Top 10 football predictions for 2025 | OneFootball

It’s that time of the year when the football world gazes into its crystal ball and attempts to predict what will happen over the next 12 months.

We fared well with our top 10 football predictions for 2024, although it’s fair to say that some of them fell into the ‘shooting fish in a barrel’ category.

They included Manchester City claiming the Premier League title for the fourth year in a row and England failing to win the 2024 European Championship.

We also predicted Real Madrid would win the Champions League and Jurgen Klopp would leave Liverpool, both of which were available at decent odds.

Newcastle United sacking manager Eddie Howe didn’t come to fruition, while Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta avoided being punched by a match official. We’re probably unlucky on both counts.

Without further ado, here are our top 10 football predictions for 2025, starting with the aforementioned Magpies boss.

Newcastle will part company with Howe

Our prediction that Howe would be sacked this year did not go down well with some Newcastle fans.

However, we can’t help but feel that the club’s owners will want more than Howe is capable of delivering despite the issues with adhering to Profit and Sustainability Rules.

On that basis, let’s dip our toes into the water again. Newcastle will part company with Howe before the end of 2025.

Amorim could guide Man United to silverware

Although new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has endured a roller-coaster start to his time at the club, there have been some promising signs.

Amorim has plenty of issues he needs to resolve at United and the January transfer window will give him the opportunity to address some of the most pressing ones.

The Red Devils won’t win the Premier League, and the FA Cup draw has not been kind to them. However, success in the Europa League is not beyond them.

Liverpool won’t win anything meaningful

Many Liverpool fans have predictably been working themselves into a lather after the team’s impressive start to life under new manager Arne Slot.

Fuelled by the efforts of key players eager to secure new contracts or moves elsewhere, the Reds have worked their way into a strong position during the first half of the season.

Despite this, success in the competitions that matter will elude them. Contractual nonsense and transfer rumours will scupper their hopes, sparking glee among non-believers.

Postecoglou’s second-season successes will end

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League, with his ‘no filter’ approach winning him many friends.

However, he slipped up earlier in the season when he reminded everyone that he always wins silverware with clubs in his second season.

That run will unfortunately end in the 2024/25 campaign – probably in a ‘Spursy’ manner if previous history is anything to go by.

Drama is on the cards with England

Research has shown that some people are inclined towards creating drama wherever they go. New England manager Thomas Tuchel falls into this category.

Tuchel’s managerial career has been littered with arguments and controversies, which is unlikely to change during his time with the Three Lions.

Dropping Harry Kane? Falling out with the Football Association? Clashing with the media? The list of possibilities is endless where Tuchel is concerned.

Ancelotti could exit Madrid

Speaking of drama, it is rarely too far from the surface where Real Madrid are concerned. Their 4-0 home defeat against Barcelona in October led to widespread criticism of manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Further defeats against AC Milan and Liverpool in the Champions League did not help matters, but Ancelotti’s previous successes mean he has plenty of credit in the bank.

However, do not be surprised if he rides off into the sunset next summer after adding at least one more piece of major silverware to his glittering CV.

Guardiola may face a summer conundrum

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is heading towards the end of the year in a strange position following his team’s erratic performances in recent weeks.

Common sense tells you that the Spaniard will steady the ship at City, and normal service will be resumed during the second half of the season.

Despite this, Guardiola’s commitment to City may be tested next summer, either by the fallout from the 115 financial charges or a big-money offer from elsewhere.

Haaland may get itchy feet at City

Erling Braut Haaland has been a revelation since arriving in the Premier League, but he is another key figure at City whose future may not be guaranteed.

City are in a strong position as Haaland is under contract until 2027. However, failing to win silverware, the 115 charges and the release clause in his deal could complicate matters.

The smart money is on Haaland remaining at City beyond next summer, but there are enough factors in play to suggest this is not guaranteed.

A surprise team will qualify for Europe

With some top Premier League clubs failing to live up to expectations this season, the door is open for so-called ‘smaller teams’ to muscle in on the action.

Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion are among the clubs who could finish in a European qualification place.

A top-four finish is not beyond the realms of possibility for one of them, although that may be asking a little too much.

There will be another major match official controversy

Arteta’s touchline antics had us predicting a match official would punch him during 2024. Thankfully for him, he avoided the fate.

What we hadn’t foreseen was referee David Coote fired for hammering Klopp in a viral video and his alleged involvement in organising a ‘drugs party’.

We’ll round off our look at 2025 by predicting there will be another controversy involving a match official next year, and it’ll be worse than Coote’s antics.