that done.

Sue Smith: The mode Bruno played successful the Community Shield, it felt similar he's fitted successful already. There are astir apt inactive players that they volition look to bring in, but they person got a mates of large options successful each presumption now.

Ellen White: Bruno gives them thing antithetic again due to the fact that helium is truthful tenacious, an implicit warrior. Their midfield is formidable now, with Rice, Bruno, and Martin Odegaard to spell successful there, and past you person got Miles Lewis-Skelly too, astir saying "I'm inactive here" aft the speech of him leaving. It's a large occupation for Arteta to have.

I don't cognize if they volition get different fig 9 this summertime oregon not, but I inactive deliberation they person much imaginable to beryllium champions than immoderate different team.

Tony Pulis: They are already beardown capable defensively and they tin people goals from everywhere. If they get the centre-forward they are looking for, they are going to beryllium amended than they were past year.

Shay Given: They mightiness miss retired connected the rubric unless they motion a apical striker successful the adjacent mates of weeks to assistance with the extremity situation.

Paul Robinson: If Victor Osimhen comes successful from Galatasaray, and they get Villa defender Ezri Konsa too, past it's a antithetic conversation. But they are not the lone squad inactive trying to get deals done.

City were the BBC predictors' pre-season favourites successful 8 retired of their 10 seasons nether Pep Guardiola from 2016 onwards, and were champions six times during that period. But earlier their archetypal run with Enzo Maresca successful charge, lone 12% (3/26) deliberation they volition reclaim the title.

Thomas Hitzlsperger: City are the lone English nine to person been ever-present successful the Champions League since 2011, which is an accomplishment successful itself erstwhile you deliberation astir however competitory the apical of the Premier League is.

With Pep Guardiola, I would ever accidental they would decorativeness successful the apical four, but present helium has gone, and it is ever truthful pugnacious to travel idiosyncratic similar that. Maybe this is the twelvemonth that City yet driblet out.

Shay Given: I don't deliberation Pep leaving means we volition spot what happened erstwhile Sir Alex Ferguson near United. Instead, I americium expecting the opposite, due to the fact that of a caller dependable successful the dressing room. These players person not won the Premier League successful 2 years truthful they volition beryllium bare for success. City volition beryllium fig one.

Troy Deeney: My prediction for City is not based disconnected what happened successful the Community Shield, it is based disconnected what I saw with Enzo Maresca astatine Leicester and Chelsea.

I americium not definite helium has got that quality to truly request what helium wants. Pep has taught each these coaches, but lone Arteta has tweaked it and benignant of said "I americium going to usage each the principles, but this is my mode of doing it".

I don't privation to beryllium disrespectful, but Maresca is simply a BTEC mentation of Pep Guardiola. He plays a definite mode and has nary different mode of dealing with it. You saw connected Sunday however atrocious City were defensively but each of his teams are wide open, and helium is inactive doing that now, adjacent with amended players - top-class players.

Joe Hart: City were clunky against Arsenal successful Cardiff but I don't deliberation they volition over-react to 1 mediocre game. I deliberation they inactive judge they've got the squad and the prime to challenge.

Theo Walcott: Maresca replacing Pep is evidently a gigantic question mark, but City's squad is inactive absurd. The occupation is the modulation from Pep to Maresca, positive losing Rodri and others.

Nedum Onuoha: City person inactive got a clump of players who person won the rubric before, but they person got a caller manager and person besides mislaid immoderate of their much elder players.

Anita Asante: Maresca's playing benignant is not that dissimilar to Pep's truthful determination is not this monolithic alteration successful presumption of the team's identity. They person inactive got immoderate fantastic guardant players too, but Rodri leaving is monolithic due to the fact that we cognize however pivotal helium has been astatine the club.

It's the aforesaid with losing John Stones and Bernardo Silva too. They were leaders successful the dressing country and they volition beryllium missed there, arsenic good arsenic connected the pitch.

Leon Osman: That signals problems for me, adjacent with Erling Haaland there.

Pat Nevin: Midfield, management, you sanction it - City are rebuilding. I volition beryllium amazed if they triumph it, but they volition inactive beryllium up there.

Rachel Brown-Finnis: They inactive person immoderate large guns, but volition beryllium excessively inconsistent to triumph the league.

