Bold Premier League Predictions for the Rest of the 2025-26 Season
The conclusion of the 2025-26 Premier League season is in sight. Teams have seven or eight games remaining to firm up their position, battle relegation and qualify for Europe.
If you're Arsenal, there's just a couple of months left to get through to land that all-important first title for Mikel Arteta. He's so close - and it would be too bold to suggest any other side can catch them.
But what else could happen? Let's take a look.
Man United Finish in Top 4 & Don't Hire Carrick
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The Manchester United hierarchy will have a difficult decision to make if Michael Carrick leads the Red Devils back into the Champions League.
United are currently seven points clear of sixth, with the likely scenario thrusting the top 5 into the competition due to the Premier League's dominance in UEFA's coefficient table. Carrick has overseen the accumulation of 23 points in 10 games, including seven wins, two draws and one loss, putting them top of the form table. That's excellent work.
The improvement over Ruben Amorim's dire tactical setup doesn't need too much explaining; Carrick's decision to play four at the back and reinstate Kobbie Mainoo into a midfield that was getting stomped are basic changes that most interim managers would have made. It was clear where Amorim's United were lacking, and just eliminating his stubbornness was always going to improve the team.
Impressive wins over Manchester City and Arsenal kicked off the second Carrick era. United played some excellent football, but in the last five games or so, the manager's limitations are creeping in. There are phases of play where United look sloppy, a tad slower and unable to break through well-structured teams.
Benjamin Sesko's excellent scoring form off the bench, and the consistent brilliance of Bruno Fernandes, has played a major part in Carrick's results. However, his use of Bryan Mbeumo as a striker has blunted the Cameroonian for the first time in his United tenure. He doesn't look right and it's beginning to hurt the team.
Things under Carrick have begun to erode, just ever so slightly. It doesn't seem major, but the United board need to be able to spot the limitations of a manager whose passion provided a much-needed spark at an important moment of the season. Once the immediate impression of that dissipates at the end of the season, the tougher work begins.
Even if United finish in the top four, there must be a serious consideration of whether Carrick truly has the credentials to lead sustained success across an entire season - particularly with multiple world-class managers up for grabs in the summer.
Thiago Beats Haaland to the Golden Boot
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Brentford striker Igor Thiago went through hell last season, barely stepping onto the pitch while dealing with an injury that would halt his opportunities as Ivan Toney's replacement. He's more than made up for it this year.
The 24-year-old has a stunning 19 goals so far this campaign, only three behind Erling Haaland. He is the focal point of Keith Andrews' surprise outfit, who many fancied to scrap through a relegation battle in August.
Thiago pretty much plays every minute when fit, only dropping eight minutes in his last 19 appearances. Haaland continues to struggle with niggling problems and has become the subject of Pep Guardiola's rotation more often than expected.
Considering City are on the brink of having little to play for except the FA Cup, this could grow even more noticeable in the closing weeks.
Thiago recently received his first Brazil call-up, which is no mean feat for a striker playing outside of the country at a club that isn't in the Champions League. Brentford are pushing towards securing European qualification in some form, so every single match is pivotal.
His ability to score all types of goals, plus penalties, gives him a real shot at catching Haaland in the golden boot stakes.
Brentford Take Final UCL Spot
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Just to build on Brentford a little more: there's a real chance the Bees can scrape into the Champions League. One of them or Everton have to be fancied right now due to Chelsea and Liverpool consistently dropping points.
Brentford's home fixtures look absolutely superb and are ripe for attacking. Next up is the aforementioned Toffees on April 11, a huge eliminator in this unlikely race. Thiago scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture at the start of the year, a 4-2 win that stands Brentford in good stead for what's to come.
After Everton, home matches against Fulham, West Ham and Crystal Palace remain. There's a huge chance at nine points right there. Away trips to both Manchester clubs and Liverpool also mean Brentford firmly have their future in their own hands.
Doing well at home and being within reach of Liverpool when they play on the last day of the season could end in an unthinkable achievement of joining the continent's elite.
Slot Agrees to Leave Liverpool
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Arne Slot has been in an incredibly difficult position this season.
Liverpool's title defence never really got going. Part of that is his fault, but a large part of that is also down to unthinkably tough circumstances.
Last year, Slot made some smart tweaks to Jurgen Klopp's squad. It worked beautifully and landed the title. However, as time has passed and Slot's influence has grown, Liverpool have dulled. Big signings haven't worked as intended, the balance has been off and club legends Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk have flitted through poor form.
All of this plays out against the biggest story of Liverpool's season: the death of Diogo Jota. We cannot begin to fathom the lasting impact that has had on Slot, the squad and everyone at the club. While many supporters have called for Slot to get the sack, it would take a brave call to force him out of the position during a season in which he's been the public face of the club in the wake of Jota's death.
Liverpool's results haven't been good enough, that's for sure. It's completely fair if the board wants to move on from Slot. Should that decision be taken, it would be a good look for the manager and club to do so mutually, with an announcement before the end of the campaign, so fans can look to the future.
It's a storyline that is bubbling right now, but if Slot fails to secure Champions League qualification, the club may have little choice.
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