Merson's Premier League season preview: Who wins the title and who stays up?

Paul Merson gives his Premier League predictions ahead of the new season starting this weeekend; watch six matches live on Sky Sports from the Premier League's opening round this weekend, starting with Arsenal vs Coventry on Friday from 6.30pm (kick-off 8pm)

In his latest column, Paul Merson predicts the 2026/27 Premier League season at both ends of the table.

The new season kicks off on Friday as champions Arsenal host promoted Coventry City, with six games live on Sky Sports over the course of the opening weekend.

Merson has picked his top six, assessed the contenders for relegation and selected one team to overachieve and upset the big boys this season...

I just can't see anybody stopping Arsenal. They'll win it quite comfortably. I don't see a single weakness in them regarding the Premier League.

They do have a few weaknesses in the Champions League but for the Premier League, they remind me of when Manchester City first started dominating the league: two players in every position.

William Saliba and Gabriel are unbelievable but then Cristhian Mosquera comes in and you wouldn't even think Saliba was missing. Jurrien Timber is out but Ben White comes in and keeps Jeremy Doku quiet.

I watched the Community Shield win over Manchester City in Cardiff and I was going: 'Oh, I forgot about Viktor Gyokeres. I forgot about Eberechi Eze.' And they were coming on with five or 10 minutes to go.

And Christos Tzolis is like Ronseal - does exactly what it says on the tin. He looks like a manager's dream. You'll tell him in the dressing room what you want him to do, what his job is, and he does it to the absolute. He got up and down that left wing all through the game, held his position, never let the full-back get beyond him.

I don't think him and Gabriel Martinelli take you to the Champions League but Arsenal must have something in the pipeline. They've got to.

I'd be shocked if they didn't have a key signing before the start of the season or before the end of the window. And I mean a key signing.

The Vinicius Junior deal was a lot closer to what people think. It wasn't just talk - a lot had gone through. A lot had been done. That's the market they're looking at.

I just don't see anybody touching Arsenal at the moment. The only ones who can beat Arsenal are themselves.

Liverpool just need to be consistent if they are to challenge Arsenal. Last season was so inconsistent from them.