2025-2026 Premier League new season 20 teams: 4 big leagues compete for the championship (11,000 words)

In the early morning of Saturday, the 2025-26 Premier League season was rekindled, and the new season was full of highlights. The championship battle, European seat competition, relegation battle and the performance of new players from each team are quite exciting. (All data in this article ended on August 13, 2025)

2025-2026 Premier League championship odds:

Championship group: giants are in division, Liverpool has a slight lead

From the perspective of paper strength and championship odds, the four giants Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea are the favorite teams to win the championship. The total value of these four teams is over 1 billion euros.

Liverpool (winning odds are 275, worth 1.04 billion)

Liverpool, as the champion of last season, beat the heroes to the top with a 10-point advantage. In the new season, they have made frequent moves in the transfer market, introducing strong players such as German new stars Werz, Ekitic, Kerkz and Flynnon. Wilz performed amazingly at Leverkusen last season and scored a double-double. His arrival will form a threatening offensive combination with Salah. At the same time, Liverpool has a strong lineup and a high level of tactical running-in. However, there are hidden dangers of injury at the team's central defender position. If Van Dijk is injured in a critical period, it will have a great impact on the stability of the defense line. But overall, Liverpool's stability and targeted signing make it the first choice for defending titles in the eyes of most experts.

After winning the easy title at Liverpool at the end of his first season, Arn Slott has made a major restructuring of his invincible team.

Two new fullbacks will begin the 2025/26 season, with Krkz and Flynnon both highly respected for their energy and creativity in the opponent’s half.

It will be exciting to see their impact on Merseyside, but their pirate-like approach does have the potential to expose the centre-back.

On the offensive, Liverpool currently has one of the best No. 10 players in European football - Florian Wilz.

His skill, movement and creative talent will surely make Reds fans amazed, while the fast-speed Hugo Ekitic injects new goals into the striker.

Last season, Liverpool's balance was just right. They can not only control the rhythm of the game, but also create huge destructive power in counterattacks and pose threats to their opponents in various ways. Slott's sane and steady style played an excellent role.

The only small concern is that older stars Mohamed Salah (33) and Virgil van Dijk (34) may decline, both of whom have performed well in the period when motivating the Reds to achieve glory.

Can they still maintain the same excellent level? If possible, Liverpool will be difficult to stop.

Arsenal (the odds of winning the championship are 350, the net worth is 1.32 billion)

Arsenal actively signs players in the summer transfer window and signed players such as Zubimendi, Yorkress, Maduaike and Norgard in one go, aiming to fill the shortcomings of the forward and midfield. The team's young lineup continues to grow, and young players such as Envanelli and Lewis Skelly have unlimited potential. But coach Arteta has led the team for nearly 6 years and has won very few cups. He is ranked second in the league for three consecutive seasons. Whether the new season can get what it wants, they still need to do better on the road to championship.

Arteta will continue to adopt a 4-3-3 formation dominated by ball possession in the 2025/26 season and hopes to bring a championship to Arsenal after three consecutive runner-ups. A key feature of the

Arsenal style is the use of incisive fullbacks to retreat to midfield during the offensive organization phase, and the Gunners will once again use set pieces to create threats this season. They may also be one of the most fierce oppressors in the absence of the ball.

However, we do expect some changes to the 2025/26 season. New ball-handling midfielder Zubi Mendy may provide better athleticism and mobility at the end of the midfield.

One of the Spanish international's tasks is to provide Arsenal's forwards with faster forward passes than ever before. In theory, this should help Arsenal pose a greater threat to defensive low-post opponents. Last season, Arteta's team sometimes struggled to create high-quality offensive opportunities when facing opponents who were pulling back to defend.

Arsenal scored 22 fewer goals last season than in 2023/24, so they have to find more "chaos" on the offensive end. Arteta expects Yorke’s direct style to bring a whole new and exciting dimension to his forward line.

The Swedes' speed and running ability will more effectively distance the game. With the new player's lead, Arsenal's counterattack ability will be significantly enhanced.

Manchester City (the odds of winning the championship are 450, the net worth is 1.32 billion)

Manchester City has always been a strong contender for the Premier League championship under the leadership of Guardiola. Manchester City has introduced players such as Reindes, Ait Nuri and Cherki this summer to complete the midfield reconstruction. As the team's offensive core, Haaland's ability to continue scoring is Manchester City's confidence in winning the championship. Manchester City has a profound tactical heritage, and Guardiola's coaching ability is obvious to all. However, as other opponents strengthen their rosters, Manchester City's reconstruction effect still needs to be tested in the new season's game. There is uncertainty as to whether it can gain the upper hand in direct dialogue with Liverpool and other championship teams.

