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Sport Nation
Find your frequency here'A promoted side will stay up': Studs Up! predict 2025/26 Premier League ladder
Sport Nation • August 15th, 2025 6:00 am
Tune into Studs Up! with hosts Daniel McHardy & Riccardo Ball, 6pm Wednesdays, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Shout it from the highest mountaintops: a brand new Premier League season is upon us!
For Riccardo Ball and Daniel McHardy, the hosts of Sport Nation's weekly football podcast Studs Up!, it's the most wonderful time of the year seeing matchweek 1 approach.
Riccardo is known by listeners as a die-hard Manchester United fan, despite all the grief he has received for that fact in recent times with the Red Devils finishing 15th last season on a 11-9-18 win-draw-loss record.
Meanwhile, as a passionate Liverpool fan, Daniel has been sitting pretty during the off-season. The Reds have successfully transitioned from Jürgen Klopp to Arne Slot, whom took over the managerial reins in 2024, going into the 2025/26 Premier League season as the defending champions.
Bookmark this for reference at season's end - this is how the pair see the EPL ladder shaping up come matchweek 38 in May 2026.
The Reds won't replicate last season's success in 2025/26 | Photo: AP
1st
Riccardo - Manchester City: Pep’s men for the title, again. Since he’s been at City they’ve never gone back to back years without the title. James Trafford is an upgrade in goal, Rayan Aït-Nouri gives them a top quality left back, plus Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki give the team legs and goals from midfield replacing the aging Kevin De Bruyne.
Daniel - Arsenal: I’ve checked the rules and Arsenal are in fact not contractually obligated to finish second as they have in each of the past three seasons. Mikel Arteta’s squad has been strengthened, deepened and refreshed, thanks to an array of very sensible transfers, they even signed an out and out No. 9. There are no more excuses for Arteta - this is the season for the Arse, and if not, then Arteta might get the arse.
2nd
Riccardo - Liverpool: The reigning Premier League champions would do well to go back-to-back and they’re every chance. The difference this season is Slot has made editions to the squad, and moved others on. Having won last season with Klopp’s team, they’ll be tough to top but there might be some gelling to do before they get up to full speed.
Daniel - Manchester City: Citeh has seen significant change in their squad as Pep Guardiola tries to reboot the once indestructible project. But the health of Rodri remains an on-going issue after the Spanish midfield maestro missed most of 24/25. One player they will want more from is Erling Haaland, whose goal production has dropped in each season in the EPL. Lastly...something something something, charges, something something, points penalty pending?
3rd
Riccardo - Arsenal: Speaking of adding goals, Mikel Arteta has finally got the goal scorer he wanted in Viktor Gyökeres, Martín Zubimendi out of Spain looks like an upgrade on Thomas Partey in midfield too. Unfortunately for the Gunners, I think there are still two teams better than them in the league.
Daniel - Liverpool: The Champions finished ten points clear on the way to the 24/25 title, but the churn of players in the off-season is undeniable. There should be excitement around the signings of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, but right now their squad looks incomplete and, in some areas, quite thin. However, if they can land Alexander Isak, then wow, that could upend everything! Plus, Mo Salah. They still have Mo.
4th
Riccardo - Chelsea: The Club World Champions! Chelsea performed above expectations in the US, the unknown is how all that extra football will impact them during the season though. Chelsea have a bigger squad than most - they’ve added goals with Liam Delap and João Pedro, but I have them fourth because I still don’t trust them defensively.
Daniel - Chelsea: Deep and strong squad, but still a work in progress. Players capable of sprinkling magic like Cole Palmer and a central midfield core that is the envy of many. But I’m not yet convinced on their top No. 9 and if their keeper is good enough to take them back to the promised land.
5th
Riccardo - Manchester United: I know I’m a United fan, so maybe it’s the rose-tinted glasses, but the difference a pre-season has made has been plain to see. Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha have shown up, as has Bruno Fernandes. With talk of a new keeper and striker still to come, United are in for a Lazarus-like comeback this season.
