Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool are in for some stiff competition this season if they want to hold on to their Premier League crown. Plenty of new online bookmakers are pondering which clubs could push them hardest in the title race, and it looks like it's going to be tight.
All the big clubs in the Premier League have been heavily reinforcing their squads for the upcoming challenge. Some of them have been involved in the FIFA Club World Cup. Some have been simply resting and recuperating.
All the top sides have their reasons to be confident come August, but let's see which clubs the bookies believe are the favourites to win the 2025-26 Premier League.
Liverpool (2/1 favourites)
Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool are top of the list with the bookies, and that is little surprise.
Arne Slot had no problem adapting to English football last season as he built a team which stormed the Premier League and ran away with the title during his first term in charge.
What's more, the club have substantially developed their squad this summer, making them likely even more formidable come August.
In terms of outgoings, Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid is the only potentially big loss, with fringe players Jarell Quansah, Caoimhín Kelleher and Nat Phillips also making their exits.
However, these sales are more than outweighed by the Galactico deals the Anfield club have made in the other direction. Slot and his team have certainly splashed the cash as they look to retain their crown. Florian Wirtz, arguably the most sought-after player on the planet, has joined from Bayer Leverkusen for €125m, as his teammate Jeremie Frimpong follows. Highly-rated Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez has also arrived, likely to replace Alexander-Arnold.
Reds fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic going into this campaign, and many experts and neutrals will expect Liverpool to be clear favourites to win their second Premier League title in a row.
Arsenal (9/4)
Mikel Arteta has also been improving his squad this summer, as the Gunners look to overcome the final hurdle that has been holding them back from reaching the elusive Premier League title.
Last season, they finished second in the table for a third straight season, which, while being an illustration of their consistency, is also a huge disappointment for fans.
Bookies see them again as the team most likely to provide the biggest challenge to the eventual winners, but can they finally get over the line and clinch the title?
The board at Arsenal certainly haven't been shy in attempting to give them every resource available to do just that. They have improved their midfield with the capture of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and Christian Norgaard from Brentford, as Chelsea winger Noni Madueke also comes in.
Most crucially, Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres is expected to join in the coming days, and many expect him to be the final piece of the puzzle at the Emirates.
Manchester City (3/1)
Man City experienced a dreadful season last time out by their standards, but after a summer recharge and some shrewd transfers, Pep Guardiola will be confident that his squad can get back to winning ways.
However, the bookies are less confident. They do see City being one of the top challengers for the title, but Liverpool and Arsenal are getting more love.
Ageing legends Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker have moved on to Napoli and Burnley, respectively, but the incomings are very encouraging.
Outstanding central midfielder Tijjani Reijnders arrives from AC Milan, left back Rayan Ait-Nouri joins from Wolves, Rayan Cherki finally leaves Lyon to step up to the big time, and Rosenborg wonderkid Sverre Nypan has also been brought into the fold.
Under Pep's wing, several of these players, along with the raft of stars they brought in during January (Omar Marmoush, Nico, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis), all of these players have the potential to go up another level.
The widespread changing of the guard at the Etihad does make Man City a bit of an unknown quantity this season, which likely explains the relative caution being exhibited by bookies. If they gel quickly and hit the ground running, this ensemble of players has the potential to run riot over the Premier League, but if they don't, City fans could be in for another frustrating season.
Chelsea (8/4)
Fresh off the back of hammering European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final of this summer's FIFA Club World Cup, Enzo Maresca's team have gone up in a lot of people's estimations.
Last season was far from stellar, but ending with some crucial Premier League wins to secure qualification for the UCL and winning the UEFA Europa Conference League saw them head into the summer with the feeling that perhaps things had turned for the better at the right time.
This feeling was galvanised in the US this summer as the Stamford Bridge club were crowned FIFA World Champions.
Maresca and his team want to build on this success and do something special in the Premier League this time around. While they aren't anyone's favourites, they will certainly be in the mix.
What's more, some good business in the transfer market should give fans even more confidence. Apart from the departure of Noni Madueke, the only outgoings have been fringe squad members. In their place have come some established, talented star players who could have an immediate impact.
Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, and Brighton forward Joao Pedro could all take their games to another level in the 2025-26 season and, if they do, win Chelsea a surprise title.
