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The Premier League is back, and here we take a look at the leading contenders for this season’s title and the sides that could mount a challenge.

It is that stage of the year once again. Football across the UK is ready to burst back into action, with leagues resuming nationwide after a long summer dominated by international football. Although the World Cup delivered plenty of drama and excitement, club football remains unmatched, and the Premier League appears set for one of its most gripping campaigns yet.

The Big Six - or however many teams now qualify for that label - are smashing transfer records in all directions. Clubs embarking on their first European campaigns, or returning to Europe after a long absence, are getting ready to discover whether their squads can handle the demands of competing on two fronts. Newly-promoted sides, meanwhile, are trying to work out whether they have enough quality to stay afloat among the elite.

So, with the Premier League season only just getting underway, who are the favourites, and what is prompting experts and supporters alike to back them in such large numbers?

For Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, as has been the case for several years now, consistency seems to be the main factor keeping them high in the betting. At one UK online casino offering sports odds, they are currently favourites to retain the title.

Following the Spaniard’s first league crown as manager in 2025/26, Arsenal have largely taken a cautious approach in the market. Piero Hincapie’s loan switch has now been made permanent, while Christos Tzolis has joined from Club Brugge. Apart from speculation over a huge move for Vinicius Junior, Arsenal seem content to stay with what they have rather than make sweeping changes.

Manchester City, now without Pep Guardiola, are second favourites to win their first Premier League title since 2024. They might still have been ahead of Arsenal in the market had the Spanish great not left, but equally they may have slipped even further down the list had it not been for their early transfer activity.

Only one signing may truly stand out, but bringing in Elliot Anderson for a record-breaking fee for an English player means Enzo Maresca now has one of the World Cup’s breakout stars in his squad. His displays for England showed he is capable of matching players such as Declan Rice, which is especially important given Rodri’s possible exit and his growing injury concerns.

For the red half of Merseyside, it is not a player signing that has made them third favourites to win back the title they surrendered rather meekly last season. They may not be tipped to cruise to the championship, but their new manager could provide exactly the spark required to refresh the side.

Arne Slot has been succeeded by Andoni Iraola, and the work he did at Bournemouth reflects very well on Liverpool’s prospects. His high-intensity style has already been compared this summer to Jurgen Klopp’s. More specifically, his preferred approach resembles the rock-and-roll football that brought Liverpool both the Champions League and Premier League under the German.

It has been quite some time since Manchester United were viewed as one of the top four favourites for the title. That in itself underlines that they may have improved, but also that they remain some distance away from the level required to compete right at the summit.

For the Red Devils, much of the early buzz - if it can be called that - centres on whether they can maintain the strong form Michael Carrick oversaw to secure Champions League football. Those results were exactly what was required at Old Trafford and, if the club legend can sustain that momentum, United will continue to attract support in the market.

Elsewhere, both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed strong summer windows, bringing in leading performers for close to £100 million or more in the shape of Morgan Rogers and Sandro Tonali respectively. Naturally, once the fixture list begins to intensify, plenty can change, but there is already a great deal to look forward to as the season gets back under way.