Premier League football is back, and six Daily Star staff members have made their predictions for the 2026/27 campaign, covering everything from the first manager to be sacked to top breakthrough talents. One writer is so confident that he "needs to ask a bookie to price it all up for me."
The newspaper acknowledges a chequered past in predictions, including last year's claim that Everton would win a trophy and multiple Florian Wirtz for Player of the Season shouts, but notes credit for predicting Sunderland's rise and Ruben Amorim's departure.
Will Schofield's Predictions
Will Schofield predicts Arsenal as Premier League winners, with Champions League spots for Chelsea, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Liverpool. He forecasts Sunderland as a surprise package "for all the wrong reasons" and relegation for Coventry, Ipswich, and Hull. Player of the season is Martin Odegaard, young breakthrough talent is Brian Madjo of Aston Villa, and top goalscorer is Erling Haaland. FA Cup winner is Manchester City, Carabao Cup winner is Arsenal, and Champions League winner is Real Madrid. First manager sacked is Sergej Jakirovic, with a bold claim that Leeds United will miss out on Champions League football on the final day.
Schofield says Arsenal will go back-to-back, with their trophy haul not limited to the Premier League, as they will also prove too strong in the Carabao Cup. He notes that Manchester City will end the season strong, picking up the FA Cup, and that Leeds have put all the pieces together for an incredible campaign.
Adam Cailler's Predictions
Adam Cailler predicts Arsenal as Premier League winners, with Champions League spots for Liverpool, Chelsea, and Spurs. He forecasts Coventry as a surprise package and relegation for Everton, Hull, and Ipswich. Player of the season is Virgil van Dijk, young breakthrough talent is Rio Ngumoha or Johan Manzambi, and top goalscorer is Erling Haaland or Alexander Isak, with an outside bet on Igor Thiago. FA Cup winner is Liverpool, Carabao Cup winner is Liverpool, and Champions League winner is Paris Saint-Germain. First manager sacked is Oliver Glasner, with a bold claim that Aston Villa will finish 17th.
Cailler says Arsenal have strengthened from a position of strength while everyone else seems to be in turmoil, and that Van Dijk is on a mission to return to the form of 2-3 years ago.
Cameron Winstanley's Predictions
Cameron Winstanley predicts Arsenal as Premier League winners, with Champions League spots for Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United. He forecasts Nottingham Forest as a surprise package, with Oliver Glasner taking them back into Europe, and relegation for Hull, Ipswich, and Sunderland. Player of the season is Declan Rice, young breakthrough talent is Shea Lacey, and top goalscorer is Erling Haaland. FA Cup winner is Manchester City, Carabao Cup winner is Chelsea, and Champions League winner is Bayern Munich. First manager sacked is Regis Le Bris, with Gary O'Neil in second place, and a bold claim that Arsenal will break the record as the earliest title winners and Manchester United will finish as the league's top scorers.
Winstanley says Arsenal will be too good to stop, with the Premier League wrapped up in record fashion, and that Sunderland's time in Europe will see them drop into deep trouble. He notes that 19-year-old attacker Shea Lacey can become a regular after a promising pre-season.
Andrew Jameson's Predictions
Andrew Jameson predicts Arsenal as Premier League winners, with Champions League spots for Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. He forecasts Coventry as a surprise package and relegation for Hull, Ipswich, and Brighton. Player of the season is Declan Rice, young breakthrough talent is Anan Khalaili, and top goalscorer is Erling Haaland. FA Cup winner is Chelsea, Carabao Cup winner is Liverpool, and Champions League winner is Barcelona. First manager sacked is Oliver Glasner, with a bold claim that Michael Carrick will be gone by February, replaced by another stopgap manager who ends up getting the job full-time until his own sacking within eight months.
Jameson says Arsenal have the squad and belief to 'go again', and that promoted sides bar Coventry look like relegation fodder. He adds that Brighton has lost some key players and there were rumblings before they turned it around at the end last season.
Rich Brown's Predictions
Rich Brown predicts Arsenal as Premier League winners, with Champions League spots for Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United. He forecasts Leeds as a surprise package and relegation for Hull, Coventry, and Fulham. Player of the season is Antoine Semenyo, young breakthrough talent is Rio Ngumoha, and top goalscorer is Erling Haaland. FA Cup winner is Manchester United, Carabao Cup winner is Spurs, and Champions League winner is Paris Saint-Germain. First manager sacked is Sergej Jakirovic, with a bold claim that Aston Villa will plummet and Nottingham Forest will soar.
Brown says no one in the UK wants Arsenal to succeed yet again, but it feels increasingly likely, with Manchester City set for a transitional season. He notes that Daniel Farke's squad has all the tools to kick on after securing safety last season, and that Fulham appears to be a club without any discernible direction or vision.
Neil Docking's Predictions
Neil Docking predicts Liverpool as Premier League winners, with Champions League spots for Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United. He forecasts Liverpool as a surprise package and relegation for Fulham, Ipswich, and Hull. Player of the season is Alexander Isak, young breakthrough talent is Trey Nyoni, and top goalscorer is Alexander Isak. FA Cup winner is Arsenal, Carabao Cup winner is Manchester City, and Champions League winner is Paris Saint-Germain. First manager sacked is Alvaro Arbeloa, with a bold claim that Arsenal will not win the league.
Docking says not everyone can predict Arsenal to win the league, and that he will edit this on Sunday when Isak gets injured and Liverpool lose at Newcastle.
