Premier League Winner Odds: Liverpool on course for back-to-back titles

Liverpool lost the FA Community Shield on penalties to Crystal Palace on Sunday, but the Reds remain favourites to win the 2025/26 Premier League title after last season's runaway success under Arne Slot. But who are the closest runners and riders?

Below are the Premier League Winner Odds, where I take a look at the six most-fancied clubs to be crowned champions next May...

Liverpool @ 15/8

Liverpool were 7/4 with Betfred to retain the title prior to the Wembley shoot-out defeat to Palace, but have since dropped to 15/8, marking a 1.6% decrease in probability. It's probably a bit silly to read much, if anything, into that one-off game, though.

There were some fantastic interchanges between the Reds' forward line during the first half, and new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong both got on the scoresheet, either side of a spot-kick from Eagles striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. Fellow new boys Florian Kerkez and Milos Kerkez both looked lively, too.

There was much less fluidity in their play in the second half, though, and a couple of changes appeared to unsettle the side, with Ismaila Sarr scoring an equaliser for Oliver Glasner's side, who went on to win 3-2 on penalties.

Slot will have been disappointed by some of the defending in north-west London, and a failure to keep a clean sheet in five pre-season friendlies underlines the point that there is work to be done at the back heading into the start of the Premier League campaign against AFC Bournemouth on Friday.

Football Odds

But it's still early days, and Liverpool will surely tighten up as the weeks go on. In any case, they look to have assembled a frightening forward line, perhaps supplemented by Newcastle United's Alexander Isak before the end of the transfer window.

With Jarell Quansah sold to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez perennially injured, another centre-back is surely required, but otherwise, Liverpool look all set to mount a strong title defence.

Whether Mohamed Salah can repeat last season's feats, when he scored 29 Premier League goals and registered 18 assists, is doubtful. But with Wirtz, Ekitike, and, potentially, Isak or another forward in the mix, does the Egyptian really need to?

Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold were among the Reds' high-profile exits this summer, but the starting XI and squad look stronger, not weaker, on paper. With Slot as head coach and Virgil van Dijk as captain, complacency shouldn't be an issue, either.

The tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre, has hit the side hard over the summer, but if one club can come out the other end stronger, it's Liverpool.

Arsenal @ 9/4

Arsenal were Liverpool's closest challengers in 2024/25, finishing as runners-up to the Reds, but a 10-point gap by the campaign's conclusion, and with the Merseysiders failing to win any of their last four games, highlights just how far the Gunners were from claiming a first league title since 2004.

Once again, though, it's been a busy summer for Mikel Arteta's side, who have kept all their key players and added Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Those last four names may merely be squad players, but Gyokeres and Zubimendi have been brought in to start most games and be the difference between finishing first and second.

Arsenal have been crying out for a number nine, so Gyokeres has been a welcome addition, but he will need to do what Darwin Nunez failed to do before him at Liverpool - translate his goalscoring success from the Portuguese Primeira Liga to the English Premier League.

Zubimendi, meanwhile, should add control to the Gunners' midfield, allowing Declan Rice to further express himself in the attacking third.

No club is more desperate to win the title than Arsenal, who have finished second in the last three seasons, so motivation shouldn't be a factor in 2025/26.

The mental scars, though, could be an issue, and Arteta's mindset may need to change for the north Londoners to overcome the final hurdle. Too much focus has been placed on the defensive side of their game, and sticking with that formula could prove costly.

Manchester City @ 3/1

The 2024/25 season was a shambolic one for Manchester City, who had won the last four titles and six of the last seven.

Pep Guardiola's charges failed to mount any kind of defence of their crown, and there were points where they were in danger of failing to qualify for the Uefa Champions League.

A strong end to the campaign put those fears to bed, though, and the Citizens ended up just three points behind Arsenal.

City went big in the January transfer window, signing Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis, although it looks like only one - Marmoush - will play a significant role this season, with Reis already loaned out to sister club Girona.

Their spending continued into the summer, with Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and James Trafford all signed for significant sums.

An extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal in the last 16 of the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup last month indicated that not everything is back to normal for City, though, and they don't look as formidable as they once were, even on paper, with Kevin De Bruyne the headline name out the exit door.

Their midfield has been further depleted by another injury suffered by Rodri, who spent most of last season in the treatment room before returning in May. The Spaniard may not be back in action until mid-September, and Guardiola will hope that Reijnders & Co. can hold the fort until the reigning Ballon d'Or winner returns.

I expect City to be back in title contention this season, but understandably, their chances of lifting the trophy next May are rated lower than Liverpool and Arsenal.

Chelsea @ 8/1

Chelsea are regarded as the biggest potential threat to the 'Big Three' and for good reason, having finished 'best of the rest' last season before lifting the Club World Cup trophy in July.

Whether you regard the Club World Cup as a major trophy, or the Uefa Conference League, which they won in May, for that matter, one thing that cannot be denied is that the Blues have built up some real belief in their ranks.

Enzo Maresca's side lost just two of their last 18 games, and in both defeats, they were reduced to 10 men.

Premier League Odds

During the Club World Cup, the Blues brought on board Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens to boost their attacking ranks, while Brazilian winger Estevao touched down in west London after the conclusion of the tournament.

Further attacking reinforcements are mooted, although Maresca may be more eager for a defender or two first, despite the addition of Jorrel Hato, following the news that Levi Colwill is set to miss most of the upcoming season with an ACL injury.

Doubts still persist over Chelsea's goalkeeper department, with neither Robert Sanchez nor Filip Jorgensen inspiring much confidence last season, and for that reason alone, a first Premier League title since 2017 looks unlikely.

Today's Football Fixtures

Manchester United @ 25/1

There was a point last season when I truly believed Manchester United would put themselves in a position to emerge as title favourites in 2025/26 and win their first league since 2013, but unfortunately, they won't be playing EFL Championship football this term, as Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City all proved to be even more useless in the Premier League, and Ruben Amorim's side ended the campaign in the dizzy heights of 15th.

They actually collected more points (42) than Leicester City (41) did in the season before they won the Premier League a decade ago, so perhaps that's an omen if you're a Man United supporter searching for something to cling on to?

Newcastle United @ 28/1

Newcastle United finished fifth last season, 18 points behind champions Liverpool, and so far, have only signed Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. At the same time, their main man, Isak, continues to be linked with a move to Merseyside.

That doesn't exactly scream title contention to me, and a battle for the European places looks much more likely.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.