Peter Crouch Predicts 2026-27 Premier League Top Four in Order – Makes Big Man United Call
Peter Crouch Predicts 2026-27 Premier League Top Four in Order – Makes Big Man United Call.
The 2026-27 Premier League season is almost upon us, and former England striker Peter Crouch has revealed his predicted final top four — while making a particularly interesting call about Tottenham Hotspur.
The new campaign gets underway on Friday, August 21, with newly-promoted Coventry City hosting reigning champions Arsenal in the opening fixture. It promises to be another fascinating Premier League season, with several of England’s biggest clubs undergoing major changes during the summer.
Arsenal head into the campaign as defending champions and, according to Crouch, are the team most likely to retain the title.
Mikel Arteta’s side have continued to strengthen their squad, including the £75 million arrival of Newcastle United and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. The addition is expected to give Arsenal even greater quality and depth as they attempt to win consecutive Premier League titles.
However, repeating as champions will be far from straightforward. Manchester City are beginning a new era following Pep Guardiola’s departure, while Manchester United are looking increasingly competitive after finishing third last season.
Chelsea will also be hoping for a dramatic improvement after a disappointing 10th-place finish, while Liverpool are entering a rebuilding period under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are arguably the most intriguing team heading into the new campaign.
Spurs narrowly avoided relegation last season but have responded by making significant changes to their squad. Their recruitment this summer has generated optimism among supporters, while the appointment of a new head coach has given the club another opportunity to start afresh.
With so much uncertainty surrounding several of the traditional top clubs, Crouch has now revealed exactly how he expects the top four to look at the end of the season.
Peter Crouch’s Top Four Prediction
Crouch has backed Arsenal to successfully defend their Premier League crown, with Manchester City finishing second and Manchester United taking third.
The biggest surprise comes with his fourth-place selection.
Despite Chelsea’s poor campaign last season, Crouch believes the Blues can recover sufficiently to secure Champions League football.
“I’m going to go Arsenal to win it, [Manchester] City second, Man United, Chelsea.”
That prediction would see Arsenal finish top for another season, followed by Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.
It would represent a remarkable turnaround for Chelsea, who have plenty to prove after finishing 10th last term.
Crouch’s prediction also means Liverpool would once again miss out on the Champions League places.
The former Liverpool striker believes the Reds still have considerable work to do following the departure of Arne Slot and the loss of several important players over the past couple of seasons.
Discussing Liverpool’s title chances, Crouch said:
“I think the manager’s great but losing the players they’ve lost in the past couple of seasons has hurt them. Have they been replaced? I’m not so sure. I don’t think they can win the league this year.”
Despite his doubts over Liverpool’s immediate title chances, Crouch does believe Iraola can eventually turn the club back into serious contenders.
“A couple of windows and they’ll be challenging again.”
The comments suggest that Crouch sees Liverpool’s current situation as part of a longer-term rebuild rather than a permanent decline.
The Reds still have considerable resources and a strong squad, but Crouch believes Iraola needs time and additional transfer windows to put his own stamp on the team.
Crouch Backs Arsenal to Retain Their Crown
Arsenal are Crouch’s clear choice to win the Premier League.
The Gunners have been among the most consistent teams in English football in recent seasons and have continued strengthening their squad.
Crouch believes they currently possess the strongest overall team in the division.
“Interesting season, this one. I think Arsenal are the best team in the league.”
Arsenal will face an immediate test of their credentials when they meet Manchester City at Wembley in the Community Shield on Sunday, August 16.
The match will provide an early indication of how the two sides are shaping up ahead of the new campaign.
Manchester City, meanwhile, are facing one of their biggest transitions in years.
With Guardiola gone and Enzo Maresca now in charge, City will have to adapt to a new tactical approach and a different managerial philosophy.
They have also lost established figures such as Bernardo Silva and John Stones, although the club have continued to invest heavily.
Their £116 million move for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest represents a major statement of intent.