We look forward to a bold and powerful response from Guardiola after Manchester City's poor performance.

Legendary star Kevin De Bruyne may have left the team, but the arrival of a large number of new faces will inject new vitality into the team's next championship challenge.

Attack midfielder Rayan Cherki is a particularly noteworthy player, with him the energetic midfielder Tijani Reijnders, attacking left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and goalkeeper James Trafford.

At the Club World Cup, the Manchester City coach tried a new 4-3-2-1 formation, so it would be very interesting to see if he would stick with it early in the new season.

This formation is certainly suitable for Cherki, Omar Mamush and Phil Foden, but wingers Jeremy Doku and Savigno prefer a formation that allows them to play wider.

When you evaluate Guardiola's players, Manchester City's current lineup depth is obviously very strong. There are at least two experienced players in each position on the team.

We know they will score a lot of goals, but the key to City's success is how they improve their performance without the ball.

Rodri's return would help, but for some time, their defensive performance has left them vulnerable to counterattacks and long passes. This weakness needs to be solved urgently.

Chelsea (the odds of winning the championship are 850, the net worth is 1.17 billion)

Chelsea also has the strength to compete for the championship. As the new Club World Cup champion, Pedro and Drapp introduced by Chelsea this summer have proved their value in the Club World Cup, and new players such as Estewan and Gittens are also expected to play an important role in the new season. Chelsea's lineup depth can be said to be the best in the entire Premier League, with many powerful players in the team, but the team may need to further improve in terms of lineup running-in and tactical stability to cope with the long and intense league schedule.

In the FIFA Club World Cup final, Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain with radical man-to-man pressing tactics, and Luis Enrique's team was in a desperate situation.

Enzo Maresca has used this strategy several times, but its success in that game may make it a more iconic one.

The preferred formation is 4-2-3-1, and the Blues head coach hopes to dominate this formation.

In terms of ball possession, they are more like a 3-2-5 formation, with at least one fullback sliding into the midfield.

Creating chaos, and sometimes you even see left-back Marc Cucurella as support forward!

This smooth style will continue, and based on his strategic attempts this summer, Maresca may also adjust his tactics more frequently. For example, Cole Palmer will play in the middle or right side, and Chelsea will also be expected to try a more direct offensive approach this season.

Liverpool is the only team in the 2024/25 season to exceed Chelsea’s fast break shooting, and Chelsea hopes to capitalize on Liam Drapp’s strength in this regard. The Blues created the second highest expected goal count (xG), but six clubs scored more than they last season. The arrival of

forwards João Pedro and Delapp solves this problem, and they will bring additional competition to the forward position.

European seat battle: multiple teams are fighting, and suspense is full of

In addition to the championship group, Manchester United, Tottenham, Newcastle United and Villa also launched an impact on European seats.

Manchester United (winning odds are 2.100, worth 890 million yuan)

Manchester United ranked 15th in the Premier League last season, and performed quite poorly. The team made drastic reforms in the new season, with a net investment of more than 220 million euros. It has introduced three strong players, Mbemo, Cunya and Cesco, to rebuild the front line, and is also pursuing Brighton midfielder Balepa, striving to complete the reconstruction of the midfield. Amorin hopes to lead the team out of the predicament. Manchester United's single-line battle in the new season undoubtedly increases their hopes of returning to the European war zone. However, after the team experienced the downturn of last season, it took time for the lineup to be fitted and tactical adaptation. There are many variables in whether the new players can quickly integrate into the team to play their strength.

From a tactical perspective, we understand what tactics will be adopted by Manchester United coached by Ruben Amorin. They will adopt a 3-4-2-1 formation, but because of the 15th place in the league, his players must significantly improve their performance under the system.

Signing good players will help achieve this, and attacking midfielders Mattus Cunia and Brian Mbemo – who participated in 48 direct goals last season – will undoubtedly add much-needed firepower to the team’s offensive end. In the 2024/25 season, only four Premier League teams (including three relegated teams) scored less than Manchester United.

They need a striker and have signed Benjamin Sesko, but their midfield roster should not be ignored.

