The wait is almost over. One week from now, the 2026/27 Premier League season begins, with champions Arsenal welcoming newly promoted Coventry City to the Emirates on Friday, August 21.
But after an unusually long summer following the 2026 World Cup, this season could feel very different from the one fans left behind. The biggest thing to watch is how quickly the new-look teams actually click.
Nine Premier League clubs begin the campaign with new managers, including Manchester City under Enzo Maresca, Liverpool under Andoni Iraola and Chelsea under Xabi Alonso. That means some of the league’s biggest teams are entering the season with completely different tactical ideas.
Liverpool may be the most fascinating case. Iraola has inherited a squad that has lost major figures including Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté, while new arrivals such as Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz are expected to contribute. Alexander Isak is also back involved after his injury problems. The question is whether Iraola can turn that talent into his high-intensity, vertical football quickly enough.
Then there is Manchester United’s new era under Michael Carrick. United finished third last season and qualified for the Champions League, but Carrick now has to prove that the revival wasn’t just a short-term bounce.
New signings including Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos give him considerably more options. And perhaps the most intriguing returning player is Marcus Rashford, back at the club after loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona.
At Chelsea, Alonso inherits one of the league’s most dramatically rebuilt squads. Morgan Rogers arrived from Aston Villa for a reported £117 million, while Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck bring experience to a very young group. Mykhailo Mudryk is also back after his doping ban was reduced.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have something their rivals don’t: continuity. They are defending their first Premier League title in 22 years, but the challenge is avoiding complacency. Bruno Guimarães is the headline addition after his £75 million move from Newcastle, joining an already strong midfield containing Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino.
There are also plenty of new faces outside the traditional title race. Coventry return to the Premier League after 25 years under Frank Lampard, while Hull City and Ipswich Town also come up. Coventry’s club-record signing Caleb Yirenkyi and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth will be among the players to watch as they try to avoid becoming another immediately relegated promoted side.
And don’t forget the young players. The Premier League itself has highlighted potential breakout stars at every club, meaning this could be the season when several names who are currently familiar mainly to academy watchers become household names.
So, one week out, the biggest question isn’t just who will win the league? It’s which of these new projects will actually work?
New managers. New signings. Returning stars. Promoted clubs. Young players waiting for their moment. After all that waiting, the Premier League is finally about to start again.
