Ceilings, floors, and basements for all 20 Premier League teams one month before the season

One month from today, the Premier League's first matchweek will be complete as Xabi Alonso's first Chelsea match goes down against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Those who acted early are being rewarded but there is still so much to sort this summer and room to improve is all over the board. Reigning champions Arsenal look capable of defending their title while Manchester City and Manchester United are among the sides dreaming of a title run. MORE —  Completed Premier League transfers, Summer 2026 Tottenham Hotspur look to have improved dramatically while Newcastle United could be going in the other direction and Aston Villa are dealing with massive upheaval but have been very active in addressing their losses. Knowing that every team can dream of a title thanks to Leicester City one decade ago, we know that even the Foxes faithful would agree that they smashed through their ceiling that year. So we'll keep the term ceiling for best-case scenario, floor for likely zone of finish, and basement for about as bad as it could go for a team. The basements: How many Premier League clubs could be relegated this season? Let's start with the three who are always in trouble — newly-promoted Coventry City, Hull City, and Ipswich Town will all be expected to be involved in relegation scraps. Coventry will have more momentum than the rest when it comes to hope, while Hull City seem the unlikeliest to stay up as they were the unlikeliest to go up. There are also five "smaller" clubs in Europe whose depth could cost them like it cost Nottingham Forest last season. The Tricky Trees were able to climb out of the bottom three despite a run to the Europa League Final, but will Sunderland, Bournemouth, Palace, and/or Brighton be able to do the same. Brighton feel like they have the depth to avoid that part of the table. Maybe Bournemouth, too, but both have new bosses in town. New manager uncertainty will also ask questions of Fulham and Nottingham Forest, while Leeds and Newcastle have serious questions of star power even if Daniel Farke and Eddie Howe enjoy status and tenure at their clubs. Bottom line: We'll presume Brighton and Newcastle have enough to stay above the fray. Nine teams have a basement of the bottom three and life in the Championship for the 2027-28 season. The throne room: How many Premier League clubs win the title this season? Last season we argued that the Premier League had as many title contenders as ever before only to be let down by the cast of characters chasing the crown. Arsenal won it and Man City was clearly second-best as Liverpool wildly disappointed in their title defense. But if we're talking ceilings , we can look beyond City and Arsenal here to scenarios that see teams leap up a few places higher than expectations. Arsenal: Won it last year and so far have only lost Leandro Trossard. Man City; Enzo Maresca isn't a far cry stylistically from Pep Guardiola and this team was nasty when healthy before adding Elliot Anderson (and losing Bernardo Silva). Liverpool: They won the title two seasons ago and now have a healthy Alexander Isak. Florian Wirtz is a gem and the Reds could find their best attacking form to outscore still-lacking defensive depth. Chelsea: The Blues are loaded in talent and Xabi Alonso has led a surprise title run in the Bundesliga. With no European schedule congestion, it's not crazy to consider a return to divisional silverware. Tottenham Hotspur: This would be the craziest rise but it still feels as likely as Man United or Villa making a true title charge with their schedule congestion. Remember that Spurs' struggles were dri Manchester United: The Champions League is going to ask a lot but United have a summer under Michael Carrick and depth in the important positions. Aston Villa: Unai Emery has some huge holes to fill but he's been able to fill them in the past while dealing with tournament football. Ceilings, floors, and basements for all 20 Premier League teams one month before the season Arsenal Ceiling: 1st Floor: 4th Basement: 6th Aston Villa Ceiling: 1st Floor: 8th Basement: 10th Brentford Ceiling: 7th Floor: 12th Basement: 18th Bournemouth Ceiling: 7th Floor: 13th Basement: 19th Brighton & Hove Albion Ceiling: 5th Floor: 10th Basement: 14th Chelsea Ceiling: 1st Floor: 6th Basement: 10th Coventry City Ceiling: 14th Floor: 17th Basement: 20th Crystal Palace Ceiling: 10th Floor: 14th Basement: 18th Everton Ceiling: 5th Floor: 9th Basement: 15th Fulham Ceiling: 7th Floor: 12th Basement: 18th Hull City Ceiling: 16th Floor: 18th Basement: 20th Ipswich Town Ceiling: 13th Floor: 17th Basement: 20th Leeds United Ceiling: 7th Floor: 12th Basement: 18th Liverpool Ceiling: 1st Floor: 4th Basement: 6th Manchester City Ceiling: 1st Floor: 2nd Basement: 5th Manchester United Ceiling: 1st Floor: 5th Basement: 10th Newcastle United Ceiling: 10th Floor: 12th Basement: 16th Nottingham Forest Ceiling: 9th Floor: 13th Basement: 19th Sunderland Ceiling: 10th Floor: 16th Basement: 18th Tottenham Hotspur Ceiling: 1st Floor: 7th Basement: 11th