Hayters season predictions: Top four, relegation, footballer of the year, cup winners and more | OneFootball

With the new Premier League campaign among us, the Hayters team make their predictions for what will happen this season.

Let us know your predictions in the comments section too.

Dan Bennett:

Top four in order: Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea

Liverpool to win it again with their new signings to hit the ground running, but Manchester City will put up a good fight.

Relegation: Sunderland, Leeds, Burnley

For a third straight season, I think the promoted three will go down, though I hope that is not the case.

Top scorer: Erling Haaland

The best goalscorer in world football.

Biggest surprise: Nottingham Forest to struggle after a fantastic last season.

Footballer of the year: Florian Wirtz

Looks a top player, and I’m backing him to help fire Liverpool to the title.

FA Cup: Manchester United

Ruben Amorim to bounce back from a nightmare last season by winning a trophy.

League Cup: Chelsea

Enzo Maresca to bring another trophy to Stamford Bridge.

Nick Callow

Top four in order: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea

I have to get this prediction right one season, and so does Mikel Arteta. He has recruited well, and it is hard to envisage Liverpool being so consistent again.

Relegation: Sunderland, Burnley, Leeds

Top scorer: Viktor Gyokeres

For my title prediction to come through, then so does Arsenal’s first proper number nine in recent memory.

Biggest surprise: Tottenham and Man United to bounce back from their relegation struggles to be strong top ten contenders. United could possibly make top six.

Player of the season: Florian Wirtz

He should be as the most expensive player in English football history.

FA Cup: Man City

They will be stronger this season.

League Cup: Arsenal

The kids will do it for Arteta.

Gerry Cox

Top four in order: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea

Pep won’t want to miss out again, and has strengthened in all the right places since January. Spurs, Newcastle and Aston Villa may find European commitments stretch their squads. Man Utd still not good enough.

Relegated: West Ham, Leeds, Nottingham Forest

It would be healthy NOT to have the promoted three go straight back down, and Forest and will struggle to juggle domestic and European football.

Top scorer: Erling Haaland

If City are firing again, Haaland will have goalsoring chances served on a plate.

Biggest surprise: Everton to qualify for Europe

New stadium, Moyes back, Grealish factor.

Footballer of the Year: Cole Palmer

Charisma, skill, and the best player in the team of ‘World Champions’.

FA Cup: Tottenham

League Cup: Chelsea

James St Denis

Top four in order: Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City

It has been the dream summer for the Premier League shampions, who have only made the best team even better.

Relegation: Leeds, Brentford, Burnley

I expect the post-Thomas Frank era to end in relegation back to the Championship for Brentford, whilst the other two promoted sides have not strengthened with enough quality unlike Sunderland.

Top scorer: Erling Haaland

One below standard season still harboured 20+ goals. Expect the new signings to aid his quest for another golden boot.

Biggest surprise: Everton

New stadium, new players, new owners. A fresh start for David Moyes’ side who will be buoyed by the new exciting signings and contract extension of key defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

Footballer of the year: Florian Wirtz

Most expensive player in the Premier League for a reason. Will be key for Arne Slot’s side this campaign.

FA Cup: Arsenal

It’s about time the Gunners won a trophy, and this is the one they will claim.

League Cup: Aston Villa

Unai Emery will finally turn his European cup pedigree into a domestic one to guide Villa to a long-awaited trophy.

Stan Smith

Top four in order: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea

Pep Guardiola has never missed out on the league title in two consecutive seasons. Questions still remain but if anybody can find answers, it is him. Arsenal and Liverpool will be strong but their high-profile signings are not guaranteed to be instant successes.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola (Photo by MOHAMED TAGELDIN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Relegation: Brentford, Wolves, Burnley

In one summer Brentford have lost their manager, coaches, captain and possibly two best players (if Yoane Wissa does go). Wolves were heavily reliant on Matheus Cunha who has not been suitably replaced. And Burnley simply will not have enough.

Top scorer: Erling Haaland

The gold standard for strikers in recent years, the Norwegian will reclaim the Golden Boot.

Biggest surprise: Everton

The Toffees have quietly built a strong starting eleven. With the feel good factor of their new stadium they will push for a top-half finish and potentially even higher.

Footballer of the year: Cole Palmer

After a dip in form last season, he was back to his electrifying best at the Club World Cup.

