PL Preview 25/26 Part 2: Mid-Table
We’ve already taken a look at the relegation candidates in the upcoming 2025/26 PL season, and now we’re shifting focus to the mid-table. This portion of the standings will see a mix of teams happy to avoid the relegation battle and clubs disappointed to miss out on Europe.
Read part 1 of our PL Prediction here.
Read part 3 of our PL Prediction here.
14) Brentford
Winner: 900.00
To get Relegated: 4.00
Players In: Romelle Donovan (Birmingham), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Michael Kayode (Fiorentina), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Antoni Milambo (Feyenoord)
Back from Loan: Ellery Balcombe (Motherwell), Jayden Meghoma (Preston), Frank Onyeka (Augsburg), Mads Roerslev (Wolfsburg)
Players Out: Josh Dasilva (Released), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United), Ben Mee (Released), Christian Norgaard (Arsenal), Ben Winterbottom (Barrow)
On Loan: Ethan Brierley (Exeter City), Ji-soo Kim (Kaiserslautern), Ryan Trevitt (Wigan)
Last Season: 10th
What can we expect?
Brentford finished in a strong 10th position last season, but we think they’ll struggle to make the top half of the standings in 25/26. They’ve lost some very important players in Mbeumo (Man Utd), Norgaard (Arsenal) and Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), but Kelleher should be a very good replacement for the latter between the sticks.
They have however lost their manager Thomas Frank since last season, and the popular manager was replaced by Keith Andrews in what is his first job as head coach after serving as a set piece coach for a while. Frank has left for Spurs, and the lack of managerial experience for Keith Andrews could prove costly this season, especially when also considering the sales of the aforementioned key players. Yoane Wissa could also be on his way out, with several clubs reportedly interested in the striker.
The positives are that this is a team that has proven itself to be a difficult team to beat in the last few years, and there are still plenty of talented players in the squad, including Kevin Schade, Damsgaard, Yarmolyuk, van den Berg and the experienced Jordan Henderson, who is back in the PL after a couple of years away.
We don’t think Brentford will be struggling around the relegation zone, but we think they’ll need some time to get accustomed to a new manager and the loss of several star players, so 14th seems a fairly likely outcome.
13) Everton
Winner: 500.00
To get Relegated: 8.00
Players In: Carlos Alcaraz (Flamengo), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich), Thierno Barry (Villarreal), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea), Mark Travers (Bournemouth)
Back from Loan: Harrison Armstrong (Derby)
Players Out: Asmir Begovic (Leicester), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Released), Abdoulaye Doucoure (Released), Mason Holgate (Al-Gharafa), Neal Maupay (Marseille), Jenson Metcalfe (Bradford City), Joao Virginia (Sporting Lisbon), Ashley Young (Ipswich Town)
On Loan: Luke Butterfield (Chesterfield)
Last Season: 13th
What can we expect?
Everton is predictably unpredictable, and their squad definitely could do with some strengthening before the end of the transfer window. Several players have left the club, including Ashely Young, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and the young Moroccan Adam Aznou seem like exciting signings.
Pickford will be guarding the goal again, with Branthwaite, Mykolenko and Tarkowski amongst the defenders helping him out at the back. New signing Alcarez (from Flamengo) could be an interesting addition to the squad, but one would probably be wise to not expect too much from the Brazilian early on as he adjusts himself to a new continent, league and club. Thierno Barry, signed from Villarreal, had a very impressive season in Spain in 24/25 and could light up the PL if he manages to hit the ground running at his new club.
Iliman Ndiaye will also be a key player for Everton, with the winger having shown his attacking prowess in his first season at the club last year. Everton feels like a team that could end up around 13th, but we wouldn’t be surprised if poor form enters the chat here and sees them fall further down the standings. The Everton faithful will however hope that manager David Moyes will ensure the club has what it takes to finish in a safe spot, once again.
12) Wolves
To get Relegated: 4.00
Players In: Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Fer Lopez (Celta Vigo), David Moller Wolfe (AZ), Jorgen Strand Larsen (Celta Vigo)
Back from Loan: Hugo Bueno (Feyenoord), Ki-Jana Hoever (Auxerre), Fabio Silva (Las Palmas)
Players Out: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Man City), Chem Campbell (Stevenage), Chiquinho (Alverca), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Craig Dawson (Released), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Joe Hodge (Tondela), Filozofe Mabete (Swindon), Pablo Sarabia (Al-Arabi), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce)
On Loan: Nasser Djiga (Rangers), Tommy Doyle (Birmingham), Nigel Lonwijk (Luton Town), Bastien Meupiyou (Alverca), Boubacar Traoré (Metz)
Last Season: 16th
What can we expect?
