Last season, Liverpool ended the Manchester City dynasty, at least for 2025, by winning its first Premier League championship since 2020. Manchester City had won four consecutive titles before running out of steam last year. Now Man City will look to reclaim its crown and forge a new dynasty, but a host of teams will provide difficult challenges.
The English Premier League stands apart as the most popular behemoth of soccer. No other league can match the EPL’s financial power and global reputation. Naturally, gamblers and fans love the Premier League for its tradition, endless storylines, and quality. The EPL is hardly comprised of just English players; instead, the best players from every corner of the globe play in it.
As soccer continues to gain popularity on TV, streaming devices, and sportsbooks, the English Premier League is a major driver of that growth. Consider that the EPL is the most popular of the world’s major professional leagues. Thanks to a worldwide following of passionate fans, the EPL pays players and managers decadent salaries. The Premier League has a full TV contract in the United States. Once upon a time, it was unfathomable that the English Premier League would become a mainstream American sport, yet it has.
2025-26 English Premier League Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | -138 |
| Manchester City | +150 |
| Aston Villa | +1600 |
| Liverpool | +2800 |
| Chelsea | +15000 |
| All Other Teams | +20000 or higher |
Promotion and Relegation
Overall, 20 teams compete in the English Premier League. Seventeen of the teams are carryovers from last season. Three teams were promoted from a second-tier league known as The Championship. Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland were promoted from The Championship to the EPL for the 2025-26 season. Meanwhile, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton were relegated.
One of the factors that attracts fans worldwide to the Premier League is the threat of relegation. In turn, the worst teams from each season are demoted to The Championship.
Manchester City – The Dynasty Seeks a Return to Glory in 2026
It is hard for veteran English Premier League fans to comprehend what Manchester City has become. Previously, Man City was a second-class citizen in its hometown. The Blues were an afterthought to the famed Manchester United, which was the dominant EPL team from 1993 through 2013. Of course, Sir Alex Ferguson made history as the greatest EPL manager ever, winning 13 championships during that span.
After winning the 1968 championship, Manchester City was in the wilderness until 2012, when they broke through for the EPL title. That turnaround season marked the first of eight championships, including the past four seasons. Next, in 2022-23, Manchester City achieved soccer immortality by winning the treble. The Blues took the EPL, UEFA Champions League, and the FA Cup. Accordingly, Man City was the first EPL team to win the treble since Man United did so in 1998-99.
Manager Pep Guardiola is most responsible for the transformation of Manchester City. Following in the footsteps of Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, who each won an EPL title for Man City, Guardiola solidified the dynasty. In sum, Pep Guardiola has won six Premier League titles, three Bundesliga titles, and three La Liga titles. Guardiola is in the conversation for being the greatest manager ever.
2025-26 Arsenal Leads Top Contenders
Arsenal looks to be in its best spot yet to win it all. It’s loaded with world-class talent, and Man City is no longer what it was during its dynasty years. Namely, the marquee man of Arsenal is Bukayo Saka, who battled an injury bug last season. Saka is a member of the England National Team and has been with Arsenal since 2018-19. He has 57 career goals in the EPL competition.