Amorin's tactics are to be effective, and require athletes' athletic ability, flexibility and high level of physical fitness. Manchester United's midfield lacks these qualities. If the midfield lacks vitality, they will have a hard time overcoming difficulties.

Amorin's full-back is crucial in this tactical system, so everyone's eyes will be focused on Patrick Dorgu and Amad's form. If they can master the art of providing energy, width and creativity without neglecting defensive responsibilities, it will be a big step in the right direction.

Tottenham Hotspur (winning odds of 5.100, worth 830 million)

Tottenham Hotspur only ranked 17th in the league last season. They are also actively adjusting under the leadership of new coach Frank. The team invested more than 100 million euros in transfer this summer and are expected to regain competitiveness through tactical adjustments and new players. However, the downside is that the midfield core Madison was seriously injured in a friendly match and will be absent for a long time. The execution effect of Frank's tactical system in the new season will be affected. Their performance depends largely on the Danish new coach's coaching the team.

Thomas Frank is a versatile head coach who will surely leave his mark on Tottenham Hotspur's game style.

Earlier this summer, he stressed that his new team will be “brave, aggressive, offensive”, but from a tactical point of view, their tactical style will be different from what we saw in the Ang Postkoglu period. Improving the team’s resilience and resilience will be Frank’s top priority.

The Danish coach has used multiple formations in Brentford, so we can see that he adopts a strategy of adapting to local conditions, but the most likely formation is 4-3-3. He wisely strengthened the team's weakest midfielder - Joao Parcinia who joined on loan - and the defensive midfielder is likely to have two B2B players on either side. Frank sometimes uses the 4-2-3-1 formation.

When Frank coached Brentford, the team was promoted from the English Champions League. He coached a very ornamental ball-handling football, so don't think Tottenham would take direct attack for granted. They will almost certainly attack with passes and movements that fit the club's character.

However, Frank likes forward strength and speed, so Dominic Solank, Mohamed Kudus, Wilson Aldobert and Brennan Johnson will be happy to play for him. When they take the initiative, his forward player's physical fitness will make the opponent unbeatable.

Newcastle United (winning odds of 5100, worth 690 million)

Newcastle United performed well last season, but the transfer window this summer was very turbulent, and many signing targets failed to join, and the core Isaac broke with the team, which had a great impact on the team's performance in the new season. Newcastle United's lineup depth and player status are key factors in their competition for European seats. If the main lineup can be maintained and multi-line combat can be reasonably dealt with, Newcastle United still has the opportunity to gain a place in the European seats.

Eddie Howe tried a three-back formation at the end of last season, but we fully believe that the Newcastle United coach will return to his favorite 4-3-3 formation early in the new season.

The Magpies have upgraded two positions this summer, bringing in the super fast Anthony Ellangar, who will compete with Jacob Murphy for the starting position on the right wing. The Swedish player's rapid pace in the counterattack is likely to give him an advantage.

Aaron Ramsdale also joined on loan, and this talented goalkeeper will cherish the opportunity to represent the Premier League giants again. His performance at Arsenal is impressive, and his temperament looks perfect for playing confidently in front of avid fans of St James Park Stadium. His outstanding organizational skills will also add a touch of color to the Newcastle United's defense line offense.

The two main factors in the Magpies becoming a top team are the speed of the striker and the excellent resilience of the midfield. The active midfielder composed of Tonali, Jolinton and Bruno Guimaraes is designed to cause mistakes and continues to create great opportunities for the likes of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak.

Aston Villa (winning odds of 8100, worth 560 million)

Villa under Emery is very competitive, with stars such as Onana, McKinn, Tilemans and Watkins. The team is expected to make a difference in the competition for European seats. Villa's tactical arrangements and the performance of core players in the new season will determine his final ranking.

It was a quiet transfer window for Aston Villa, who has not yet signed a player who can strengthen Emery's All-Plane.

Vera does not need an emergency repair. In the past two seasons, Villa has formed a distinct team positioning, causing trouble for a series of top opponents.

They used a narrow 4-4-2 formation for oppression, aiming to block the middle area while squeezing the defender fours toward the center line, thus well limiting the opponent's space to pass through the midfield.

When they make long passes behind them, there are weaknesses, but Emery believes that their advantages outweigh their disadvantages.