Matt Upson: Even if Maresca struggles a spot astatine first, you look astatine the prime and acquisition successful their squad and the goals successful their team, and they inactive person capable to enactment up there. I can't permission them out. City had that immense drop-off nether Pep successful the play earlier last, erstwhile they were unspeakable for a fewer months, and they inactive made the apical four.

Danny Murphy: I look astatine the firepower City person got and, whoever the manager is and whoever they are playing against, they are inactive going to beryllium capable to people a batch of goals and triumph a batch of games. I would inactive person them arsenic being Arsenal's nearest rivals.

Chris Waddle: The City midfield of Kevin de Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan that won truthful overmuch has each gone now, and they are replacing them with radical wherever the anticipation is they volition turn into that City shirt.

They are trying to physique a caller team, and it mightiness instrumentality them a twelvemonth oregon two. They volition inactive beryllium successful the apical four, but the question is however good - and however rapidly - they gel together.

Steph Houghton: Arsenal volition beryllium pugnacious to bushed but I inactive deliberation City volition propulsion them, arsenic soon arsenic their players get backmost into a spot of signifier and find immoderate rhythm.

This is the adjacent epoch for City, with a caller manager and caller players, and I deliberation the likes of Elliot Anderson volition travel good. Then determination is Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, positive Haaland of course. It's inactive a world-class squad.

Sue Smith: They are going to adhd to their midfield truthful it's hard to foretell what they volition bash until the extremity of the transportation model and we cognize who they've got, but Anderson volition beryllium a occurrence there.

There is simply a batch of unit and anticipation connected his shoulders but helium is simply a superb subordinate and it conscionable seems similar he'll beryllium capable to header with that.

Ellen White: City privation Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, but I americium not definite helium is the close subordinate for them. And, whoever comes in, it is going to instrumentality clip to find the close equilibrium successful midfield.

Chris Sutton: There's nary uncertainty the unit volition beryllium connected Maresca from the off, and replacing Rodri is nigh connected impossible. They are successful for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is simply a talented subordinate but helium is 18, and would beryllium a monolithic gamble.

Michael Brown: City are successful transition, and a batch depends connected who they bring in. But if they person a truly awesome extremity to the window, it changes everything.

Last season, 22 of 35 BBC predictors had them down arsenic champions and lone 3 thought they would decorativeness little than second. This time, lone 4 of 28 person them finishing higher than third.

Danny Murphy: Liverpool mightiness request a spot much clip earlier they are challenging for the rubric again. I americium besides not definite whether they deliberation they person already got capable to regenerate Mohamed Salah by bringing successful Victor Munoz and possibly giving Rio Ngumoha a bigger role, oregon whether they are truly going to spell for Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola, oregon idiosyncratic similar him, successful the adjacent fewer days.

Michael Brown: They look airy to maine arsenic I constitute this. Who are they going to get to amended them?

Lindsay Johnson: Liverpool and Chelsea are successful the aforesaid vessel due to the fact that some caller managers volition instrumentality clip to settee in, and Liverpool astir apt don't person a large capable squad to past a afloat play playing the shot Andoni Iraola plays.

Theo Walcott: Liverpool are astir apt the hardest squad to call. Iraola is an fantabulous manager and if Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz person large seasons, they could perfectly propulsion Arsenal for the title.

Thomas Hitzlsperger: I've gone for them to decorativeness 2nd due to the fact that I truly similar the mode Iraola's teams play. Also, I americium benignant of biased present due to the fact that I americium truly hoping Wirtz has the play present that radical expected him to person past year.

Paul Robinson: Wirtz looked a antithetic subordinate towards the extremity of past play and they besides person a manager who has proved himself, and is Premier League ready.

Sue Smith: I cognize it's a wholly antithetic level and anticipation managing Liverpool and it's going beryllium absorbing to spot however helium does successful that benignant of measurement up, but each you tin justice Iraola connected is what he's done astatine Bournemouth and I deliberation he's been brilliant. Defensively is my concern, though. Especially the right-hand side.

Anita Asante: It volition instrumentality clip for Liverpool to accommodate to Iraola's style, which is person to Jurgen Klopp's. I americium excited, due to the fact that that means high-tempo, precocious pressing and playing connected the beforehand foot, but that's wherefore it's adjacent much important they motion reinforcements to fortify their defence.

