The new Premier League season is almost upon us, with nine clubs appointing new managers over the summer.
When adding Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi, both of whom were appointed in 2026, only nine clubs have the same manager in charge as they did 12 months ago.
Unusually, there has also been lots of change at the top of the table. Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all have new bosses, with the longstanding Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City last term as former Blues boss Enzo Maresca succeeds his old boss.
Arsenal look best placed to pick up where they left off last season, having kept all their key players, their coach and added Bruno Guimaraes to address one of their weaker areas, but even they have question marks around them.
For all the strength in depth at the Emirates, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba are dealing with long-term fitness problems, with centre-back Saliba already set for a spell on the sidelines having injured his back at the World Cup.
Even looking further down the table, there are Bournemouth, Brighton, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Sunderland all juggling European football.
With so much uncertainty in the league, professional bettor Nick Goff is looking at the more stable clubs to have really positive campaigns.
"When Leicester won the league, the situation was that all the big clubs were a year away," Goff said. "They weren't ready to challenge then, they were building for something down the line.
"If you take Arsenal out, it feels like every one of the big clubs might be in that boat. One of them might come out of the pack and really challenge Arsenal, that could happen. But it could be a year for a team, not necessarily to win it at 1000/1, you cant be recommending that, but keep your eye out for a well run club -- a Brighton, a Brentford, a Leeds -- who are stable, with a manager in a second, third, fourth season, who can challenge for a UEFA Champions League spot, it wouldn't surprise me.
"bet365 have a market up to be top at Christmas where they're paying three places. I don't think it's impossible that Brentford at 100/1 to come in the top three and get a place at 37.5/1 this year.
"Then you look at the season handicaps, those three teams again. All the markets: top four at big prices, top six, season handicap, top half finish, those three teams I'm going down with the ship, I need one of them.
"For Brentford, you can get match bets with bet365 -- 8/11 to finish above Palace, lots of question marks about Palace this year. 4/6 over Fulham; Arbeloa was a strange choice as manager, and 8/13 over Sunderland -- second season syndrome, European football for them."
Odds displayed in the above article correct at time of publishing and subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