Wolves have lost two of their key players in Ait-Nouri and Cunha, but the teams showed a lot of heart during the last part of the 24/25 campaign, despite not winning during their last 4 matches.
Head coach Vitor Pereira will be hoping to keep his lanky Northern striker up front, especially with Cunha gone, and the Wolves supporters will hope to see Bellegarde take even more responsibility up front, especially in terms of goals.
Defensively, José Sá is a solid goalkeeper, and Doherty, Agbadou and Toti might be the chosen defensive constellation going into the season.
In midfield, André and Joao Gomes will be key players, while new signing Jhon Arias should help out up front, where he can play both as a striker and as a winger.
Wolves open the season at home to Man City, and then they move on to Bournemouth away before, Everton at home and then Newcastle away, in other words a very tricky start. The money from the outgoing transfers should allow for some further reinforcements for them here, but if not, things could get even trickier and 12th might be too optimistic.
11) West Ham
To get Relegated: 6.40
Players In: El Hadji Malick Diouf (Slavia Prague), Jean-Clair Todibo (Nice), Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton), Callum Wilson (Newcastle)
Back from Loan: Nayef Aguerd (Real Sociedad), Maxwell Cornet (Genoa), Mohamadou Kanté (Paris FC)
Players Out: Vladimir Coufal (Hoffenheim), Aaron Cresswell (Stoke), Lukasz Fabianski (Released), Danny Ings (Released), Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham), Kurt Zouma (Released)
On Loan: Kaelan Casey (Swansea City), Michael Forbes (Northampton)
Last Season: 14th
What can we expect?
Graham Potter came to West Ham in January and took the team to a 14th place in the league, which felt very… West Ham. The loss of Mohammed Kudus is big, with the former Ajax player joining London rivals Tottenham this summer. Jarrod Bowen will be one of the key players again for the Hammers, with Ward-Prowse, Paquetá, Soucek, Wan-Bissaka other players that will need to deliver is West Ham are to raise the bar this season.
German striker Füllkrug has looked fit for fight in pre-season, and will be hoping to hammer in the goals for Potter’s side, with Todibo, Aguerd and Kilman expected to be amongst the key players defensively. Their opening match is away at Sunderland, and the Londoners will be hoping to get off to a winning start before taking on Chelsea (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and Spurs (H) in the subsequent fixtures.
We don’t think West Ham are in danger of going down this season. Their squad simply has too much PL experience, although the PL is never an easy league, so a few bad results at the start of the season could always add a bit of uncertainty in the squad. Ultimately, though, this West Ham shouldn’t have any problems with staying up during the 25/26 season.
10) Nottingham Forest
To get Relegated: 10.00
Players In: Jair Cunha (Botafogo), Angus Gunn (Norwich), Igor Jesus (Botafogo), Dan Ndoye (Bologna)
Back from Loan: David Carmo (Olympiakos), Omar Richards (Rio Ave), Marko Stamenic (Olympiakos), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
Players Out: Danilo (Botafogo), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United), Lewis O’Brien (Wrexham), Andrew Omobamidele (Strasbourg), Jonathan Panzo (Rio Ave), Ramon Sosa (Palmeiras), Dale Taylor (Blackpool), Harry Toffolo (Charlotte), Matt Turner (Lyon)
On Loan: Tyler Bindon (Sheffield United), Joe Gardner (Mansfield), Kyle McAdam, Jamie McDonnell (Mansfield)
Last Season: 7th
What can we expect?
Nottingham Forest surprised just about everyone last season, and they’re certainly ambitious enough to try again this season. Can Chris Wood come close to last season’s heroics? How will new signing Ndoye adjust to this new team? It’s early days, but Nottingham Forest seem to be in a fairly decent position ahead of the new season, and they also managed to keep Morgan Gibbs-White, despite Spurs’ interest.
Elanga has left the club for Newcastle, and will be missed, but the aforementioned Ndoye will hopefully slot in quickly in Nuno Espírito Santo’s side. Sels will continue between the sticks, with Aina, Williams, Murillo and Milenkovic important figures in the Nottingham Forest defense.
