Phil McNulty's Premier League Predictions: Who Finishes Where

Every August, one BBC column gets more heated debate than almost anything else in football media, and Phil McNulty's Premier League predictions are back for another go-around. This year the chief football writer himself admits it's the toughest table he's had to call, with nine new managers taking charge across the division before a ball's even been kicked.

So let's walk through what he's actually predicted, club by club, and the reasoning behind the calls that'll get fans arguing loudest.

The Headline Call in Phil McNulty's Premier League Predictions

The top of Phil McNulty's Premier League predictions is where he's most confident. Arsenal, fresh off ending a 22-year title drought last season, get tipped to go back-to-back. He points to strength across the squad and the psychological edge of already being champions, calling it about as straightforward a pick as he's made.

Manchester City sit second, entering a genuine transition period under new boss Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola's departure. Big departures like Rodri and Bernardo Silva create uncertainty, but with Erling Haaland still leading the line, McNulty isn't ruling out silverware.

Liverpool round out his podium in third. Andoni Iraola arrives from Bournemouth to steady things after a rocky title defence, and McNulty expects a top-four finish even while acknowledging the adjustment period following Mohamed Salah's departure.

The Surprise Picks Further Down

Here's where things get genuinely interesting. Chelsea land in fourth under new manager Xabi Alonso, a pick McNulty himself frames as a bit of a punt given the noise around Enzo Fernández's future and general squad unrest. Strong additions like Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix, plus experienced dressing-room additions in Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, are cited as reasons for optimism despite the drama.

Manchester United sit fifth under Michael Carrick, who gets credit for steadying the ship after taking over mid-crisis last season. No title challenge expected there, but a solid upper-half finish and Champions League football are the targets.

Tottenham are tipped for a big rebound at seventh after a shambolic 17th-place finish last time out, largely thanks to heavy investment under Roberto De Zerbi following a summer of managerial chaos.

The Mid-Table Picture

This is the part most prediction columns rush through, but it's where McNulty's reasoning gets genuinely interesting.

Aston Villa slip to sixth despite a strong previous campaign, as losing key players like Youri Tielemans hits harder than the arrival of loan signing Alejandro Garnacho can immediately offset. Tottenham, discussed above, bounce back into seventh on the back of serious summer investment.

Nottingham Forest sit eighth, a notable jump after surviving a chaotic four-manager season. New boss Oliver Glasner inherits real transfer funds and a talented core built around Morgan Gibbs-White. Brighton, ninth, benefit from a smart swap of departing veterans for younger talent like defender Luka Vuskovic, while juggling a return to European football.

Brentford round out the top ten under Keith Andrews, with striker Igor Thiago tipped to keep the goals flowing after a strong debut campaign. Crystal Palace land 11th, losing manager Oliver Glasner but bringing in well-regarded replacement Pierre Sage, with enough squad quality to challenge for another cup run.

Newcastle drop to 12th in a summer McNulty frames as genuinely turbulent, with manager Eddie Howe and several key players departing and new boss Matthias Jaissle inheriting real uncertainty. Everton sit 13th, with manager David Moyes openly admitting his squad still has work to do despite a couple of smart additions.

Bournemouth are tipped for a drop-off to 14th following Iraola's departure to Liverpool, with new boss Marco Rose facing the added pressure of Europa League football. Leeds United complete the mid-table stretch in 15th, with a club-record goalkeeper signing and the usual Elland Road atmosphere factored into the call. Fulham round out this group in 16th under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, tipped for a season of stability rather than progress.

At the other end, McNulty's Premier League predictions have all three promoted clubs going straight back down: Coventry City, Ipswich Town, and Hull City. It's not for lack of ambition, either; Ipswich alone reportedly spent around £150 million rebuilding their squad across a dozen major signings, and Coventry have been credited with real spending intent under owner Doug King.

Sunderland complete the bottom four in McNulty's table, following a near-miraculous Europa League qualification the previous season that he thinks may prove hard to repeat, especially given a relatively quiet summer of incoming transfers.

Why This Year's Table Is Harder to Call

What makes this year different, and what McNulty himself flags directly, is the sheer volume of managerial change. Nine clubs enter the season under new leadership, which adds real unpredictability compared to a typical pre-season prediction column. New tactical systems take time to bed in, and results in August rarely reflect where a squad settles by spring.

That volatility is exactly why McNulty's own prediction record is worth keeping in mind. He's correctly called the champion in most recent seasons, but he's also been famously wrong before; his 2015-16 prediction had Leicester City relegated, the same season they won the title outright. It's a reminder that these calls are informed guesswork, not certainty, however confidently they're written.

So, Who Should You Actually Trust Here?

Phil McNulty's Premier League predictions won't settle any pub arguments, but they rarely aim to. Arsenal as favorites to retain their crown feels like the safest call on the list, while the fourth and fifth-place picks for Chelsea and Manchester United carry real risk given the managerial uncertainty both clubs are navigating. Down at the bottom, tipping all three promoted sides for an immediate return is the traditional pre-season call, even though McNulty himself acknowledges one of them will likely prove him wrong. If your club's prediction has you fuming, that's sort of the point; check back in May and see how many of these calls actually held up.

FAQs

Who does Phil McNulty predict to win the Premier League in 2026/27? McNulty has tipped Arsenal to retain their title, citing squad depth and the psychological advantage of coming into the season as reigning champions under Mikel Arteta.

Which teams does Phil McNulty predict will be relegated? His predictions have all three promoted clubs, Coventry City, Ipswich Town, and Hull City, going straight back down, alongside Sunderland completing the bottom four.

How accurate have Phil McNulty's Premier League predictions been historically? He's correctly predicted the champion in most recent seasons, but has also been notably wrong before, famously tipping eventual champions Leicester City for relegation in 2015-16.

Where does Phil McNulty predict Chelsea will finish? He's tipped Chelsea for fourth place under new manager Xabi Alonso, describing it as a riskier pick given uncertainty around Enzo Fernández's future at the club.

Why does Phil McNulty say this year's predictions are especially difficult? Nine Premier League clubs are entering the season with new managers, creating more tactical and squad uncertainty than a typical pre-season column usually has to account for.