They are not a team with a high ball possession rate. In fact, the team ranked sixth last season was the most dangerous when they regained the ball. At these moments of offense and defense conversion, attacking midfielder Morgan Rodgers became the main force of Villa.

Whether he plays in the midfield or on the left, the England international's strong running and smooth footsteps are pleasing to the eye.

Villa's set-piece strength should not be underestimated. They are very good at designing clever corner and free kick offenses, scoring a total of 16 set-piece goals in the 2024/25 season, ranking second in the league.

Brighton (winning odds 25100, worth 590 million)

Brighton ranked 8th last season, only 4 points away from the European War Zone. The team has both in and out of the transfer market. As long as they do not suffer from large-scale injuries, they will continue their tough battle performance last season and improve their ability to score points for mid- and downstream teams, it is not impossible to hit the European war zone.

Fabian Hurzeler performed well in his debut, with the youngest head coach in the Premier League leading Brighton to a respectable eighth place.

Tactically speaking, the 32-year-old German coach left his mark on the Seagulls, making the team a team that no longer emphasizes ball control.

Helzer's young team has an average possession rate of 52.16% this season, compared to 60.05% last season, and by adopting a more direct game style, the team sacrifices some control.

Their successful passes decreased by a total of 5,947 times in 38 games.

Looking ahead, they are an exciting team, scoring more goals than Chelsea, Villa and Nottingham Forest last season. Brighton's formation is 4-2-3-1, sometimes 4-4-2. They always adhere to the philosophy of being proactive and send a large number of players deep into the opponent's penalty area.

Regular starters Joao Pedro, Simon Addinggra and Perves Estupinan have left this summer, but some exciting young players have joined and replaced them.

19-year-old Tom Watson is a talented winger, while 18-year-old Greek striker Charalan Pers Kostoras is also attracting much attention, who has moved from Olympiacos for £29.8 million.

Brighton likes high-pressing, but this time they have to defend and fight back better. Last season, they conceded 10 goals in the fast break, the most in the league. However, with such a strong attacking midfield lineup depth and quality, they obviously rarely lack creativity.

Nottingham Forest (winning odds 25100, worth 450 million)

Nottingham Forest ranked 7th last season. Although some players left the team in the new season, they also introduced powerful new players. However, facing a two-line battle, it is a test of coach Nuno's arrangement and the depth of the team's lineup.

Nottingham Forest’s average possession rate last season was only 41%, which proves that as a Premier League team, it doesn’t require much possession rate to achieve good results.

Smart head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is a master in position organization, forming a solid back line with strong protection from midfielders in front of him. This dark horse team from last season was confident that they could suppress their opponents, and they were happy to deal with the pressure again with the familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. Central defender Nikola Mirenkovic and Murillo cooperated well and were one of the best partners. The Forests' biggest advantage is the explosive power that their two wingers and responsive attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White showed in the counterattack. Ellanga is one of the fastest players in the league and his transfer to Newcastle United was a blow to the team, but Swiss international Dan Endoye performed well in the preseason, perfectly fitting with the Forests’ style.

Main shooter Chris Wood will also compete with new player Igor Jesus for the starting position in the 2025/26 season. The 24-year-old Brazilian center has excellent ball skills and is more agile than the New Zealander.

Setting balls are also a key factor for the Forests. Last season, they scored the most goals (17) through corners and free kicks on the sideline, and they create a huge threat every time they face a set piece.

Middle Tournament Group: The veteran teams also have crises.

Middle Tournament teams are basically in a situation where they are worried about relegation and have no hope of European competitions, but they cannot experience a long period of downturn. It is easy to fall into the quagmire of relegation, especially the home court advantage must be used to get the relegation score as soon as possible.

Bornemouth (50100 odds to win, 420 million in value)

Last season, Bournemouth broke the Premier League score record (56 points) and it will be interesting to see if smart head coach Anthony Ilaura can lead the team to the next level in the 2025/26 season.

After losing the ball, the Cherry Legion is undoubtedly the most difficult team in the top league. Bournemouth has always upheld its unremitting professionalism, and they continue to put pressure on the frontcourt and midfield core positions, constantly harassing and harassing their opponents.

Last season, no one made more mistakes than Ilara's team, nor did anyone grab the ball in the frontcourt more frequently than Ilara's team. Three core members on the

defense line and goalkeeper Kepa Arizabalaga have left this summer. Central defender Ilia Zabarni recently moved to Paris Saint-Germain, defender Dean Heisen (now at Real Madrid) performed well with the ball and without the ball, while Liverpool's new left-back Milos Kerkez's energy and creativity are also destined to be missed.