Jota Silva and Hudson-Odoi will probably assist Wood and Gibbs-White in the attacking phase of the game, while Sangare and Anderson expected to be the key players in central midfield.
Nottingham Forest kick off the season ah home against Brentford, and you’d expect the hosts to grab the points here, before they travel to Crystal Palace and host West Ham in the subsequent two matches.
Will they qualify for Europe? We don’t think so, but they might be close!
9) Brighton
To get Relegated: 17.00
Players In: Oliver Boscagli (PSV Eindhoven), Diogo Coppola (Hellas Verona), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge), Charalampos Kostoulas (Olympiacos), Tom Watson (Sunderland), Do-young Yun (Daejeon Hana Citizen)
Back from Loan: Facundo Buonanotte (Leicester City), Julio Enciso (Ipswich Town), Abdallah Sima (Brest), Stefanos Tzimas (Nuremberg), Malick Yalcouye (Sturm Graz)
Players Out: Simon Adingra (Sunderland), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Killian Cahill (Leyton Orient), Pervis Estupinan (AC Milan), Odeluga Offiah (Preston), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Kjell Scherpen (Union SG)
On Loan: James Beadle (Birmingham), Eirin Cashin (Birmingham), Amario Cozier-Duberry (Bolton), Evan Ferguson (AS Roma), Mark O’Mahony (Reading), Ibrahim Osman (Auxerre), Carl Rushworth (Coventry City), Do-young Yun (Excelsior)
Last Season: 8th
What can we expect?
Mitoma, Minteh, De Cuyper, Wieffer, Wellbeck Verbruggen… there’s plenty of talent to choose from at Brighton, and despite losing Joao Pedro to Chelsea and Estupinan to AC Milan, they feel like a team that has earned a top half prediction.
German manager Fabian Hürzeler will be hoping to see some of the new signings hit the ground running in the upcoming season. One of these new signings is Maxim De Cuyper, the Belgian fullback arriving from Club Brugge. Young Winger Tom Watson’s arrival from Sunderland has also sparked excitement, whilst the Seagulls will certainly hope Babis Kostoulas can find the net after the young talent’s big transfer from Olympiacos. Only 18 years old, you’d however expect manager Hürzeler to be a bit careful with the new arrival initially at least, giving Rutter a chance to impress.
Diego Coppola has an impressive season with Hellas Verona in 24/25, and his addition to the squad should add quality to the defense as well. Will it be enough to reach Europe? We think it might be touch and go, and that Brighton should be hovering around the top 10 at the end of the season.
8) Tottenham
To get Relegated: 100.00
Players In: Kevin Danso (Lens), Mohammed Kudus (West Ham), Joao Palhinha (Bayern Munich), Kota Takai (Kawasaki Frontale), Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich), Luka Vuskovic (Westerlo)
Back from Loan:
Players Out: Fraser Forster (Released), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Marseille), Josh Keeley (Luton), Sergio Reguilon (Released), Son Heung-min (LAFC), Alfie Whiteman (Released), Jaden Williams (Colchester)
On Loan: Damola Ajayi (Doncaster), Alfie Dorrington (Aberdeen), Will Lankshear (Oxford), Mikey Moore (Rangers), Ashley Phillips (Stoke), Alejo Veliz (Rosario Central)
Last Season: 17th
What can we expect?
This almost feels like a trick question, cause Spurs is going to Spurs and expectations aren’t high after last season’s disappointing form in the league. Add to that the the long-term injury Maddison suffered during pre-season, and the sale of former captain Son, and things aren’t looking too positive.
However, looking at the squad and considering the arrival of Thomas Frank as new manager, it feels like a season that could go either ways for the London club, and we think it’ll be more positive than negative, once the season properly gets underway.
The arrival of Kudus from West Ham is an exciting one for the Spurs faithful, and he could easily become a fan favourite, while Johnson, Pape Sarr and Solanke will also be counted on in the attacking phase. The loss of Son is big, however, and you’d expect the club to make another attacking signing before the transfer window shuts.
Defensively, Vicario is as solid as ever, and Romero and Porro are top quality defenders, and they’ll have players like Palhinha and Bentacour in front of them to run the midfield. Will it be enough to qualify for Europe?
Did you already read part 1 of our PL Prediction, where we took at look at the relegation candidates? Keep an eye on our blog for part 3, which is due soon!
Last Updated: 12.08.2025
Odds might have changed since the writing and/or publication of this article.
