The early weeks of the 2026/27 Premier League have already produced a handful of intriguing narratives. Are Manchester City genuine title challengers? Is Manchester United reliving past patterns?
Why does a heavily‑funded Tottenham still appear without a clear spine? After just five fixtures, Sky Sports' panel of columnists weigh in on the most compelling storylines.
Enzo Maresca was asked after City’s 5-3 thriller against Sunderland whether he believed his side could contend for the crown. His answer was the cautious "too early to tell" – a sensible reply given the tiny sample size. Yet, having observed the first handful of games, I feel confident enough to say City belong in the top tier of the race. Maresca has, by design and a dash of luck, forced his dynamic, attacking squad to earn every point.
He is fortunate to have a striker of Erling Haaland’s calibre and a club willing to splash £320 million on an entirely new midfield. The team is packed with creative entertainers who clearly want to win. It is also encouraging to see the goal‑scoring burden spread beyond Haaland – both Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki have matched his involvement in goals so far. City ride a wave of momentum after a run of seven straight victories in all competitions.
Inevitably there will be moments when defensive frailties surface, or when Haaland experiences a dip in form, or when injuries strike – especially to high‑energy players like Jeremy Doku. The Premier League is an increasingly demanding arena and City are no longer the pure possession‑oriented side they were under Pep Guardiola.
Nevertheless, this is a group that should improve as the season progresses. Maresca now has three weeks to fine‑tune the aspects he dislikes, and, provided injuries are kept to a minimum, City are likely to give Arsenal a serious run for the title.
Laura Hunter When Tottenham splashed £334 million this summer, they vaulted into second‑place behind only Chelsea and Manchester City in terms of spending. The ambition to recapture the glory days was always a tall order, especially after a wholesale turnover of personnel. Yet five games in, Spurs sit at the foot of the table with just two goals and two points – a performance far below expectations. Roberto De Zerbi’s biggest worry is that the club’s problems run deeper than simple early‑season growing pains.
"In my 14 years as a coach, I have never seen a side as fragile and inconsistent as ours," he lamented after a 3‑2 loss to Aston Villa. Despite the heavy outlay, a clear backbone remains absent.
Spurs have now gone nearly two years – 47 matches – without conceding the first goal and then turning the game around. Even at their opulent stadium, home victories have been rarer than Beyoncé concerts. The £85 million investment in Savio and a further £60 million earmarked for Omar Marmoush have not translated into a respectable expected‑goals‑per‑shot (xG) metric; Tottenham currently record the poorest xG per shot in the league and managed only two consolation goals in the Villa defeat.
Nevertheless, the quality brought in is beginning to surface, and a three‑week training block could see players like James Maddison thrive. After spending a record sum, the lingering concern is that many areas still need attention – a situation fans did not anticipate after just five matches. Ron Walker Manchester United have arguably enjoyed the easiest start to the campaign, sitting on five points after five games.
Yet the Red Devils feel as though they have turned back the clock a year; questions now outnumber answers. Michael Carrick’s tenure began with a high‑octane win over City, but United now resemble a shell of that side – constantly out‑run and out‑fought. Summer signings bolstered the midfield, yet the defence looks outdated, having conceded fewer than two goals in a Premier League match only once.
The attacking overhaul of summer 2025 initially looked promising, but injuries to Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko have taken their toll, and Marcus Rashford’s reintegration has yet to produce tangible results. Adding to United’s woes is the saga of 15‑year‑old JJ Gabriel, whose representatives are reportedly demanding a move because United have fallen behind other European giants. Carrick was part of the backroom staff when Ole Gunnar Solskjær faced similar pressure, and five years later the narrative repeats. A cult hero steps in on an interim basis, is handed the keys to Old Trafford, and immediately faces intense scrutiny.
When will this replay of the past finally end? Carrick must avoid handing a former club their first league win after the international break when United host bottom‑placed Tottenham. A loss could leave the season’s direction in doubt. Callum Bishop Arsenal entered the season as favourites, partly because no clear rival seemed capable of challenging their crown.
However, a 3‑0 defeat to Brighton, coupled with Manchester City’s flawless start, has put that assumption to the test. Only five games have been played, so it is premature to declare whether Arsenal are truly superior to last season’s champions.
The Gunners added Ezri Konsa for defensive depth, but he merely replaces the injured William Saliba rather than improving the back line. Bruno Guimarães, another marquee signing, impressed against Sunderland but delivered a muted performance at Brighton, prompting early doubts about whether he is an upgrade over Myles Lewis‑Skelly, who arguably handles high‑pressing opponents better. Lewis‑Skelly has started every league game in midfield that Arsenal have won, while Christos Tzolis, a generally successful acquisition, has yet to find the net. The goal‑scoring contributions of departing players Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli remain missing.
Beyond those three additions, Arsenal’s squad closely mirrors the one that secured the title last season. Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka have rediscovered early‑season form that eluded them previously, but the post‑break fixtures will truly test Arsenal’s claim to defend their crown.
Sam Blitz Liverpool’s 1‑0 victory at Bournemouth kept Andoni Iraola unbeaten in his first five league matches – a feat not achieved by a Liverpool manager since Joe Fagan in September 1983. Including pre‑season friendlies, his unbeaten run now stretches to twelve games.