Belgian defender Adrien Truffert has joined, but he doesn't look like a risky player.

Therefore, it is not easy to form a new defensive team that is as good as last season.

Last season, the Spanish head coach adopted a fixed 4-2-3-1 formation in all 38 games, and speed and vitality have always been the core traits of the team. Brazilian striker Evan Nelson likes to threaten his opponents, speed-type Antoine Semenho can pose a threat on both wings, and Justin Cruivit is an excellent finisher for far-reaching advancement.

Everton (winning odds of 50100, worth 340 million)

David Moyes created a miracle after returning to Everton Club in January, cleverly leading the team out of the relegation zone and finally ranked 13th in the standings.

Whether it is a well-trained 4-5-1 formation or a 4-2-3-1 formation, defensive strength remains the cornerstone of its tactical policy.

But Moyes' determination to control the game with higher quality ball control has attracted attention in the second half of the 2024/25 season. Compared to when Sean Dyche was coaching, their passes increased significantly, performed better and had more confidence.

Skilled players such as the vibrant Iliman Ndiaye and Charly Alcaraz welcomed the style shift, which Moyes will continue to advance in the coming months.

Toffees will still be more direct to passing this season than most teams — they had a higher success rate of long passes last season than any other team — but their experienced head coach is trying to make their offense less predictable.

This time, their goal is to score enough goals to reach the top half of the standings. As the new season begins at the new Hildickinson Stadium, Everton has invested in a new striker, Thierno Barry, who will bring competition to Beto who is in great form last season, and fans will be excited about Jack Gallish who is loaned from Manchester City.

Everton's tactics aren't too risky, but Moyes is trying to add more highlights to his starting lineup.

Crystal Palace (winning odds of 501.00, worth 450 million)

Crystal Palace does not need too much ball control to cause trouble for Premier League opponents. Crystal Palace averaged slightly above 42% last season, and once they regained the ball, they could quickly turn defense into offense, which was excellent for them.

Regaining the ball is one of their strengths, which is easy to be. Under Oliver Glasner's 3-2-4-1 formation, the FA Cup champion and Community Shield runner-up team worked tirelessly, putting more "pressure" on opponents than any other team.

Not surprisingly, by the end of the 2024/25 season, Crystal Palace has made far more mistakes through pressure than any other team.

Without the ball, Crystal Palace's formation will remain narrow and block the middle, but once the attack is launched, Crystal Palace will make the most of the entire width of the court, with full-backs Daniel Munoz and Tyrik Mitchell being the key to their success. The game that opened up space created extra space for star players Eberec Eze and Ismaila Saar in the interior to hurt opponents, coupled with the strong and rapidly progressive forward Jean-Philip Matthatta, who owned one of the most dangerous forwards in the league.

Glasner's team also has an absolute advantage in setting pieces. Last season, they scored 16 goals through set pieces, so every corner or wide-range free kick attack must be taken seriously.

West Ham United (75100 odds, 380 million in championship)

Graham Porter performed well in the preseason, and West Ham United won two of the three games in the US Summer Series. In those games, he mainly used a 5-3-2 formation, so we expect him to start the new season with this formation.

However, he is one of the most flexible and versatile head coaches, so the Hammers will be deploying in various ways during the 2025/26 season.

The key change this time may be the signing of left-wing defender Erhaji Malik Diov from Slavia Prague.

The 20-year-old Senegal international performed impressively in a friendly match, rushing across the wings and sending out a series of exciting crosses. His energy and strength are good news for Jarrod Bowen and Nicklas Fulkruger as they wait for opportunities in the penalty area.

From a tactical point of view, West Ham's pace in the midfield still seems a bit single and heavily relies on Lucas Paqueta's creativity, but Porter's desire to provide smart passes and play football moves throughout the field should make them more worthy of attention in the 2025/26 season.

Earlier this summer, Kudus had poor speed and ball-handling skills, which was a blow to West Ham, but West Ham has introduced Callum Wilson for free, a natural finisher. If the 33-year-old can stay healthy, he will be a very suitable choice.

Fulham (winning odds 75100, worth 330 million)

Marco Silva's Fulham team is a very worth watching team, and their tactics are based on precise passes and moving football.

