Summary

  1. get involved

    Get Involved - Premier League predictionspublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 14 August

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    From Jonny:

    • Top five: Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Everton
    • Most important signing - Thierno Barry (Everton)
    • Golden Boot - Cole Palmer
    • Breakout star - Willian Estevao (Chelsea)
    • Best Promoted Team - Sunderland

    Estevao scored just 18 minutes into his Chelsea debut in a pre-season game against Bayer Leverkusen... Will he be the breakout star of the season? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

    Estevao of Chelsea goal celebration after scoring a goal to put Chelsea 1-0 aheadImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'The ceiling can be as high as anything'published at 13:55 British Summer Time 14 August

    Sunderland v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    West Ham manager Graham Potter on the club's aims for the season: "The ceiling can be as high as anything, in terms of the potential of the club.

    "We have to keep trying to improve, go day-to-day, game-to-game and not think too much about what might happen in May.

    "If you get that bit with the players, the supporters and everyone is aligned then anything can happen."

    Graham Potter Manager of West Ham United applauds the fansImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'We need to find the right players to improve the team'published at 13:52 British Summer Time 14 August

    Sunderland v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    West Ham manager Graham Potter on the club's transfer business: "We're really happy with what we've done so far. In terms of the group, I think we're in a good place. We're happy with the numbers we've got, a nice mix or young and old players, good characters. The trick now is to keep on improving.

    "It's not just about signing anyone, we've got to sign the right people, the right players to help the team improve. In the meantime, my job is to focus on the ones we have and I've been delighted with how they've approached pre-season and worked together, how connected they are.

    "Questions are always about individual players or signings but for me it is about the team. How the team functions, in attack, in defence, what the right balance is to bring the best out of everybody in the group. That's what we've been trying to do."

  4. 'We've had a positive pre-season'published at 13:49 British Summer Time 14 August

    Sunderland v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    West Ham manager Graham Potter on first game of the season: "It's been a positive pre-season for us and as much as you an talk about that, you can't beat the first game. Great game for us in what I'm sure will be a fantastic atmosphere so really looking forward to it."

    Niclas Fullkrug of West Ham United celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  5. 'Summerville out but close to return'published at 13:44 British Summer Time 14 August

    Sunderland v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    West Ham manager Graham Potter on team news for the weekend: "We've still got Crysencio Summerville in the last stages of his rehab so he won't be available but he's getting really close - which is good for us. George Earthy is out with an injury that he sustained early in pre-season.

    "Apart from that we're close to full availability."

  6. Postpublished at 13:43 British Summer Time 14 August

    Sunderland v West Ham (15:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    West Ham manager Graham Potter has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's Premier League opener against Sunderland on Saturday.

    Best quotes coming up.

  7. 'Diakite physically ready to go'published at 13:40 British Summer Time 14 August

    Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Bournemouth

    Andoni Iraola says that new signing Bafode Diakite "has trained for two days" and is "physically ready to go."

    The Cherries boss is yet to make a decision on if he will play against Liverpool but said "If not tomorrow then [he will play] next week."

  8. 'We are not where we want to be'published at 13:33 British Summer Time 14 August

    Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Bournemouth

    Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola on the club's transfer activity: "It's not about [us taking] the next step, it's about preparing for the next season.

    "We are not where we want to be [with transfers] but there have been a lot of changes and when the transfer market ends there will have been some important movements. I hope we can adjust and do it quickly so that we can focus for the beginning of the season."

  9. Liverpool will be 'big test'published at 13:25 British Summer Time 14 August

    Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Bournemouth

    Bourenmouth head coach Andoni Iraola: "Pre-season is always the time for preparation but I think it has been a good pre-season, we travelled to the United States and played three very difficult games.

    "We are [playing in] the first game and a lot of people will be watching us, it will be a big game. It's going to be a good test for us and a place where we can see where we are at."

    BournemouthImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 14 August

    Liverpool v Bournemouth (Fri, 20:00 BST)

    Bournemouth

    Right then, it's news conference time again and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking ahead of their Premier League curtain raiser against Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow night.

  11. 'You could see the understanding with Wirtz'published at 13:18 British Summer Time 14 August

    Julien Laurens
    European football expert on BBC One

    Hugo EkitikeImage source, Getty Images

    Hugo Ekitike is a very talented kid, there is no doubt. His role might change if Isak signs, he will play more out wide, but there is no Isak he will be the main focal point, which he can play too.

    The link up play with Wirtz, you could already see the understanding in the Community Shield. He is very good technically for such a big lad. I think he needs to beef up a little bit for the Premier League.

    It didn’t work out for him at PSG but he learned a lot from that and he is a much more mature player now.

  12. get involved

    Get Involved - Premier League predictionspublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 14 August

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    From Andy:

    • Top five - Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs
    • Most important signing - Jeremie Frimpong
    • Golden Boot - Erling Haaland
    • Breakout star - Rio Ngumoha
    • Best promoted team - Leeds

    From Dave:

    • Top 5 - Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Aston Villa
    • Important signing: Wirtz
    • Golden Boot: Haaland
    • Breakout Star: Jamie Gittens
    • Best Promoted Team: Leeds Utd

    Will Liverpool win back-to-back Premier League titles? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

    Mohamed Salah celebrates with the Premier League trophy during an open-top bus victory paradeImage source, Getty Images
  13. get involved

    'I am more concerned about Brentford'published at 13:09 British Summer Time 14 August

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Muslim Jagani, London: Phil, Why do you think Bournemouth can ride out losing their entire defence but Brentford can ride out losing a few forwards? Surely either both will struggle or neither of them will?