FA Cup: Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has to win a trophy this season and he will.

League Cup: Chelsea

Enzo Maresca’s project has been developing nicely and the next step is for his side to claim a domestic trophy.

Nayan Murthy

Top four in order: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea

Despite concerns about Liverpool’s defence I think their strengths going forward through Hugo Ekitike, Mo Salah and Florian Wirtz will be too much for the rest of the league to handle. Arsenal will run them closer than they did last season with the addition of new strike Viktor Gyokeres.

Relegation: Brentford, Burnley, Leeds

I think Sunderland’s recruitment this summer will be enough to keep them in the league and Brentford losing Christian Norgaard, Bryan Mbuemo and possibly even Yoane Wissa will hurt them.

Top scorer: Erling Haaland

Not much to say about this pick, the most prolific player in the league since he joined and I think Manchester City will be more dangerous going forward with Rayan Cherki.

Biggest surprise: Everton

I think Jack Grealish is a brilliant signing and under David Moyes they could challenge for Europe this season.

Footballer of the year: Mo Salah

The best player in the Premier League will continue his form from last season. Liverpool have only increased their firepower going forward this season and Salah will benefit from that massively.

FA Cup: Spurs

Thomas Frank changing his style of play depending on opposition is suited to tournament football.

League Cup: Man City

Pep Guardiola will get back to winning ways next season by winning the trophy that he valued so highly when he first took over the club.

Nazira Yusuf

Top four in order: Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea

I can’t overlook Liverpool and Arne Slot. They have all the ingredients to retain their Premier League crown in 2025/26.

Relegation: Brentford, Wolves, Burnley

Burnley simply haven’t strengthened enough to survive, Wolves have lost Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri and Brentford have lost boss Thomas Frank and key players Bryan Mbuemo and Christian Norgaard, while Yoane Wissa could also leave.

Top scorer: Mo Salah

The Egyptian king has been the Premier League’s most consistent goal threat for nearly a decade, and having won it last season there’s little reason to believe 2025/26 will be any different.

Biggest surprise: Manchester United

The arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo, and Benjamin Šeško give them speed, movement, and flexibility up top, while no European schedule compared to rivals could help them stay fresh.

Footballer of the year: Florian Wirtz

A genuine blockbuster signing. His vision, creativity, and ability to unlock defences could define the season for his new club.

FA Cup: Man Utd

League Cup: Arsenal

Raff Tindale

Top four in order: Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea

Liverpool to secure their second title in a row after what looks to be an extremely successful transfer window. Should they sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle there is nothing stopping them from steam rolling through the league, though Man City will push them to the very end if the Swede stays put on Tyneside.

Relegation: Sunderland, Leeds, Burnley

The gulf in quality between Premier League and Championship sides has rarely been greater, and it is hard to see the fortunes of Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley being any different.

Top scorer: Erling Haaland

22 goals in the league last season in what would was dubbed a not so successful season for the Norwegian and Manchester City as a whole. Guardiola’s side have strengthened in key areas and will be back amongst the title contenders this campaign with Haaland leading the way.

Biggest surprise: Spurs to win back-to-back trophies (see below)

Footballer of the year: Erling Haaland

Manchester City will be back on track this year and if they manage to reclaim the Premier League title from Liverpool, it’ll be no doubt thanks to the goalscoring prowess of their number nine.

FA Cup: Spurs

A realistic follow-up on the Europa League success, an FA Cup victory would be the perfect way to kick off the Thomas Frank era at Tottenham. They have the know-how to win a tournament, and led by two-time Copa America and World Cup winner Cristian Romero, certainly have the talent to do so to boot.

League Cup: Manchester United

A dire first season at the club for Ruben Amorim, but Man United don’t often leave it long without winning silverware. The new signings will play a big part in the Red Devils’ resurgence, and I can see the Manchester outfit winning the League Cup to kickstart the Amorim era.

Japtej Ghura

Top four in order: Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City

Liverpool to win the league again after strengthening in key areas and keeping ahead of the pack. The rest of the top four pick themselves but I do feel Chelsea will finish third, either ahead of City or Arsenal.