They used a relatively simple 4-2-3-1 formation to pass the ball beautifully through the third zone; so much so that last season’s top four were the only team with a higher pass rate in the last third zone than the 11th-ranked farmer team.

Fulham likes to press without the ball, but it's interesting that Silva adjusted his offense against Arsenal and Liverpool last season.

When playing against the top two teams at home, he sacrificed possession, retreated to defense, and asked the players to fight back. Considering that Fulham only scored four points in those two games, we may see more similar tactics in the coming months.

In the opponent's half, Fulham's wing attack was very strong. Left-back Anthony Robinson pushed forward at will, and Alex Iwobi and Adama Traore and others also sent passes into the penalty area many times.

In the 2024/25 sports match, Fulham ranked first in the list of crosses and accurate crosses. If Fulham can continue this momentum, it will undoubtedly be good news for forward Raul Jimenez.

What must they improve? Fulham certainly wants to go a step further in corners and free kicks on the sideline, and they scored only four goals last season, making them the team with the least goals in the league.

Relegation battle: The newly promoted team has a difficult time

The new Premier League teams Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland are facing huge pressure to relegate. Most predict that these three teams may encounter a curse of relegation for the first season, and all the promoted teams have been relegated for three consecutive years.

Wolves (the odds of winning the championship are 1001.00, the net worth is 320 million)

Wolves ranked 16th last season. This summer, main players such as Cunya and Ait Nuri left the team, and their strength has declined significantly.

Vito Pereira likes to use the 3-4-2-1 formation, which he has played in all 22 Premier League games during his coaching Wolves.

Losing core player Mattus Cunia is a regret that the Wolves must overcome as soon as possible, but the Portuguese head coach immediately introduced Fair Lopez and John Arias to fill the vacancy. The two attacking midfielders’ adaptability at Molyneux Stadium will affect how the Wolves perform in the first few weeks of the season.

club's new left-wing guard David Moller Wolfe also has a huge responsibility, hoping to make sure the Wolves don't miss Ait Norri's creativity too much.

Perreira has strengthened control over the team when it comes to possessing the ball since replacing Gary O'Neal, and Wolves are now better at creating beautiful pass routes.

With that being said, the team's super strength lies in the stability of the middle of the court. Midfielders Andre and Joao Gomez are both excellent ball snatchers. They work together to grab the ball and cover the opponent's forward. Behind them, Emmanuel Abadu performed well last season.

While Pereira did improve Wolves' set-piece defense, this is still a weakness other teams may be trying to exploit. If they can drastically reduce their 20 set-piece concessions in the 2024/25 season, this will greatly improve their points.

Brentford (1001.00 odds, 380 million yuan in championship)

This summer, the Bees lost their head coach, captain and star forward, so new head coach Keith Andrews has a lot of work to do in his first coaching position.

Under Thomas Frank, their formation is always flexible and will be adjusted for each specific opponent, and this situation is unlikely to change under the former Irish international.

Andrews is a thoughtful coach known for his strong analytical skills and tactical details.

Essentially, Brentford will be a strong, athletic and offensive team, a style that has been effective since its upgrade in 2021. Last season, they posed a huge aerial threat to the opponent's penalty area in terms of shooting percentage.

They scored a total of 14 headers through crosses, set pieces and long passes, making them the most in Premier League teams. Andrews served as their set piece coach in the 2024/25 season, so you can be sure that after he coaches, they will continue to work hard on their set piece tactics.

Ricco Henry suffered a long injury at the left-back position and his return is now gratifying, and experienced Jordan Henderson has signed to replace midfielder Christian Norgaard.

However, a 20-goal transfer to United could have a significant impact on their performance in the offensive third division.

After so much unnecessary turmoil, Brentford must remain calm, continue to stick to the principles that work for them at this level and seek a wise reconstruction in the 2025/26 season.

Leeds United (the odds of winning the championship are 75.100, the net worth is 270 million)

Leeds United spent more than 85 million euros to introduce 7 players, and also hoped to gain a foothold in the Premier League. However, the shortcomings of the newly promoted team's experience in Premier League and lineup thickness are difficult to make up for in a short time.

How will Daniel Falke adjust Leeds United's Premier League tactics? His decisions early in the season will determine the end result of their return to the top league.

