FIFA’s Club World Cup, the Gold Cup, and the women’s European Championship may still be on but it is actually the offseason for most footballers at the moment. Every league that follows the FIFA calendar will be kicking off their new campaigns around the beginning of August – and the English Premier League (EPL) is arguably the most popular around the world.
With a mixture of immense wealth and an established and recognized history, the EPL boasts fans on every continent and many of the world’s best players either ply their trade in England or are actively seeking a move to an EPL team. All the best sites featured at MyTopSportsbooks will have their own opinion and we are also going to take a look ahead to the upcoming season.
The EPL season will kick off on August 15th, with Liverpool returning as reigning champion. There will be more English clubs playing in European football than ever before, thanks to performances in the last few years, but the domestic campaign is always intensely followed and treated as the most important for the fans. Here are a few things to look out for ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Can Liverpool Win Back-to-Back Titles?
There were questions over the appointment of Arne Slot around this time last year, as the Dutch coach prepared to take over from the hugely popular – and successful – Jürgen Klopp. But Liverpool fans could now be forgiven for thinking “Jürgen Who?” now, as the club dominated from the first kick of the season and ended up winning its 20th title.
Liverpool was simply unplayable for large portions of the campaign, losing just four EPL games, with the majority of those coming in the final few weeks of the season when the title was already won. Slot continues to shape the team as he sees fit, allowing popular players to leave if he thinks there are better options available. Transfer deals already made by the end of June total almost £200m.
One of the most intriguing new arrivals at Anfield is the Germany international, Florian Wirtz. The attacking player is one of the best-regarded in the world and has overcome serious injuries to rise to the top of the game once again. If all the new additions click, it will take a very good team to wrestle the EPL title away from Liverpool next season.
European Games May Take Their Toll
There will be an unprecedented six English teams competing in the Champions League next season, with another two in the Europa League, and one in the Conference League. English clubs are enjoying a renaissance when it comes to continental competition and the large squads at the bigger clubs are designed to keep teams competitive across the board.
Some of the smaller clubs may find that the extra games take their toll, however. The likes of Manchester City and Chelsea have big enough rosters to cope but Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest – two of last season’s biggest EPL stories – may well struggle keeping important players fit and healthy.
Even Spurs, who have qualified for the Champions League thanks to their Europa League triumph last season, might find juggling all the games a difficult task. This could make the EPL even more of a level playing field next season but it will be a shame if the likes of Forest and Palace are unable to perform to their abilities because of the success of last term.
Promoted Teams Face Tough Times
The EPL is considered the promised land for clubs further down the English football pyramid – and it is not only because it is the highest level of the game. The money that comes with promotion to the top tier can turn a club’s fortune around completely – even if it then ends up being relegated the very next year. Parachute payments ensure that it will automatically be one of the wealthiest in the Championship.
Even that income boost has not helped teams in recent times, however. It used to be the case that one, or perhaps two, of the promoted three would make an immediate return. But for the past two seasons, all three clubs have been relegated after just one campaign. That suggests that there is a growing divide between the top two divisions.
Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland – all clubs with EPL experience – will be on many pundits’ to-be-relegated lists and would consider finishing in 18th place a success. They will all find the step up to be much more difficult than it used to be and it would not be a surprise if all three find themselves in peril towards the end of the 2025-26 season.
All Eyes on the EPL
Regarded as “the home of football” by many, there has always been a global appeal to the top tier of English football. But the sheer talent turning out throughout the division these days means that the EPL has never been so popular. Almost all the best players in the world can be found there.
It is quite common for fans in other countries to pledge allegiance to an EPL team, or at least share their love with their local team. It promises to be another hugely entertaining and dramatic season and those fans will be just as invested in the results as anyone else. The EPL is thought to be the best league in the world by some – and the 2025-26 season is sure to be another global news story.
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