Do not let the statistics fool you; the Reds have not yet shown a convincing overall performance. They have needed late goals to salvage points against lower‑table sides Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. Although the defence has kept three consecutive clean sheets for the first time since September 2024, it still appears vulnerable, especially on set‑pieces.
Mid‑field cohesion is also lacking as the new playmaker, Florian Wirtz – signed for £116.5 million – has yet to make a decisive impact, despite Jamie Carragher’s critique of his error‑prone display at the Vitality Stadium. Iraola has benefited from a relatively gentle start, but the real test will come after the international break when Liverpool face league leaders Manchester City, in‑form Brighton, and a challenging trip to Brentford. Navigating those fixtures without a major setback could signal the start of a genuine revival under the new boss.
Rich Morgan Chelsea’s early season is a study in contrast: an attacking unit that dazzles and a defence that falters. Xabi Alonso’s 3‑4‑3 system still seeks equilibrium.
The front line, dubbed the ‘JP Morgan’ trio, lives up to its hype. Morgan Rogers, after a £117 million move, has already contributed three goals and an assist, forming a promising partnership with Cole Palmer that earned him an England recall. Joao Pedro’s three goals and three assists have revived his Brazil prospects.
Entertaining matches have been plentiful – 3‑2, 4‑3 and 6‑3 victories – yet a 2‑2 draw with Hull City and a 3‑0 loss at Brentford raise concerns that a leaky defence will hinder any serious title push, despite the signing of experienced goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Chelsea were out‑classed by Brentford, conceding a set‑piece goal for the fourth time this season, bringing their total conceded since last season’s start to 23 – the joint‑worst in the league.
Their recent appointment of set‑piece coach Austin MacPhee from Aston Villa has yet to bear fruit. Mid‑field control has also slipped compared with last season when Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández provided stability. Caicedo has missed every minute through injury, and Fernández left on deadline day, leaving the Blues without a direct replacement. Consequently, the untested duo of Romeo Lavia and Reece James have been forced into central roles.
Ironically, in the two games where Chelsea dominated possession – against Brentford and Hull – they suffered their worst results, managing just 26% of the ball in a 4‑3 win over Brighton. Alonso’s immediate priority is securing Champions League qualification at a minimum and making deep cup runs to compensate for the lack of European football this season.
If the defensive frailties are sorted, the attacking firepower could thrust Chelsea back into the title conversation, though they currently sit seven points adrift. David Richardson Aston Villa’s start raised alarm bells at Villa Park, but a 3‑2 win over Tottenham before the break suggests the rebuild may be gaining traction. Unai Emery’s side waited until a 2‑1 loss to Nottingham Forest on September 12 to register their first goal, making the victory at Spurs their sole win in the opening five games. The summer saw the departure of Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Emiliano Martínez, Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne.
Yet the performance against Tottenham, and the standout contributions of several players, hint at a brighter horizon. Johan Manzambi announced himself emphatically with a goal and an assist on his first start. Zion Suzuki continued to impress with both his shot‑stopping and distribution, while Nicolas Jackson’s finish and movement suggested Emery could once again extract his best. The rebuilding pieces – including Ibrahim Mbaye and Alejandro Garnacho easing into their roles – are beginning to pay dividends.
The tension from the poor start has eased, and Emery, who showed patience during a similar slow beginning last season, can now focus on the work ahead. Patrick Rowe Few could have predicted Manchester City and Arsenal occupying the top two spots before the extended international break, yet Brighton and Brentford have surprisingly claimed third and fourth. While lacking the financial muscle of the traditional elite, these clubs consistently find ways to punch above their weight, forming what some call the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ of the league.
The most recent weekend illustrated this perfectly. Brentford exploited Chelsea’s defensive woes to win 3‑0 at the Gtech, ending an 88‑year wait for a home victory over the Blues and marking Keith Andrews’ side unbeaten in their first five top‑flight games (W2 D3).
The following day, Brighton mirrored the scoreline against champions Arsenal, out‑shooting them 5‑3 on target despite the Gunners’ 36 touches in the opposition box. Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton have scored more goals than any other Premier League side (16) and boast a striking +11 goal difference. Their success is no accident; they have out‑smarted larger clubs for several seasons, and this campaign may finally see them disrupt the status quo.
Dan Long Promoted teams are always tipped as relegation candidates, yet after five matches only one sits in the bottom three. Hull City have surprised many with just one loss and an opening‑week win over Manchester United. Ipswich Town’s two victories place them above Aston Villa and Tottenham in the mid‑table. Even Frank Lampard’s Coventry City have shown resilience despite sitting 18th on goal difference.
Predicting whether these early‑season form trends will endure over the remaining 33 games is difficult, but attention is also turning to established sides facing tough seasons. Tottenham remain at the bottom despite massive summer spending, while Fulham have struggled for points under Alvaro Arbeola. Crystal Palace, once tipped for relegation, now hover just above the danger zone, and Villa, still adapting to a summer exodus of key players, are showing signs of improvement – a pattern reminiscent of their poor start last season that ultimately led to a top‑four finish under Emery. Bournemouth sit just above Coventry, with Marco Rose yet to secure a win as Cherries manager, though they began their first European campaign with a victory.
The opening fixtures have provided plenty of food for thought, and the relegation battle promises to remain tight. Charlotte Marsh Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1 million! Enter for free.