Crouch nevertheless believes City will finish second and remain Arsenal’s biggest challengers.
Manchester United Could Surprise
Manchester United’s inclusion in third place is another sign that Crouch believes the club are moving in the right direction.
The Red Devils finished third last season after Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January.
Carrick has now been handed the permanent job, and United have begun strengthening their squad with the additions of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
Crouch’s podcast co-host Chris Stark went even further, suggesting that Manchester United could actually win the Premier League.
Crouch responded:
“To win the league?” Crouch asked. “Listen, I don’t want them to win the league, but I think they have improved. Is it different now Michael Carrick has got the job full-time?”
Although Crouch does not predict United to win the title, his comments demonstrate that he believes the club are capable of making significant progress.
The Big Tottenham Call
Perhaps the most interesting part of Crouch’s prediction for Tottenham supporters is where he expects Spurs to finish.
Tottenham are not included in his top four, but Crouch does not believe they will struggle anywhere near as much as they did last season.
Instead, he sees them finishing fifth — narrowly missing out on Champions League football but potentially emerging as one of the surprise packages of the campaign.
“Tottenham looks sharp too with the new recruitment this season and the head coach, but I will go Spurs for fifth.”
That would represent a major improvement for Tottenham after a disastrous 2025-26 campaign.
Spurs spent much of last season fighting for survival, with the club eventually escaping relegation by the skin of their teeth.
The situation has changed considerably since then.
Tottenham have invested heavily in recruitment and appear to have identified several areas of the squad that needed strengthening. The club are also hoping their new head coach can bring greater consistency, organisation and confidence to a team that struggled badly last season.
Crouch believes those changes could make Tottenham a genuine contender for European football.
Finishing fifth would not immediately return Spurs to the Champions League, but it would represent an enormous step forward and potentially provide the foundation for an even stronger challenge in the following campaign.
It also means Crouch sees Tottenham finishing above his former club Liverpool.
That could prove to be one of the most controversial aspects of his prediction, particularly if Spurs’ recruitment continues to impress between now and the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea Face Pressure to Deliver
Chelsea’s predicted fourth-place finish is arguably Crouch’s boldest top-four call.
After finishing 10th last season, the Blues have a huge amount of work to do if they are to return to the Champions League.
However, Chelsea’s squad contains plenty of talent, and Crouch clearly believes their poor campaign was an anomaly rather than a reflection of their long-term potential.
If Chelsea can find consistency and avoid the issues that damaged their previous season, a top-four challenge could certainly be possible.
The battle for fourth could therefore involve several clubs, with Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa all potentially competing for the same places.
Aston Villa finished fourth last season and will be hoping to maintain their position among the Premier League’s leading sides.
That makes Crouch’s prediction particularly interesting because he has left Villa outside his top four despite their strong campaign last season.
Crouch’s Predicted Picture
Based on Crouch’s selections, his expected final Premier League top four is:
1. Arsenal
2. Manchester City
3. Manchester United
4. Chelsea
And just outside the Champions League positions, he has Tottenham in fifth.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are expected to miss out once again as Iraola begins his project at Anfield.
Whether Crouch’s prediction proves accurate remains to be seen, but there is certainly plenty to debate.
Arsenal have the difficult task of defending their crown, Manchester City are entering a new era, Manchester United are rebuilding under Carrick, Chelsea are attempting to recover from a poor season and Liverpool are starting another chapter under Iraola.
Tottenham could ultimately be one of the biggest stories of all.
After surviving relegation last season, a fifth-place finish would represent a remarkable turnaround. With a new-look squad, fresh recruitment and a new head coach, Spurs have the opportunity to completely change the narrative surrounding the club.
For now, Crouch believes Arsenal remain the team to beat, Manchester City will push them closest, Manchester United will continue their rise, Chelsea will bounce back into the Champions League places — and Tottenham will be waiting just outside the top four in fifth.
The 2026-27 Premier League season begins on August 21, and fans will soon discover whether Crouch’s bold predictions stand up to reality.