Glenn Murray: They person got each the guardant players you could imagination of, but Iraola has a large headache erstwhile it comes to uncovering the close equilibrium betwixt onslaught and defence.

Troy Deeney: They are decently balanced though I inactive deliberation they request an further left-back and an other midfielder. Ultimately they person got 1 X-factor - Isak. He is simply a apical goalscorer who has got a constituent to beryllium due to the fact that everyone has written him off.

Rachel Brown-Finnis: Iraola is Liverpool's astir breathtaking signing successful caller years. Liverpool's shot DNA volition beryllium back.

Leon Osman: Liverpool are a enactment successful progress. Older players leaving, caller managers in. Some bully signings astatine the backmost but volition Iraola get them firing consecutive away? I'm not sure.

Last season, Chelsea figured successful each 35 top-four predictions, and finished 10th. This time, they are successful 21/28 predictions, with 5 radical backing them to beryllium runners-up.

Pat Nevin: As accustomed my apical 4 is lone a conjecture but it's the triumvirate of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers up beforehand that makes maine backmost Chelsea to beryllium successful determination much than thing else. They are a radical who are exciting, and superb arsenic well. It volition beryllium fascinating to spot however they get on.

Sue Smith: They person been utilizing Palmer and Rogers arsenic 2 fig 10s successful pre-season, which is frightening. They are perchance going to beryllium unplayable.

Michael Brown: They person got each this endowment but arsenic accustomed it is inactive astir them uncovering the close balance. They mightiness astonishment radical and beryllium solid.

Joe Hart: Their squad is good built, and they don't person European football.

Nedum Onuoha: It's a ridiculous anomaly for teams similar Chelsea oregon Spurs to not beryllium successful Europe, and being capable to absorption connected home shot portion they person some been spending specified large money.

Matt Upson: There seems to person been a large alteration successful their transportation argumentation and the equilibrium of their squad looks a batch amended for them to beryllium capable to triumph trophies.

Troy Deeney: No Europe means much clip connected the grooming pitch, truthful Xabi Alonso volition beryllium successful a large presumption to fig retired what works best. I wouldn't beryllium amazed if they finished second, due to the fact that I can't divided them, City oregon Liverpool.

Glenn Murray: Alonso is coming successful with a constituent to beryllium aft what happened astatine Real Madrid, and helium has made immoderate shrewd signings, including immoderate experienced players who tin assistance their young team-mates harness their tremendous potential.

Chris Waddle: Having Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson successful the squad volition beryllium similar having a manager connected the pitch. Yes they are 35 and 36 now, but I played successful the Premier League until I was 36 and I didn't truly find it hard. You inactive person your encephalon and, adjacent if your legs person gone a bit, you tin person legs astir you.

Step Houghton: That acquisition is what radical were saying they were missing past season.

Tony Pulis: I truly complaint Alonso and bringing successful Welbeck and Henderson was astir an enactment of genius due to the fact that if, you look from the outside, the problems astatine that nine are due to the fact that determination has been no-one successful the dressing country to propulsion up the young players erstwhile that has been needed.

Thomas Hitzlsperger: Chelsea are astir apt the squad I americium astir optimistic astir erstwhile I look astatine the manager.

Anita Asante: Alonso volition springiness them operation and bring an individuality to the squad but helium won't restrict the players. I consciousness similar helium volition springiness them the state to explicit themselves.

Theo Walcott: Alonso gives them the stableness they person been missing. If Palmer stays fit, I tin spot them being 1 of the astir accordant teams extracurricular the rubric race.

Last season, nary of the BBC predictors backed United to marque the apical four, and they finished third. This clip they fig successful 14/28 predictions, though lone 1 of them has them improving connected past year's position.

Thomas Hitzlsperger: United tin stabilise themselves this season.

Michael Brown: The legs of the squad is inactive a concern, and the Champions League could marque them unstable.

Anita Asante: The temper astatine the nine conscionable feels different, compared to however dysfunctional they were nether Ruben Amorim oregon Erik 10 Hag.

Ellen White: Unlike past season, Carrick has got Champions League shot to contend with. I similar Youri Tielemans arsenic a signing, but they request much in... and is Marcus Rashford staying?

Paul Robinson: The champion happening Carrick tin bash with Rashford is enactment his limb astir him and effort to get the champion retired of him. It's hard capable anyhow to find different subordinate astatine his level, but particularly erstwhile you person already got him and don't person to wage thing for him.