Daniel - Newcastle: They won a trophy last season and qualified for Europe last season, so surely Newcastle will be happy? Nope. It’s been an off-season dominated by star striker Alexander Isak who wants to leave the club despite having three years left on his contract. If he stays, they finish 5th, if he leaves they will slide.
6th
Riccardo - Aston Villa: The Villains have a big season ahead of them, they’re in the Europa League, a competition manager Unai Emery has won four times. They have a solid squad but have yet to make any meaningful signings and they certainly need reinforcements and are yet to replace the influential loan signings of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
Daniel - Aston Villa: Two words, Unai Emery. He’s a smooth operator - like his hair - and I trust him to have Villa back in contention for the top 6. Emery has fun toys to play with in the form of established forward Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, who at times last season looked like a star in the making.
7th
Riccardo - Nottingham Forest: The former European Champions are back in Europe! How will the squad cope? They have depth but they’ll need Chris Wood to repeat a career best season.
Daniel - Manchester United: United will be the Nottingham Forrest of this season, a former relevant force that grabs European qualification after climbing the EPL ladder unexpectedly. Why? They now have a front line that fans can dream on. Though lingering questions about midfield, defence and keeper remain. This is another pick that could look misguided in a few weeks.
8th
Riccardo - Newcastle United: I know they’re in the Champions League this season, but that’s part of this consideration. Isak is agitating for a move and they’ve missed out on several targets. The big question for me will be Eddie Howe’s future, if they don’t step on this season he could well be in trouble.
Daniel - Tottenham Hotspur: Harder to pick than a broken nose, as this is some seriously volatile stock. Spurs lost 22 matches last season after all and still having glaring issues in their squad. I do like their new manager Thomas Frank and will place a lot of faith in him.
9th
Riccardo - Tottenham Hotspur: Thomas Frank replaces Ange Postecoglou, but have they replaced the medical department? Spurs' first choice defense started just 11 games of 38 together last season, if they can keep them on the field it should go a long way to improving on their 17th place finish last season.
Daniel - Brighton & Hove Albion: The Seagulls look well stocked across the park and set to remain in the EPL middle class. Yes, they sold Joao Pedro but the Brazilian only bagged 10 league goals last season, the same as veteran Danny Welbck. Brighton’s balance is their strength.
10th
Riccardo - Fulham: Marco Silva has done a remarkable job with the Cottagers, but will he get the backing he wants with transfers? That’s the question. They’re reasonably well equipped, but if you’re standing still you’re going backwards in the Premier League. I think as it stands they can nail down a top ten spot.
Daniel - Nottingham Forest: This could get me thrown out of New Zealand, but can Forest continue to rely on a 33-year old striker to keep banging them in at an elite level? Chris Wood has been truly extraordinary with 34 goals in the past two seasons, and they retained Morgan Gibbs-White to provide Wood the service he needs. I see a small step back for Forest.
Riccardo predicts EPL Top 10 for 2025-26 season | Studs Up! Podcast
11th
Riccardo - Brighton & Hove Albion: A lot will depend on how 18-year-old Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas hits the ground as both João Pedro and Evan Ferguson have left the club, Pedro’s 16 goal involvements could be a big miss for the seasiders in a season where Fabian Hurzeler is reshaping the squad.
Daniel - Crystal Palace: If the FA Cup winners from last season can retain Marc Guéhi, Eberechi Eze and the like, they will be a strong force once again. That is a big IF, but Oliver Glasner is a smart manager, one who I trust to recruit well if they are forced to late in the transfer window
12th
Riccardo - Crystal Palace: A European campaign for the first time in the club's history which may distract from the league campaign. If they can hold onto stars Eze and Jean-Phillipe Mateta they should be able to compete on both fronts, but with a month of the transfer window left to run there’s work to be done for Glasner.
Daniel - Fulham: Their big off-season signing, a back-up goalkeeper, need I say more? Treading water in the EPL is dangerous strategy.
