The start of the 2026-27 Premier League season is only days away now, with kickoff set for August 22. This time, though, the buzz building up to the new campaign isn’t only about transfers — the dugout has been the real story of the summer. Nine clubs will start the season with a manager who wasn’t in charge last time around, the highest number on record in the competition’s history. Nearly half the league has decided to change direction before a ball is even kicked.
A Wholesale Managerial Shake-Up
No name has generated more buzz than Xabi Alonso, who arrives at Chelsea following his spell at Real Madrid. This will be his first time managing a Premier League club, and everything points to him trying to bed in the back-three system that served him so well in the past.
Over at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola brought a golden era to a close by leaving the club at the end of last season, and Enzo Maresca has now stepped in as his successor after building his own project at another English side.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are no longer led by Arne Slot. Andoni Iraola has taken the reins following his time at Bournemouth, tasked with getting the Reds back into title contention after a campaign that fell well short of expectations.
And at Nottingham Forest, Oliver Glasner takes charge of a club that had gone through a particularly turbulent spell in the dugout the previous season.
With so much upheaval, it’s worth leaning on solid analysis before placing a bet. For anyone following the action closely, Livetipsportal’s banker of the day offers a daily pick built for exactly this kind of scenario, where a new face on the touchline can completely reshape a team’s output compared to the season before.
Transfers Reshaping the Landscape Too
The market has matched the drama unfolding in the dugouts:
- Manchester City have bolstered their midfield with the arrival of Elliot Anderson
- Alonso’s Chelsea splashed out heavily on Morgan Rogers and added experience to the squad with the signings of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson.
- Spurs also had a splurge, spending big on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
These moves are aimed at offsetting the departure of senior players and speeding up the transition to the tactical ideas each new manager is bringing in.
Who’s the Favourite This Time Around?
- Arsenal: having finally gone past the line, their confidence is expected to be high, so bookmakers have them as clear favourites.
- Manchester City are the closest challengers despite Guardiola’s exit.
- Liverpool: new era and quality players.
- Manchester United round out the group of contenders, though they and Liverpool sit a tier back in the odds.
Alonso’s Chelsea and Glasner’s Nottingham Forest start the campaign as bigger question marks, but without the burden of Europe, there’s room for either to spring a surprise if their new managerial setups click quickly.
In the end, amid all this change, one thing is clear: this Premier League season kicks off with more open questions than answers — and that’s exactly what makes it worth following, even for supporters who usually skip early preseason chatter altogether.
