Paul Scholes Predicts Final 2026-27 Premier League Top 6 Alfie Cairns Culshaw
Paul Scholes Predicts Final 2026-27 Premier League Top 6
9 – 12 minute
Alfie Cairns Culshaw is a football journalist covering the Premier League for GIVEMESPORT. Alfie joined the company in May 2024 and is an avid Arsenal fan and season ticket holder.
He has previously worked for SportBible where he focused on Liverpool and Manchester United, covering transfers, match reports, previews, and more.
He also creates YouTube content, discussing Arsenal in depth, and provides tactical insights and analysis on his weekly podcasts. Producing video and audio content for a number of years, Alfie has also built up an Arsenal Blog, ammasing over 59,000 followers on Instagram and regular readers to his website.
Alongside his own personal blog and Sport Bible work, Alfie has previously produced video content for YouTube channel CheekySport, and written for The Football Faithful.
While he enjoys the more emotional component of following the game as a fan, Alfie is renowned for having a level head and providing data-led analysis.
The Premier League season commences this Friday, meaning the punditry circuit is in full prediction mode, with Paul Scholes the latest to offer his verdict.
Champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City in the curtain-raiser on Friday night at the Emirates, before the full weekend of fixtures ensues. The Gunners will be looking to make a statement prior to their rivals kicking off their respective campaigns.
Mikel Arteta’s men will look to take advantage of transitional periods for their competitors and win back-to-back league titles for the first time since the 1930s. New eras begin at Stamford Bridge, the Etihad and Anfield with Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca and Andoni Iraola all taking charge of the contenders.
Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi will commence their first full seasons in charge of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively. Nine months of blood, sweat and tears are upon us, and Scholes has chimed into the pre-campaign discourse.
Paul Scholes Reveals His Top Six Premier League Predictions For 2026/27 Season
Paul Scholes Ed Sykes via Reuters
Arsenal are heavy favourites to retain their crown, and the summer arrivals of Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis have only boosted their chances of doing so.
Speaking on the Good, the Bad & the Football YouTube channel, Scholes tipped the Gunners to prevail once again. “They look strong. They look too strong. They’ll win it again,” he said.
Despite losing legendary manager Pep Guardiola, the former Manchester United midfielder backed City to finish second. He also claimed that Chelsea could finish second if they were to sign a goalkeeper.
“I think I’d probably still go City second,” Scholes revealed.
“I think they [Chelsea] could possibly [finish second]. If I were them, I’d have a look at the [Aston] Villa goalkeeper [Emi Martinez]. I know Juventus have just pulled out of the deal for him, but I think he’d be a good signing for Chelsea.”
Speaking about his former club, Scholes placed the Red Devils third, expressing concern over their lack of defensive solidity in the middle of the park.
“United third, for me. I still think they’ve got a lot of work to do. I think they need to strengthen. Possibly, they could do better, but I just don’t think the centre-halves are good enough. I don’t know if they’ve got it [the money to spend more].
“I just think every time I’ve seen United over the last year, or two years, they get attacked through the middle of the pitch every single time, because they don’t have the physicality or the legs in the middle of the pitch. I don’t see what’s changed really. I think they bought [Andrey] Santos to try and plug that gap a little bit, but from what I’ve seen, he’s not the most physical or robust.”
Initially placing Liverpool fourth, Scholes then reversed this take in favour of Chelsea. He bravely picked the Reds to finish just outside the top four, before backing Spurs to complete the top six.
“Fourth for me, Liverpool. Actually, I’m going to say Chelsea. Liverpool, fifth. Tottenham sixth, yeah.”
Scholes’ 2026/27 Premier League Top Six Prediction
1
Arsenal
2
Manchester City
3
Manchester United
4
Chelsea
5
Liverpool
6
Tottenham Hotspur
Watch Paul Scholes, Michael Owen and Nicky Butt make their predictions
Paul Scholes’ Relegation Picks For 2026/27
Paul Scholes Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
After years of underwhelming battles at the other end of the table, an enthralling relegation dogfight played out in 2025/26. Tottenham narrowly avoided losing their Premier League status, sending London rivals West Ham United to the Championship instead.
The drop-zone drama isn’t expected to be quite as exciting this time around. The credentials of the promoted sides have been heavily questioned, and while many have tipped all three to go straight back down, Scholes sprung a surprising prediction.
While the former England international does think Hull City and Ipswich Town will return to the second tier immediately, he believes Newcastle United’s disastrous summer will take its toll, and that the Magpies will lose their status as a top-flight club for the first time since the 2015/16 season.
“I think Newcastle are going to struggle, big time,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised [if they went down]. Newcastle have been there before, not too long ago.”
Having lost Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, the Tynesiders are fancied to struggle. That said, having played in the Champions League as recently as last season, this call from Scholes is certainly being viewed as brave.
Scholes’ 2026/27 Premier League Bottom Three Prediction
18
Newcastle United
19
Ipswich Town
20
Hull City
