The 2026-27 Premier League Power Rankings The English Premier League underwent significant changes ahead of the 2026-27 season, with half of the league’s managers departing or returning to new roles. Pep Guardiola, Eddie Howe, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner, and Andoni Iraola all left their positions, while Enzo Maresca returned to Chelsea, and Roberto De Zerbi and Michael Carrick began their first full campaigns. On the pitch, Newcastle dismantled its core squad, which was expected to elevate the club to Champions League contention. Tottenham responded to a relegation threat by investing heavily in new players, while Arsenal faced challenges as key players were sidelined from the recent World Cup. Liverpool’s long Mo Salah era and short Arne Slot tenure ended, and Hull City, despite underperforming metrics, secured Premier League promotion. The article outlines The Ringer’s rankings for the 2026-27 season, focusing on key questions for each club. Hull City’s promotion raises concerns about their ability to compete in the top flight. The club finished sixth in the Championship last season with a plus-four goal differential but had a minus-20 expected goal difference, ranking second worst in the league. This discrepancy suggests Hull may not be suited for the Premier League, especially given the league’s depth compared to 2008, when Derby County set a record-low point total. Hull’s performance in the Championship over the past two years has been lackluster, raising doubts about their viability in the top flight. Ipswich Town’s rapid rise to the Premier League in 2024-25 ended in relegation, but the club has since strengthened its squad. After finishing 19th in their first season, Ipswich added experienced players like Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop to bolster their defense and midfield.#premier_league #pep_guardiola #eddie_howe #oliver_glasner #marco_silva
Nottingham Forest to Face Vitoria de Guimaraes in Pre-Season Friendly Nottingham Forest will continue their preparations for the 2026-27 Premier League campaign with a pre-season friendly against Vitoria de Guimaraes on Sunday. The match will serve as a crucial test for both teams ahead of their respective league campaigns, with Forest set to open their Premier League season against Leeds United on August 22, while Vitoria will begin their league campaign against Arouca on August 8. Forest, managed by Oliver Glasner, have already played two pre-season matches this summer, starting with a 2-0 victory over Notts County on July 18 and a 3-0 win against Blackburn Rovers on July 22. The Reds have a packed schedule ahead, with additional games against Sporting Lisbon, Udinese, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, and Brest before their Premier League opener. Despite a busy schedule, Forest have only made one signing this summer, bringing in experienced midfielder Xaver Schlager on a free transfer from RB Leipzig. The club has seen significant departures, including the high-profile exit of England international Elliot Anderson, who joined Manchester City on a big-money deal. Vitoria de Guimaraes, managed by Tiago Margarido, have also been active in pre-season preparations, securing three new signings this summer. Their standout arrival is Yeimar Mosquera from Aston Villa, while Diogo Sousa and Noah Saviolo have left the club. Vitoria’s pre-season form has been impressive, with four consecutive wins in their four matches. Their recent results include a 3-1 victory over Felgueiras, a 5-0 thrashing of Penafiel, a 2-0 win against Academica, and a 3-1 success over Al-Ahli.#xaver_schlager #oliver_glasner #nottingham_forest #tiago_margarido #vitoria_de_guimaraes
Nottingham Forest vs Vitória de Guimarães: Pre-Season Friendly Preview and Match Details Nottingham Forest and Vitória de Guimarães are set to face off in a highly anticipated pre-season friendly on Sunday, July 26, as both clubs continue their preparations for the upcoming domestic campaigns. The match, which will take place during Forest’s training camp in Portugal, marks another opportunity for the English side to test its form against a Portuguese team in excellent shape. Nottingham Forest, currently on a two-match unbeaten streak without conceding a goal, will look to extend its pre-season dominance, while Vitória de Guimarães, which has scored 13 goals in its past four victories, aims to maintain its impressive run. The fixture is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. BST (2:00 p.m. CEST, 8:00 a.m. EDT, 5:00 a.m. PDT, and 10:00 p.m. AEST) and will be played behind closed doors, with fans unable to attend in person. Instead, the match will be broadcast live through official streaming platforms. Supporters in the United Kingdom and Ireland can watch the game on Forest TV, while viewers in Portugal will have access via Sport TV’s streaming service. International fans in the United States, Canada, Australia, Oceania, Asia, and Africa can also tune in through Forest TV’s international match pass, as there will be no traditional television broadcast. Both teams are expected to field modified lineups as managers focus on building squad fitness ahead of competitive fixtures. Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Glasner, overseeing his third pre-season match since taking charge, will look to integrate younger players and refine the club’s tactical approach for the Premier League season.#oliver_glasner #nottingham_forest #vitria_de_guimares #tiago_margarido #pre_season_friendly
Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner: 'Huge Desire' to Reach Conference League Final Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has emphasized the squad's "huge desire" to progress in the UEFA Conference League, as the club prepares to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the semifinal. The match, set for Thursday evening in Krakow, Poland, will be the first leg of a two-legged tie, with the second leg scheduled at Selhurst Park next week. Glasner, who previously led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2022, is now aiming for his second European trophy with Palace. The tie marks a significant step for Crystal Palace, who secured their first major trophy last season by winning the FA Cup. Glasner acknowledged the heightened stakes of the semifinal, stating, "The closer you come, the more you want it." He highlighted the importance of reaching the final, noting that "nobody will say it's fine playing a semifinal and losing." While the focus remains on the upcoming match, Glasner stressed the need to avoid overthinking the outcome, emphasizing that "we try to focus on what we have to do on the pitch to get the best possible result." The other semifinal matchup features Spanish side Rayo Vallecano facing French club Strasbourg. Glasner expressed respect for Shakhtar Donetsk, acknowledging their strength in the competition. "We have huge desire, we have the confidence and the belief we can win against Shakhtar, but we always have huge respect for the way they play," he said. This sentiment reflects the competitive nature of the Conference League, where teams like Shakhtar, known for their attacking style, pose a formidable challenge. Glasner’s approach to the match also underscores his philosophy of maintaining Crystal Palace’s identity.#crystal_palace #oliver_glasner #uefa_confrence_league #shakhtar_donetsk #krakow
Crystal Palace Set for European Quarter-Final Clash Against Fiorentina Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has emphasized the significance of their upcoming Conference League quarter-final against Fiorentina, urging his players to embrace the rare opportunity of competing in a European knockout stage. The Eagles, who advanced to the last eight by defeating AEK Larnaca 2-1 on aggregate, will host the Italian side at Selhurst Park in the first leg of the tie. This marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs in European competition and the first time Palace has faced an Italian team on the continental stage. Glasner highlighted the importance of the match, stating, "It's not every year in your career that you're playing a European quarter-final." The German coach praised his squad's recent form, noting their unbeaten run in the Conference League over six games, including two clean sheets in consecutive home matches. Palace’s last two European fixtures saw them secure a 2-0 victory against Zrinjski and a 0-0 draw with Larnaca, showcasing their defensive resilience and ability to capitalize on opportunities. Fiorentina, meanwhile, are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive season, a feat unmatched by any other club in the competition. The Italian side will be looking to build on their strong performances in recent seasons, though they face a formidable challenge in Palace. Glasner believes the club’s atmosphere has improved due to their European exploits, with players expressing enthusiasm for the competition. "We enjoyed ourselves, we enjoyed the football, and we enjoyed the intensity [from the last game]," he said. "We have everything we will need to get a good result in the first leg.#conference_league #crystal_palace #fiorentina #oliver_glasner #selhurst_park
Crystal Palace Confident in Creativity Ahead of Larnaca Clash Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner remains optimistic about his team’s ability to generate scoring opportunities in their upcoming Conference League second-leg clash against AEK Larnaca, despite failing to find the net in their previous two encounters with the Cypriot side. The Eagles face a daunting challenge as Larnaca has kept a clean sheet in both meetings this season, having conceded just once across their entire Conference League campaign. Glasner emphasized the need for his players to create multiple chances to overcome the visitors, who have proven difficult to break down. The first leg ended in a goalless draw at Selhurst Park, though Palace dominated possession and shot accuracy, finishing with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.98 from 13 attempts. In contrast, Larnaca managed only 0.23 xG from two shots. Glasner acknowledged the difficulty of facing a team that has consistently defended well against European opponents, noting their ability to neutralize crosses and cut out threats in the box. “We have huge respect for AEK Larnaca,” he said. “All the teams in the UEFA Conference League have struggled to score against them.” The second leg at AEK Arena is poised to be a tightly contested affair, with Larnaca aiming to become the first Cypriot side to eliminate an English team in a knockout stage tie in major European competition. This would mark a historic milestone for the club, as they have yet to achieve such a feat. Palace, meanwhile, will be the second English side to face Larnaca in Cyprus, following West Ham’s 2-0 victory in the 2022-23 Conference League. Glasner also highlighted the importance of Yeremy Pino in the upcoming match, hoping the Colombian forward can rediscover his goal-scoring form.#crystal_palace #uefa_conference_league #oliver_glasner #ae_k_larnaca #yeremy_pino
