Premier League legends predict final league table for 2025/26 season with lowly finish for Manchester United once more - do you agree?
Published 05/08/2025 at 16:53 GMT+1
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August is here and the Premier League season is drawing near. The summer transfer window has already yielded some absorbing developments with more still to come, as fans up and down the country wonder what lies in store for their teams. It's always devilish to predict how the season will go, but we've given it a go anyway with two former legends of the division. Cast your votes below.
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It's almost time.
After an 81-day break, the Premier League will return on August 15, as Liverpool kick off the defence of their title against Bournemouth at Anfield.
The 2025/26 season promises much, with sides up and down the division undergoing various levels of rest, renewal and repair ahead of another campaign.
Ahead of TNT Sports kicking off its coverage by showing Aston Villa v Newcastle United on August 16, we set two Premier League legends the ever-thorny task of predicting what the league table will look like come May 24, 2026.
Who will be champions? Who will be relegated? And what of Manchester United?
Over to you, Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves...
Lowly Man Utd - and relegation surprise
First into the hotseat was former Chelsea and England winger Cole, who sees Arne Slot's Liverpool making it back-to-back titles.
Cole also foresees only a mild improvement from Manchester United on their 15th-placed finish last term.
Ruben Amorim's side have been impressive during pre-season, winning the Premier League Summer Series, but there have been enough false dawns at Old Trafford for fans to start getting carried away yet.
Cole is predicting a difficult season for the three promoted sides - Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland.
But he does see one escaping at the expense of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have been shorn of their two most leading lights in Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri, with the former heading to Man Utd, while the latter hits the other side of Manchester with Pep Guardiola's City.
It would be the end of an eight-year stay for Wolves in the English elite.
And what about Chelsea finishing above Arsenal? (eyes emoji...)
PL predicted table - Joe Cole
Image credit: TNT Sports
Arsenal second yet again?
From blue to red, south to north, as we next asked ex-Man Utd midfielder Hargreaves to get out his crystal ball.
Notable among his predictions was a more palatable seventh-placed finish for his old club, while he thinks Arsenal will come second for what would be a remarkable fourth season running.
Mikel Arteta's Gunners have seemingly addressed the shortcomings in their squad by bringing in depth across all areas of the pitch, as well as the marquee addition of Viktor Gyokeres up top.
But with Liverpool also being bold in the transfer market, Hargreaves thinks Slot's men will have enough to double up.
Similarly to Cole, Hargreaves sees struggles for Brentford, but thinks the three promoted sides will be the ones to go straight back down.
PL predicted table - Owen Hargreaves
Image credit: TNT Sports
Cast your votes
Following our experts' predictions, it's time to get your take on the burning questions:
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