13th
Riccardo - Bournemouth: The Cherries have lost three quarters of their defence and their No. 1 goalkeeper, so I expect them to drop off from the form they showed last season.
Daniel - Bournemouth: A team I battle to get a grip on. So much talent has left the building, including three defenders from last season’s starting line-up. That’s not a recipe for sustained success, but Bournemouth have retained a lot of firepower further up field.
14th
Riccardo - Everton: David Moyes did a great job at Everton last season and is now overseeing something of a squad rebuild as they move into the new stadium. They have lost a lot of experience and are still busy with recruitment, a season of consolidation for the Toffees.
Daniel - Everton: New chapter as the blue side of Merseyside moves into a new stadium (the Hill Dickinson Stadium, seriously, that’s where you landed) but when the dust settles, it will be same old Everton. The Jack Grealish signing is a true wildcard and very on brand for Everton.
15th
Riccardo - West Ham United: The Hammers should be better this season with Graham Potter having a pre-season with the team, and if he can stay fit, Callum Wilson on a free transfer looks like a good addition. Much will depend on how they spend the 55 million they got for Mohammed Kudus.
Daniel - West Ham United: I chugged the Kool-Aid on the Hammers this time last year and it tasted dreadful. I’m not prepared to go back to the well aftera rather meh season recruitment drive.
16th
Riccardo - Wolves: Vitor Pereira came in and saved the club from impending relegation, I think he can repeat the trick with a pre-season behind him. How he replaces the the goals and assists of the Manchester bound duo of Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait Nouri will be key.
Daniel - Brentford: Squeaky bum time for a very well-run club in recent years. After losing their leading goal scorer and their highly respected manager a step back seems a certainty.
17th
Riccardo - Sunderland: The last 6 sides promoted to the Premier League have all gone straight back down but I think Sunderland can buck the trend, they’ve spent well and the leadership of Swiss international and former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka is a great addition.
Daniel - Leeds United: Stop the press, a promoted side will stay up. If I squint hard, I can see enough goal scoring threat to guide Leeds to safety and buck the recent trend of promoted sides going straight down. Though I won’t be surprised if they finish the season with a new manager.
18th
Riccardo - Brentford: They’ve lost manager Thomas Frank to Spurs and have a rookie manager in Keith Andrews. They’ve also lost the spine of the team, their first choice keeper Mark Flekken, experienced centre back Ben Mee, Midfield anchor Christian Norgaard and playmaker/striker Bryan Mbuemo have all left – I expect them to struggle.
Daniel - Wolves: Last season their goal scoring threat preserved their Premiership status, but without their maverick talisman Cunha, their luck runs out in season 25/26. Off-season business has been underwhelming.
19th
Riccardo - Leeds United: Another promoted side. They’ve added depth to their squad in the transfer window with most signings coming in from the French and German leagues but it’s the German manager Daniel Farke that would worry me, he’s been relegated from the Prem twice before with Norwich, including a run of 15 straight defeats – a Premier League record.
Daniel - Sunderland: Big club returns to the big time, but let’s not lose sight they finished 24 points behind the Leeds and Burnley in the Championship last season. They’ve spent £100m+ on a group of talented youngsters and also added veteran midfielder Granit Xhaka, but I fear it is a season too early for a club heading in the right direction.
20th
Riccardo - Burnley: They’ve lost captain Josh Brownhill on a free, he scored 18 goals and completed 6 assists and England keeper James Trafford to Man City. Last time Scott Parker managed in the Premier League he lost 9 nil to Liverpool with Bournemouth and said his squad wasn’t equipped for the Premier League, he was sacked 3 days later.
Daniel - Burnley: More yo-yoing for you, Burnley fans. High turnover of squad in the offseason - including losing their star goalkeeper - that leaves me cold and with little confidence. Not sure they will rebuild that brick wall of a defence as they did in the Championship last season. Dyche back by Janaury?
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