Steph Houghton: Rashford staying would beryllium a monolithic bonus due to the fact that we cognize his prime and helium has a antithetic skillset to a batch of the forwards they person already.

Chris Waddle: They person Rashford backmost astatine the infinitesimal but is his bosom successful it? Or his head? I deliberation he's had a sensation of being overseas and I'd beryllium amazed if helium doesn't privation to effort it again.

Matthew Upson: In the clip Carrick was there, from January onwards, United showed they are decidedly top-four material, and they are the ones I recovered it hardest to permission out.

Tony Pulis: I inactive don't deliberation United, implicit a season, volition bash it with what they person got astatine the moment. They mightiness inactive get 3 oregon 4 in, and that changes the representation but, close now, they are short. Arsenal and City are miles up of them.

Troy Deeney: I've got United down arsenic fifth. A coagulated year, but thing special. I don't deliberation they person got a large squad truthful they volition beryllium retired of the Champions League by February and past they tin ore connected the league.

Lindsay Johnson: United's defence needs enactment but they whitethorn sneak successful fourth.

Lindsay Johnson: I've enactment Villa successful determination again due to the fact that of Unai Emery and his experience.

Leon Osman: Villa person been superb the past fewer seasons but they support letting their champion players go. How agelong tin Emery support over-performing with what he's given?

Thomas Hitzlsperger: Villa being successful the Champions League means they are astir apt going to beryllium successful the apical six alternatively than the apical four, but they are conscionable truthful bully nether Emery.

Glenn Murray: Tottenham are going to beryllium overmuch amended than past season. They person made immoderate large signings and James Maddison is backmost fit. My lone interest for them is that they inactive request a goalscorer.

Leon Osman: Their signings, positive wounded returns should spot Tottenham competing wherever they expect to - but tin you ever spot Spurs?

Paul Robinson: Spurs had a shocker past play but this clip they are connected the fringes of the Champions League places, without a doubt. When Roberto de Zerbi took implicit past season, helium wanted guarantees successful the transportation marketplace this summertime - and judging by the players helium has brought in, helium got them.

Newcastle are miles disconnected it, though. I screen the Saudi Pro League and Matthias Jaissle is simply a bully manager who plays charismatic shot - but helium needs the players and astatine the infinitesimal they don't person them.

Troy Deeney: After finishing 17th 2 seasons successful a row, expecting Spurs to beryllium successful the apical 5 is simply a large ask. It is Nottingham Forest who are my astonishment bundle this twelvemonth - I cognize radical volition accidental they person mislaid Anderson but, the mode they play, I don't deliberation helium is simply a monolithic loss. The proprietor is ambitious and truthful is Oliver Glasner, truthful it is simply a matrimony made successful heaven.

Nedum Onuoha: I americium going with Leeds and Sunderland to astonishment people. A fewer radical are expecting Sunderland to conflict due to the fact that they are successful Europe but the owners are a spot much ambitious than radical realise. They won't needfully beryllium 5th successful November, but I don't deliberation they volition beryllium down the bottommost either.

The aforesaid for Leeds. Staying up past twelvemonth was huge, and present they are reasoning astir portion 2 of who they privation to be, and portion 2 features things similar signing a goalkeeper for £40m.

Steph Houghton: Sunderland are playing much games this play and person not been capable to boost their squad yet, but hopefully that volition hap adjacent week. But they were seventh past clip and volition beryllium determination oregon thereabouts again, particularly if they tin prolong their location form.

Tony Pulis: I don't spot Villa making it though they are a bully side. I don't deliberation immoderate of the teams similar Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford - who were each successful the apical 10 past play - volition beryllium anyplace adjacent the relegation places, but it is precise hard for them to get into the apical four.

Danny Murphy: I americium not talking astir the apical four, but Ipswich mightiness astonishment a fewer radical and, retired of the the ones who person travel up, beryllium the squad who don't struggle.

They person spent rather a lot, and brought successful astir a twelve players, similar Sunderland did past year, and again they person brought successful a akin benignant of subordinate too, with a batch of athleticism.

Their manager Gary O'Neil did each close astatine Wolves and Bournemouth and helium volition beryllium arsenic well-equipped arsenic ever to cognize which games to spell after, and erstwhile to excavation in.