    Hi Muslim. I feel both have been hit very hard but do actually think both will stay in the Premier League, although as I have said I am more concerned about Brentford than I have been for a while, having lost manager Thomas Frank and key players.

    Bournemouth have an outstanding manager in Andoni Iraola and I think both clubs are so well run, and usually prepare for such eventualities, that they will survive – just don’t expect them to do as well as in the past.

    And I have put them next to each other at 15th and 16th respectively in my predictions, so I do expect them to perform similarly to each other.

  14. get involved

    Get Involved - Premier League predictionspublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 14 August

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    From Michael:

    • Top five: 1 Liverpool, 2 Man City, 3 Chelsea, 4 Arsenal, 5 Crystal Palace
    • Most important signing - Florian Wirtz
    • Golden boot - Hugo Ekitike
    • Breakout star - Rio Ngumoha
    • Best promoted team - Leeds

    Can Crystal Palace sneak into the top five this season? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

    Winners Crystal Palace lift the 2025 FA Community Shield matchImage source, Getty Images
  15. Gyokeres is 'definitely competition' for Havertzpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 14 August

    Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal high fives Kai Havertz following substitution during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Athletic Club at Emirates StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Kai Havertz and new striker Viktor Gyokeres will 'offer something completely different' for Arsenal, according to BBC football reporter Alex Howell.

    Gyokeres' £55m move to the Gunners this summer had fans questioning what it meant for the club's current leading forward, but Howell is confident Mikel Arteta will utilise the value of both men.

    "It’s definitely competition and it was really interesting to see Havertz coming on on Saturday [in the 3-0 win over Athletic Club] when he replaced Gyokeres. The goal he scored was one of the most unlike Kai Havertz goals I’ve ever seen," Howell said on the Football Daily Podcast.

    "From a ball hooked over defence and him running past defenders so, it’s going to be interesting, it’s going to be difficult but Kai Havertz is one of Mikel Arteta’s favourite players.

    "He loves what he does, he loves how clever he is and how much he links the attack so although it doesn’t seem like there is a natural place for him at the moment, I'd be surprised if he doesn’t play as many if not more games as Gyokeres, just because he knows the system and he's proven it for Arsenal in the league and in Europe as well.

    "They’ll offer something completely different which is exactly what Arsenal need."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

  16. '15 goals a success for Gyokeres'published at 12:54 British Summer Time 14 August

    Ian Wright
    Former England striker on The Overlap

    When you look at his career, everyone he has gone to, he has done it. He has got to that next place and scored the goals. He could be the one to win Arsenal the league because his attitude and determination to want to do it is exactly what we need right now.

    You've just got look at his journey and you can see 'yes, this guy wants it.' He's just got to convince us and go to the next level now.

    I think if Viktor Gyokeres scores 10-15 Premier League goals, he is a success. If he can get to 15 and go from there then that will be magnificent because we've got to get the other guys involved as well. We were 17 goals behind Liverpool last season, so we need to improve that.

  17. get involved

    'Arteta has hardly been starved of cash at Arsenal'published at 12:50 British Summer Time 14 August

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Dan Smith: So Phil thinks Liverpool win the league, but Arteta HAS to win something? If Arsenal finish where he expects them to in second, is it really a 'failure'? Or are they continuing to outperform their spend in terms of transfers/wages?

    Hi Dan. Yes, I think will be failure if Arteta does not win something as he has given very strong backing in the transfer market this summer, and if no trophies arrive that will be six years without real success for Arsenal and their manager.

    Arteta has hardly been starved of cash at Arsenal. The big mistake last summer was not buying a striker. At least this has been addressed by the signing of Viktor Gyokores.

    I expect a very strong Arsenal title challenge. I just do not expect them to finish ahead of Liverpool, who I believe will win the Premier League.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 14 August

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Its very generous of Phil to predict us to stay up. We need to make sure that Elland Road is that bearpit that makes our visitors fear coming to our place. The Premier League is a much better watch with the mighty Leeds United in it!

    Joe, Leeds fan

  19. get involved

    '11 signings is simply too big a change'published at 12:38 British Summer Time 14 August

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Harry, Manchester: Hi Phil, Regarding your prediction for Sunderland. I'm curious. Do you not put much weight in the quality and quantity of the signings they have made? Or is it more to do with the magnitude of change that these signings will bring, meaning they will struggle to adapt fast enough.

    Hello, Harry. Two things here.

    Firstly, as we have seen in recent years, it is very hard for any promoted teams to stay in the Premier League, and Sunderland were certainly the outsiders of the three who came up. I think it is the second half of your question that is key.

    What I will not doubt for one second is the ambition Sunderland have shown in trying to buck the recent “three up three straight back down” trend, but I just think 11 signings (unless they have signed anyone else in the last few minutes) is simply too big a change and will take a lot of managing.

    As I always say in these cases, I will be delighted to be wrong but just think they will fall short. They are certainly having a go though.

  20. Sunderland could be 'surprise package'published at 12:32 British Summer Time 14 August

    Danny Murphy
    BBC pundit and former Liverpool midfielder

    I hope all of the promoted clubs give it a go. I’ve got a soft spot for Leeds, I’d like to see them do well, they also have a bit more recent Premier League experience than the other two.

    But Sunderland have spent a lot more than the others so they could be a surprise package. If I was to say one at the moment I’d probably go with Sunderland.