Bizarre predictions as Opta release projected Premier League table for 2025/26
It's been a long, weary summer for Newcastle United and its fans, but finally, Premier League football returns this weekend.
After one of the best seasons in our history last campaign, which of course saw us win the 2025 Carabao Cup and once again qualify for the Champions League, things may not be as smooth nor successful this time around.
With uncertainty surrounding the future of Alexander Isak, and each of the 'Big Six' bolstering their own squads, the race for European football in particular might be just as close as it panned out to be last season.
Opta's supercomputer has weighed in ahead of the start of the season, and whilst some of our fans may be happy with where we're predicted to finish, there's some bold and frankly bizarre calls from the data giants...
Toon face tight battle for Europe next season?
Having run 10,000 simulations, as well as factoring in our current odds with the bookmakers, recent performances and summer transfer window, Opta are backing Newcastle to finish 5th in the Premier League once again.
With an expected points tally of 60.58, we're projected to narrowly finish above Aston Villa (60.55) just like we did last season. Hopefully, England's superior co-efficient should mean that we're finishing in the Champions League spots once again.
And interestingly, or perhaps as expected, last season's top four will remain the same: Liverpool are expected to retain their Premier League crown, though with a significantly lower points tally of around 73.33 points, followed by Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.
Chelsea sit just ahead of us on 63.60 points, but after the windows each team has had, one would back the top four race to be far, far away from the rest of the chasing pack.
Last season, Opta correctly predicted we would finish 5th, though it also said Pep Guardiola’s City would be champions, and Manchester United would finish 6th - so it may be wise to take some of these predictions with a pinch of salt, especially when they may not factor in the summer's each club have endured!
Some bold and bizarre predictions elsewhere
Whilst the top six stays pretty much as most people would rationally predict, along with the projected bottom six, there are some strange calls from Opta across the rest of the league table.
The big one is Brentford in 11th after a devastating summer, losing their top scorer, captain and manager, while Spurs remain down in 14th despite Thomas Frank's arrival and some impressive moves for Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha.
Manchester United, having spent close to £200m this window after their worst league campaign in decades, won't fare much better. Opta has them pencilled in to finish 12th, despite having no European football this season to harm their schedule.
2025 Community Shield winners Crystal Palace are up into the relatively dizzying heights of 7th place, though this could change dramatically if Eberechi Eze is sold before the end of the window, with Marc Guehi's future also uncertain and Conference League Football to also manage without any major arrivals so far.
