English Premier League 2026 Season Update
The end of the 2025/2026 season of the English Premier League is close to wrapping up with the final Matchday now just weeks away. The EPL has been producing football love the world over since 1992.
The league is made up of 20 clubs from around England and has some of the biggest teams in football and thereby making it the biggest football league in the world. As we look at the latest English Premier League Update 2026, there are now only two Matchdays remaining in the league with the title race heating up. This year sees Manchester City chase Arsenal in the title race with last years title holders Liverpool sitting on the fourth position on the table.
EPL Title Race Breakdown
There is a 9 point gap difference between Manchester City and the rest of the league. This means that the rest of the teams are ultimately unable to catch up with the top that is Arsenal and Man City.
Arsenal is the current table leader with 79 points in the EPL title race. The team are under the guidance of Spanish Coach Mikel Arteta and have only lost 5 matches in this season. Arsenal has won 24 matches and drawn 7. The team now only have two matches remaining in the league. Their second last match for the season is against Burnley on Monday the 18th of May. The odds for Arsenal to win are overwhelming with a 89% win ratio. The match will be played in London at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s last match against Crystal Palace is coincidentally also the last match of the season.
Manchester City is in second position with 74 points on the log. City has a very small chance of winning the title but it all hinges on whether Arsenal draws or loses their two upcoming matches. City has three matches left in the league where most of the other teams only have two. They play Palace on Wednesday the 13th of May then face 6th on the log Bournemouth on the 19th. Their last match is against Aston Villa on the 24th of May. City will not be able to clinch the title if Arsenal wins both of their matches regardless of the outcome of their matches. The can get a maximum of 9 points if they win all their matches which will not be enough to overtake Arsenal.
Top 4 Battle for Champions League
Winning the title is not the only thing that teams are after in the English Premier League. The top four teams at the end of the league also gains entry to the UEFA Champions League which means a much bigger budget for the next season. Arsenal and City have already cemented their spot in the top 4 race. They are followed by Manchester United with 65 points in third place.
The battle for fourth place is where things become interesting. Liverpool and Aston Villa are now level with 59 points on the log with only goal differences separating the teams. The decider for which team will come fourth will be when the two teams will face each other on the 15th of May. Both teams need the other team to lose and win their last match in order to come fourth. Villa has a tough match of the season against Man City for their last EPL match. Liverpool is up against Brentford in their last 2025/2026 match.
Relegation Battle
The two teams that come last in the season get relegated to the second division league. Burnley and Wolves have already lost the relegation battle. The two teams will not make the cut this season no matter the outcome of their two last remaining matches.
Top Players Impacting the Run-In
Norwegian Erling Haaland from Man City is the player that scored the most goals this season with 26 goals at the time of writing. He is followed by Brazilian Igor Thiago who has been instrumental for Brentford this season and has scored 22 goals.
Key Fixtures to Watch
The matches that can shape the outcome of who will win the EPL 2026 are key fixtures to watch. Man City’s and Arsenal’s matches are key fixtures to watch. The fixture between Liverpool and Villa on the 15th of May is important because of the stakes involved.
EPL Betting Markets & Odds Explained
The English Premier League has different betting markets. The most common bet placed is Match Result where you bet on the outcome of the match after 90 minutes.
Over/under Goals is a popular type of bet and involves betting on the amount of goals scored in a match. An example of this is when on betting if a match will end in 2.5 over and the final score is 2-1 which is over 2.5 so a win.
Some Premier League betting tips May 2026 from punters is betting on BTTS or “Both teams to score”. This betting option is especially great when two attacking teams play each other.
Best Betting Sites for Soccer in South Africa
Most of the reputable betting sites that we have partnered with offer EPL odds South Africa. It is worth having a look at what odds each company offers before placing a bet on the EPL.
Choosing a sportsbook during the closing weeks of the English Premier League Update 2026 requires a platform that can handle the intensity of live, in-play action. We recommend starting your journey with these top-tier South African bookmakers:
- Easybet: Perfect for those who want to save on data while following every goal in real-time. Their R50 sign-up bonus and 25 free spins offer a great way to start your Premier League betting journey without an initial deposit.
- Wealth of promotions
- Varied games portfolio
- Fun and friendly
- 10bet: Currently ranked as one of the best for competitive odds and a massive variety of sports markets. If you are looking for deep value on the final standings, 10bet often provides the sharpest prices in the country.
- Great Welcome Bonus
- Extensive sports markets
- Slots, Aviator and Live Games
- Hollywoodbets: A local favorite that understands the South African audience. They offer incredible “Data-Free” solutions and consistent promotions, making them a go-to for those who never want to miss a kickoff.
- Great, competitive odds
- Generous, regular promotions
- Live In-Play, BetGames, Lucky Numbers
- FirstBet.co.za: Replacing the older favorites, FirstBet brings a modern, sleek interface and a deep focus on local betting preferences. Their registration process is lightning-fast, ensuring you don’t miss a single minute of the action.
- 100% First Deposit Bonus Up To R10 000
- Lucky Numbers & Betgames
- Slots, Live Games and Virtual
- Pantherbet.co.za: A rising star in the Mzansi betting scene, Pantherbet offers unique markets and highly responsive customer support. They provide an excellent alternative for punters looking to diversify their betting slips.
- Wide sports coverage
- High-quality casino providers
- Good Choice of Promotions
Final Betting Strategy for the 2026 Season
As we wrap up this English Premier League Update 2026, remember that the final weeks of the season are unpredictable. Momentum often outweighs technical skill when the pressure is at its maximum. Therefore, we recommend diversifying your bets across the platforms we have mentioned. Use Hollywoodbets for your traditional match-result bets, but explore the “Build-A-Bet” features on 10bet as well as the Multi Bet Win Boost on Playa Bets to create higher-odds multiples on the final day.
Furthermore, always verify your FICA documents early. There is nothing worse than hitting a massive “Last Day of the Season” accumulator and having to wait days for your withdrawal because your ID wasn’t updated. Sites like FirstBet and Pantherbet have made the verification process incredibly simple, so take five minutes today to ensure your account is in good standing. If you want to understand Football betting slightly better have a look at our Soccer Betting Guide.