The Germans performed well in the 4-2-3-1 formation with a focus on offense and ball control, and scored a total of 190 points in the two Championship seasons. However, in the 2025/26 season, it seems worth considering a more pragmatic stance.

Falke's fly-by guard may have to show more restraint, while the arrival of Swedish international left-back Gabriel Goodmondson shows the need for enhanced defensive security.

Leeds United may also consider switching to a 4-3-3 formation. There is a lack of excellent midfielders at the No. 10, and Falk's team is also filled with excellent midfielders and B2B midfielders. The

midfield trio, coupled with new players Sean Longstaff and Anton Stacher, is reasonable. Since Leeds United is relatively small in the Championship, the team's focus this summer is on increasing height and physical fitness.

It feels like Leeds United will become a team that focuses on counterattacking, rather than dominating the opponent. They have enough speed and high quality players to get the tactical change working. They are very good at using this tactic, and they scored 10 goals through fast breaks last season.

The first priority now is to introduce a finisher who can compete for the Premier League. Leeds United will create a lot of opportunities, but they currently lack depth in the forward position.

Sunderland (the odds of winning the championship are 150100, the net worth is 250 million)

Sunderland spent more than 100 million euros this summer, and 10 players were introduced with rent and buy. Despite the considerable investment, the team's overall strength may still be weak in the Premier League, and coach Lebris needs to lead the team to perform beyond expectations.

In the process of leading the Sunderland team to unexpectedly upgrade, Regis LeBris proved himself to be a very smart and adaptable coach.

The Black Cats have used 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 formations at different time points, depending on the available lineup and opponent types. This flexible formation is likely to continue in the top league, which will make it difficult for the outside world to guess the Wiltshire tactics.

Lebres is a coach who loves high-tempo, offensive football – we saw a lot of these games in the 2024/25 season – overload on the wing and fast-tempo passes are their game characteristics.

However, we also see the other side of Sunderland, especially at the end of the season, when their confidence is sluggish. They were happy to retreat and gave up possession, but later in the season, they became a team deeply trapped in defense, keen on direct counterattacks. Facing stronger opponents, this may become a feature of their game in the coming months.

Sunderland welcomed a large number of new players, among which Granit Zachar was the most eye-catching. Defensive midfielder Habib Diyala, winger Simon Adinggra and Chelsea’s loan teenager Mark Giu also gave Sunderland fans confidence that they can survive after returning to the Premier League. The lack of top experience in the

defense line is the main problem. As a team, they have to protect the defense well.

Burnley (the odds of winning the championship are 150.100, the net worth is 240 million)

Burnley Howe spent nearly 130 million euros to introduce 13 players. Former Manchester City captain Kyle Walker, former Chelsea center Broa and other new players will shoulder the responsibility of relegation. But the team may have shortcomings in terms of lineup depth and players adapt to the pace of the Premier League.

Defensive stability is Burnley’s super strength in the 2024/25 season, and their rock-solid back paved the way for an impressive advancement battle.

conceded only 16 goals in 46 games, the least they conceded in the Championship season, and they feel they have the resilience they need to deal with higher levels of play.

Scott Parker's 4-2-3-1 formation is very well organized. When there is no ball, the formation will become 4-5-1, and Burnley players will work overtime to put pressure and block the opponent.

A prominent feature of last season was that whenever the ball was lost, they could quickly return to defense and complement each other. This habit will benefit them a lot in the top leagues.

In terms of ball possession, Burnley imitates Arsenal's formation using an inflection fullback (usually right-back) to form a four-man double-team in the midfield. They also make the most of the wing speed and dribbling skills, with Jaton Anthony, Marcus Edwards and Luca Coleoso being key figures.

Goals can be a problem. Parker's team scored 26 fewer goals in the 2024/25 season than Championship champion Leeds United, and their offense is unlikely to contain an experienced Premier League scorer. The arrival of Kyle Walker shows their ambitions, but the departure of goalkeeper James Trafford, defender CJ Egan-Riley and captain Josh Brown Hill was a huge blow to them and they had to overcome them quickly.

Brown Hill's goals in the midfield often play a decisive role in the team's second place.

The new season of the Premier League is full of unknowns and variables. Whether it is the fierce competition for the championship group, the cruel competition for European seats, or the speed of life and death of the relegation team, it will bring wonderful events to fans. The opening match between Liverpool and Bournemouth will officially kick off the football feast in the early hours of this Saturday.