This season's Premier League title race and relegation battle are shaping one of the most thrilling campaigns in recent memory.
At FIRST, you can find the best football betting sites in the UK. But before you do that, let’s take a step away for just a minute to discuss what will make the 2025/26 season so special.
The title race
Manchester City's dominance of winning six titles in seven campaigns from 2017-2024 had fans desperate for a new challenger to keep the interest alive.
Liverpool stepped forward last season in Arne Slot's first campaign and after spending mega money in the summer on the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, the Reds came into the 2025/26 season as the heavy title favourites.
Slot's men had the perfect record after five games but they have had a wobble in recent weeks, including a shock home defeat against Manchester United, and the Liverpool boss must work out how to get the most out of his best players. He simply has to get his big-money signings firing.
While some are writing Liverpool off, they remain just four points off league leaders Arsenal and you would be brave to go against the Reds with 30 games left to play this season.
The Gunners, who brought in Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi in the summer, have been nearly men in recent years with Arsenal finishing second in the last three seasons.
Mikel Arteta's men have now shortened to title favourites after winning six of their opening eight matches. Then there's City, who are hunting rather than being hunted. Pep Guardiola's side, who also made a handful of big signings, aren't used to that feeling and it looks like they're relishing it with City sitting in second and just three points behind Arsenal.
It also helps that they've got Erling Haaland in their ranks with the Norwegian netting 11 times in eight Premier League matches.
Arsenal, Liverpool and City all transformed their squads in the summer and Premier League football fans look set to reap the rewards in a thrilling title race.
The depth of competition at the top of the Premier League is as good as ever and there are three genuine challengers. The question remains: Who will come out on top?
The relegation battle
At the other end of the table, the battle to avoid the drop is equally entertaining. In the last two seasons, the three promoted teams from the Championship have been
instantly relegated from the top flight the following campaign.
However, there's at least one side who has a chance to buck that trend this season.
Burnley and Leeds have both won two of their first eight Premier League games and the pair sit just above the relegation zone. If you offer them the same position come the end of the season, they'll be over the moon.
While it seems that Burnley and Leeds face a real uphill battle to avoid the drop, the other promoted team, Sunderland, are flying high.
Régis Le Bris' side find themselves just outside the European spots having won four, drawn two and lost two of their first eight outings.
The Black Cats made 13 permanent signings in the summer as Sunderland looked to give it a real go this season - and it has paid off.
They boast the joint-second best defensive record in the Premier League and they're also free flowing going forward. Who said it takes time for new signings to gel?
Given the likes of Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest have had dismal starts to the season, there's a real chance we could see a Premier League regular playing in the Championship next campaign.
