Every Premier League club's biggest question mark in 2026/27
· Yahoo Sports
New season, new intrigue. Every club's biggest question mark ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Arsenal: Can Mikel Arteta's men go to the well again?
Arsenal got the monkey off their back with a drought-ending title success last season, ending 22 years of hurt and overcoming recent runners-up trauma. Their run-in was increasingly nervy before getting over the line, in a success that will surely increase confidence ahead of their defence.
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However, Arsenal have not defended a league title since 1935, with six sides- Portsmouth, Wolves,Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City all managing back-to-back since then.
Aston Villa: Can Unai Emery's new spine hit the ground running?
Aston Villa's greatest success in 30 years has been followed by a summer of frustration. The Premier League's financial rules have contributed to their Europa League-winning side being picked apart, with Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans, and Morgan Rogers all leaving.
Ezri Konsa will be next out the door, while Emi Martinez is expected to move on too. Ollie Watkins also has Saudi Arabian suitors. With Amadou Onana out with an ACL injury, the spine of last season's side has been decimated. Emery needs new arrivals, including Joao Gomes and Zion Suzuki, to make an immediate impact.
Bournemouth: Will Marco Rose follow the Iraola blueprint?
Bournemouth acted quickly when it became apparent that Andoni Iraola was off to Anfield, securing the services of Marco Rose.
It seems a solid fit, with Rose having spent much of his coaching career in the Red Bull group, known for high-intensity football. In a summer of change, that could aid the Cherries.
Brentford: Can super scouts find more bargains?
The wheels fell off forBrentford a little over last season's run-in. What had looked a surge towards European football came undone, as the Bees won one of their last 10, drawing seven times.
Brentford have continued to unearth gems with one of the lowest budgets in the division, but more bargains are required to flesh out their stretched squad with depth.
Brighton: Where do the goals come from?
For the second straight summer,Brighton have lost their leading scorer. While Joao Pedro's move to Chelsea was expected, Danny Welbeck's switch to the same club 12 months later was a surprise.
Welbeck scored 13 league goals last season, the best return of his career. No other Brighton player managed more than five, a headache for Fabian Hurzeler.
Chelsea: Will new veteran help discipline issues?
Chelsea have changed tactics in the summer window, adding thirty-somethings Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson to their inexperienced squad.
The veterans will hope to govern a dressing room that struggled with indiscipline last season. Aclub-record 11 red cards in all competitions must not be repeated.
Coventry City: Is summer splurge enough to consolidate?
Coventry scored the most goals and had the best defensive record on the route to the Championship title last season, but the Premier League is a different beast.
The Sky Blues have followedSunderland's copybook by spending big in an attempt to survive, breaking their transfer record four times in one window. None of those additions has Premier League experience. Will the gamble come off?
Crystal Palace: Can wasteful Eagles sharpen up around goal?
Last season will be remembered atCrystal Palace for European success in the Conference League, with their Premier League form suffering as a result.
However, the data demonstrated that Palace had the chances to greatly improve a 15th-place finish. The Eagles ranked eighth for xG created, but were the most wasteful side in the league by a distance. Palace underperformed their xG by a whopping -22.54 goals.
Everton: Will Hill Dickinson feel like home?
Hill Dickinson Stadium is a phenomenal venue, but it didn't quite feel like a fortress forEverton last season.
The Toffees took home just six wins at their shiny new ground, a record that must improve this time around. Their patchy home form was the difference between European football and a bottom half finish, last time out.
Fulham: Can Arbeloa cure travel sickness?
If Everton need to up their home form,Fulham are facing the opposite. The Cottagers claimed 11 league wins in West London, but mustered only four on the road.
Of teams to avoid relegation last season, only Leeds managed fewer away wins.
Hull City: Will Hull continue to make a mockery of the data?
No one saw Hull getting promoted last season, least of all the data nerds.
The Tigers ranked 20th in the Championship for shots per game, 19th for average possession, and conceded the second-highest xG in the entire league.
Hull conceded 17.69 goals fewer than they were expected to according to the data, a metric that appears even more unsustainable after leaping, by surprise, into the Premier League.
Ipswich Town: Can Town's top talent bridge the gap?
After promotion in 2024, Ipswich spent much of that summer hoovering up the Championship's best talent. Jacob Greaves, Jack Clarke, Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap came in the door, but only the latter proved he could truly cut it in the top tier.
Clarke was excellent again during their promotion this time around, but has a point to prove if Ipswich are to avoid another downward yo-yo.
Leeds United: Will Leeds get academy flowing again?
A healthy stream of academy graduates that included Kalvin Phillips, Charlie Cresswell, Jack Clarke and Archie Gray has slowed of late, enough for Leeds to not award a Young Player of the Year in 2025/26.
Daniel Farke has favoured experience, but Leeds must produce homegrown talent to continue competing.
Liverpool: Can Iraola get the best out of record recruits?
Liverpool's record-breaking recruitment drive did not go as planned last season, with the champions stumbling to fifth place.
The axe fell on Arne Slot, with Andoni Iraola hired to replace him, and tasked with getting the best from the marquee men. Neither Alexander Isak nor Florian Wirtz delivered last season - and that needs to change.
Manchester City: How do you replace the irreplaceable?
Pep Guardiola famously said "We cannot replace him" in May 2021 while fighting back tears when discussing Sergio Agüero's departure from Manchester City.
It's become a famous football meme, and one perhaps never more relevant than for his own exit from the Etihad. Guardiola won it all with the Cityzens, setting records and standards. Enzo Maresca has a massive job on his hands.
Manchester United: Can Carrick's side break down teams?
Manchester United picked up more points against top-half teams than bottom-half teams last season. The curious quirk perhaps points to a squad suited to counter, with Bruno Fernandes threading passes to the willing runners of Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.
The challenge now is to unlock deeper defences, if the Red Devils are to become challengers again.
Newcastle United: Will youth-focused reset work?
Newcastle had looked on the cusp of upsetting the established elite in recent seasons, twice securing Champions League football and ending a long trophy drought.
However, like Aston Villa, financial rules have restricted the Magpies, and their talented team has been broken up. Rather than replacing Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon with established talent, Newcastle have focused on youth.
It's a gamble, and might be one step back to take two forward.
Nottingham Forest: Can Glasner and Marinakis make relationship work?
Nottingham Forest's appointment of Oliver Glasner has put two of the league's most fascinating characters together.
The Austrian has never been shy to voice his feelings, while Forest owner Marinakis pulls no punches with his comments - or actions - either. Glasner and Forest look an ideal match tactically, if harmony can remain in the background at the City Ground.
Sunderland: Can kids kick on for Sunderland?
Sunderland spent big to give themselves a fighting chance of survival last season, and exceeded all expectations to secure Europa League football.
The Black Cats have been much quieter this summer with finances tight, but their recruitment from last season can have sustained success.
Sunderland had the second-youngest side in the Premier League last season and will hope their Wearside wonderkids can kick on, as the club juggles continental competition.
Tottenham Hotspur: Will big spending equal success?
Spurs have splashed the cash under Roberto De Zerbi this summer, with Savinho's imminent arrival from Manchester City set to take the North Londoners past £300m.
Further additions are expected, including Savinho's club teammate Omar Marmoush, as Spurs look to build a squad that can handle injuries and improve on consecutive campaigns of struggle.
Spurs have recouped plenty in terms of sales, but the critics will point to the money spent when judging De Zerbi. Big deals increase expectations. A top-four challenge is a must.