EPL Weekly Wrap | All the Pre-Season Headlines - August 2026

I can’t remember a pre-season with this much turnover. Almost half the league has a new manager. British transfer records have been smashed twice in three weeks, and the defending champions are already dealing with a major injury blow. If you’re into football betting, the 2026-27 campaign is going to produce some juicy results, that’s for sure.

Nine clubs will start the season with a new manager. That’s a Premier League record, beating the eight new appointments at the start of 2016-17.

Liverpool moved quickly for Andoni Iraola after sacking Arne Slot, who was sacked at the end of a disappointing season that saw Liverpool finish fifth. Iraola did superb work at Bournemouth over three seasons, guiding them to sixth and Europa League qualification last term. His first league game? Away at Newcastle, 3:30am Monday NZST on August 24.

Manchester City appointed Enzo Maresca after Pep Guardiola resigned. Maresca returns to the Premier League after a stint at Chelsea and will be tasked with reshaping City’s midfield. His first big signing is Elliot Anderson, who arrived from Nottingham Forest for £116m. That British record lasted three weeks before Chelsea topped it.

Chelsea hired Xabi Alonso, who won back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Bayer Leverkusen before a difficult eight-month spell at Real Madrid. He’s already secured Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m, the new most expensive British player. I thought the Rogers fee was excessive when I first saw it. Alonso convinced Rogers personally, and the 23-year-old chose Chelsea over Arsenal despite no European football this season.

Matthias Jaissle has been appointed at Newcastle after Eddie Howe stepped down, though the squad he’s inherited looks thinner after Anthony Gordon’s departure to Barcelona. Oliver Glasner took the Nottingham Forest job. Marco Rose replaced Iraola at Bournemouth, while Gary O’Neil returned to the Premier League with Ipswich Town. Pierre Sage took over at Crystal Palace and Alvaro Arbeloa was named Fulham manager. 

Mikel Arteta is now the longest-serving manager in the league. I find that wild.

For anyone checking out new betting sites ahead of the season opener, just know that injuries are going to be a significant factor in early predictions.

Arsenal have confirmed William Saliba will miss an extended period after the defender aggravated a back injury during France’s 2-0 World Cup semi-final loss to Spain. No surgery is required, but the 25-year-old has begun rehabilitation with no return date confirmed. I’d argue Saliba is Arsenal’s most important player. However long he’s out, it shifts the title race.

At Man City, Rodri has undergone minor back surgery. City expect a short rehabilitation period, with the Spain captain potentially available for the Community Shield against Arsenal on August 16. One year left on his contract, though, and I wouldn’t rule out more transfer speculation before deadline day.

Aston Villa lost Amadou Onana to a torn ACL and sold Rogers, but have reinvested with Johan Manzambi from Freiburg and Joao Gomes from Wolves. They face PSG in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday in Salzburg, kicking off at 7am Thursday NZST. Villa won the Europa League last season under Unai Emery. If you’re following live betting sites for that one, Villa are clear underdogs against the back-to-back Champions League winners.

Bournemouth under Rose have been prolific, thumping Genoa 10-1 in a closed-doors friendly. I’m not reading too much into a result like that, but the early signs under Rose are encouraging.

Tottenham went unbeaten on their tour of New Zealand and Australia, with Roberto De Zerbi picking up a 2-1 win over Chelsea in Sydney. After finishing 17th last season and burning through three managers, a positive pre-season is the bare minimum for Tottenham. De Zerbi has talked about wanting to change the habits at the club. I’ll believe it when the league starts.

Manchester United have won three of four friendlies under Michael Carrick, including a 5-0 dismantling of Rosenborg and a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid. Newcastle’s pre-season has been rougher. A 4-1 loss to Bristol City was a poor look for Jaissle, though he’s had limited time with the full squad given how many players were at the World Cup.

Coventry City, Hull City, and Ipswich Town are the three promoted clubs. All three face a fight to survive, but Ipswich under O’Neil are the ones I’d back to have the best crack at it.

Arsenal open the season at home to Coventry on Saturday August 22 at 7am NZST. Brentford host Tottenham later that weekend at 4:30am Sunday NZST, and the Community Shield between Arsenal and Man City is the weekend before in Cardiff.