Man City head into the 2026/27 Premier League season hopeful of lifting their first league title since becoming the first ever side to win four consecutive English top flight titles in 2024. Can City do it? I, for one, certainly think so.
The Premier League is a really tough division to predict at the best of times, this coming season more than ever. Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea, all amongst the favorites to win the EPL, all have new managers at the helm. Reigning Champions Arsenal are favorites amongst most sportsbooks, but I'm doubtful of their staying power.
Winning the league once is tough enough. It took Arsenal three seasons of serious challenging before they managed to win their first title since 2004. Last season Arsenal were at their very peak, and really only just crept over the line after Man City dropped points away at Everton which all but ended their title challenge.
Truth be told, Man City were nowhere near their best last season and were still in with a chance of the league title until almost the very end. A City side nowhere near their best and yet still won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Winning the league once is tough, winning it twice in two years is a huge task. Look at Liverpool. Under Jurgen Klopp Liverpool won the EPL title in 2020, the following season they finished 17 points off the top. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool won the EPL title in 2025, the following season they finished 25 points off the top. This isn't a dig at Liverpool, I'm just highlighting how difficult it is to win the EPL twice in a row. It takes everything to win it and it takes a long time to recover from the sheer effort of doing so.
Arsenal will need to add quality to their squad if they're to retain their title. True, their starting XI is amongst the best in Europe, but they need quality throughout their squad. I'm not sure they have this. There's talk of Vinicius Jr joining the club, but I can't see that happening. Vini Jr is often linked with other clubs, a couple of seasons ago it was Man City, in reality he's just trying to force Real Madrid into awarding him a more financially appealing contract (in my humble opinion).
It's difficult to judge Liverpool and Chelsea as Man City's potential title rivals. Both are operating under new managers in Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso respectively. I have doubts over whether Liverpool's squad possesses the quality to mount a serious challenge. Chelsea have about four squad's worth of players but title challengers? Not for me.
Manchester United are also amongst the favorites to win the EPL 26/27 title, but it's difficult to really think about their realistic chances without bursting out laughing.
So that leaves us with Man City. There are many reasons why some will doubt City's chances, and to be honest I understand some of these reasons. The first? There's no Pep. Whatever you might think about Pep Guardiola (and if you don't think he's the greatest manager in Premier League history we should have a serious conversation about why you're wrong), the man is a genius. His presence alone will be a huge miss for City, and the Premier League in general.
However, Enzo Maresca is no stranger to City. Maresca has been at the club twice before, firstly as their Elite Development Squad manager where he led his side to the PL 2 title in 2021, and secondly as part of Pep's backroom staff during the Treble-Winning season.
City players know Maresca and, by all accounts, like Maresca. The move for Enzo was planned well in advance, City's board know what they're doing. As I wrote in my piece about Maresca a few weeks ago, the City hierarchy will have absolutely no doubt they've employed the right man to continue their title winning spree.
At the same time, though, Enzo Maresca will be given time to do things his way. As a Blue who surrounds herself with other Blues, we're more hopeful, rather than expectant, of City winning the Premier League this season.
But, I'm finding it difficult to see anyone else winning it. Arsenal are shattered, Liverpool have fallen behind, Chelsea might win it but might finish 10th and the thought of United winning it makes me belly laugh.
Just look at Man City's squad. Haaland, Rodri (please don't go), Donnarumma, Dias, Gvardiol, Semenyo, Foden, Cherki, O' Reilly, Guehi, Doku, Anderson, the list very much goes on. City have by far the strongest squad in the Premier League.
Will it be enough to top the table come the end of the season? I think so. Either that, or something crazy might happen like Brighton win it. Which is still more likely than the Red quarter of Manchester.
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