Relegation: Brentford, Leeds, Burnley

I’ve gone Sunderland to stay up as I’m a big fan of their summer business. Granit Xhaka is a huge coup and could easily still play for a Champions League team. I think Brentford will go down as Keith Andrews has never held a head coach position and the loss of Bryan Mbuemo and possibly Yoane Wissa means they are seriously weakened.

Top scorer: Mo Salah

Top scorer is interesting. It could be Isak or Haaland but Salah is ever-dependable and shows no signs of slowing down.

Biggest surprise: Both Gyokeres and Sesko struggle

I think both Gyokeres and Sesko will struggle, for different reasons. Gyokeres had excellent numbers in Portugal but his strength is playing with space ahead of him and running the channels. Arsenal play a lot of teams who sit deep against them so he won’t have that opportunity. Sesko strikes me as another Hojlund/Zirkzee. A decent young striker who is overpriced and not ready to be a United starter. He only scored 13 Bundesliga goals last year and 14 the year before that.

Player of the season: Mo Salah

I think Salah will be the player of the season if Liverpool win the league. Wirtz looks excellent but it’s his first campaign and even if Isak signs he is injury-prone whereas Salah is so resilient and will play almost every game.

FA Cup: Arsenal

They desperately need a trophy but I don’t see them winning the Premier League or Champions League.

League Cup: Chelsea

They’re not ready to win the Premier League or Champions League but this team is full of firepower and have carried their excellent form at the end of last season into the Club World Cup.

Dan Ludlam

Top four in order: Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea, Man City

Liverpool to go back to back but United to provide the surprise of the season pushing them to the wire in a hotly-disputed title race. Chelsea and City to finish above an underwhelming Arsenal.

Relegation: Brentford, Leeds, Burnley

Brentford to succumb to the sale of several of their best players, while Sunderland to perform above expectations and avoid the drop, unlike their promoted counterparts.

Top scorer: Benjamin Sesko

Season of his life and will immediately endear himself to the Old Trafford faithful.

Footballer of the year: Florian Wirtz

Consistent top performer and will play a major part in Liverpool retaining their crown.

FA Cup: Chelsea

Enzo Maresca to continue his trophy-laden spell with Chelsea.

League Cup: Liverpool

Arne Slot league and cup double incoming.

Aaron Jaffe

Top four in order: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea

Mikel Arteta has fine-tuned his squad this summer, headlined by the highly-anticipated arrival of a centre-forward in Viktor Gyokeres. If the pieces finally start to click, they could be on their way to ending their 22-year wait.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Relegation: Sunderland, Leeds, Burnley

The gap between the Premier League and Championship still feels too large, and I think all promoted sides will go down for a third consecutive season. Sunderland have strengthened smartly, adding the experience of Granit Xhaka and securing key deals for the likes of Trai Hume and Eliezer Mayenda. I think Leeds’ recruitment has been underwhelming, and Burnley’s squad lacks Premier League quality, but clubs such as Wolves, Brentford and West Ham may also struggle.

Top scorer: Erling Haaland

There’s no goal scorer quite like him in world football right now. If Arsenal’s Gyokeres can hit the ground running, the Norwegian will face stealthy competition — but we know competition simply fuels him to perform even better.

Biggest surprise: Sunderland to take points off big six at home

I tipped them for relegation, and while nobody enjoys comparisons with their arch-rivals, Sunderland share some similarities with their neighbours that could work in their favour: awfully cold weather, a high away end to rattle visitors, passionate home fans and an energetic, intelligent manager who has recruited well this summer. While it will be tough to challenge the heavyweights as newcomers, they could make their mark on the top end of the table at the Stadium of Light.

Footballer of the year: Bukayo Saka

The 23-year-old’s campaign last season was interrupted by an injury that kept him out between the end of December to April, yet he still managed to reach double figures in assists. With Noni Madueke ready to slot in, Saka will undoubtedly rise to the challenge, and the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi and Gyokeres could be the key to elevating his game.

FA Cup: Chelsea

Chelsea have had a knack for trophies recently, and the FA Cup could be their clearest pathway to winning silverware once again. Enzo Maresca holds a strong hand of attacking options, which could prove vital when navigating through the rounds in the congested months at the start of the calendar year.

League Cup: Manchester City

Pep Guardiola’s side are no strangers to this tournament — they won it four times in a row between 2018 and 2021 — and with greater depth this season, they look an even more fearsome force in cup competitions.