The Premier League 2025/26 season is set to kick off soon. Last year’s champion, Liverpool, aims to stay on top of tough teams like Manchester City and Arsenal. At the same time, teams like Chelsea and Manchester United hope their cash on new stars pays off.

2025/26 Season Start & First Fixtures

The season kicks off on Friday, 15 August, with Liverpool playing at home against Bournemouth. This game starts a weekend packed with big games and high hopes. The full list of games was shown on 18 June, showing all 380 matches for the season.

Leeds United, Sunderland, and Burnley, who moved up, are back on top. In the second week, Sunderland will face Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby.

Matchday 1 Highlights

• Liverpool vs Bournemouth
• Manchester United vs Arsenal
• Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
• Aston Villa vs Newcastle

These early games could influence both betting markets and the tone of the season. Opening wins tend to sway public money and shift outright odds quickly.

Title Odds and Contenders: Who’s Favoured?

Most sportsbooks show a tight title race between Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

• Manchester City have refreshed their midfield and remain the early bookmakers’ favourite, priced around 3/1.
• Liverpool, last season’s champions, hover close at 7/2, with new talent up front and at the back.
• Arsenal gets good support from smart signing.
• Chelsea and Manchester United are next, but both are long shots.

Why It Matters

Big games among these teams – in August, December, and April – often shake up the title betting a lot. Staying on top of form changes, hurts, and bans can give you a lead.

Transfer Tracker: Notable Signings Across the League

It’s been another expensive window. Over £1.6 billion has been spent so far, with Premier League clubs adding big names and future stars alike. Here’s a quick look at how the top clubs have reshaped their squads.

Manchester City

City’s summer focused on replacing aging stars. Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Rayan Aït-Nouri join to bring creativity and pace. Kevin De Bruyne‘s move to Napoli headlines their departures.

Liverpool

Florian Wirtz is the marquee arrival, costing over £100 million. He’s joined by Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Hugo Ekitike. Luis Díaz went to Bayern Munich in a big move.

Arsenal

They invested into main team power: Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Viktor Gyökeres. The last one, who made 97 goals in Portugal, might turn into a main scorer.

Chelsea

Added João Pedro, Cole Palmer, and Jorrel Hato. It’s a youthful rebuild, but many question the balance of their midfield.

Manchester United

They paid a lot for Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to get better at scoring goals often.

Promoted Clubs

• Sunderland brought in Granit Xhaka and Lukas Nmecha.
• Leeds added Jaka Bijol and Lucas Nmecha.
• Burnley opted for volume with nine signings, including Kyle Walker.

Golden Boot Odds: Who’s Leading the Scoring Race?

The fight for the Golden Boot is tough. Erling Haaland is the top pick if he can stay well, but many players will come close.

Top Contenders

• Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – Shortest odds at 3/1
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – Last year’s winner, still delivering consistency
• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – Already scoring in preseason; priced around 10/1
• Alexander Isak (Newcastle) – A solid pick for each-way betting
• Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – Not a pure striker, but his creativity and penalties make him a dark horse

Value Bets

Watch for early-season form. Last year, Salah’s odds shifted dramatically after a five-goal burst in September. Haaland’s fitness updates will also influence markets weekly.

Top Four Odds & Champions League Hopes

Title chases are glamorous, but for most clubs, the real battle is for top four.

• Liverpool, City, and Arsenal are near locks if they avoid major injuries.
• Manchester United and Chelsea are next, but inconsistent form last season makes them riskier bets.
• Newcastle could be a wild card again, depending on Isak and squad depth.
• Tottenham sit just outside the favourites but have shown flashes of attacking brilliance.

Bettor’s Tip

The “To Finish Top Four” market often offers better value than outright title picks. Arsenal and Chelsea saw their odds cut by 30% last season between matchweeks 4–10.

Relegation Battle: Who’s at Risk?

The fight to stay up is usually tight, and betting on relegation can be just as profitable.

Leading Candidates for the Drop

• Burnley – Light in defence; favourites in the relegation odds
• Sunderland – Strong energy but an untested squad at this level
• Leeds United – Creative but weak at the back
• Bournemouth – Lost key defenders and lack midfield bite

Other Potential Strugglers

• Crystal Palace – Could dip if Marc Guéhi departs
• Wolves – Depth is an issue; small squad for a long season

Key Survival Metrics

Teams that reach at least 18 home points and score 38+ goals tend to survive. Sunderland and Leeds must turn their home fields into strong places.

Tactical Trends to Watch in 2025/26

Pressing vs Possession

• Aston Villa under Unai Emery remain intense pressers, often leading to wide-open matches.
• Liverpool, with Slot in charge, now lean on vertical transitions and high pressing, aided by Wirtz.
• Arsenal blend midfield control with direct runs through Gyökeres.
• City are evolving, trying to regain dominance through midfield control after losing veteran stars.

Betting Impact

Understanding tactical trends can shape your wagers:

• Villa games often hit over 2.5 goals
• Arsenal’s style lends itself to first-half goals
• Bournemouth’s weakness at the back makes them prime for BTTS markets

Fixtures That Could Shift the Title Race

Circle these matchdays on your calendar-they may decide the championship:

• 31 August – Arsenal vs Liverpool
• 2 November – Manchester City vs Chelsea
• 12 April – Arsenal vs Manchester City
• 19 April – Liverpool vs Manchester City

Odds often jump right before and right after these kinds of games.

Betting Tips for the Premier League 2025/26

• Back City early, but hedge with Arsenal in each-way markets.
• Consider Gyökeres or Isak in Golden Boot each-way bets.
• Watch for shifts in relegation odds after matchday 5-early trends can lock in value.

Final Thoughts

The Premier League 2025/26 brings all that’s needed for an unforgettable year: battles for the lead, new stars, big relegation fights, and huge chances to win bets. If you’re placing bets for the future, each week, or on players, be sharp by staying updated and making quick moves.

Watch the odds, see the moves in play, and make each bet work. Look at the newest Premier League 2025/26 odds now at Starbet Liberia and start to win.