Last season saw one of the most unique top-six races in the Premier League as up to six clubs competed for the final European spots.

Apart from Liverpool and the bottom five or six clubs, the rest of the league were at some point last season all legitimate top-four or top-six contenders.

Nottingham Forest were the best of the lot among teams outside of the traditional Big Six. While the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and at some point Manchester City fumbled, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side mounted a surprise push for a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

The Tricky Trees spent much of last season inside the top four, only dropping out of the top four in the last month of the season following a return of just two wins and two losses (D2) in their last six games of the season. Despite the disappointing ending to their season, they still enjoyed a successful season by their own account. 

This is because Forest came into the 2024/25 season on the back of two relegation-battling seasons. So, going from a relegation-threatened side to a top-four contender that narrowly missed out on a top-six finish by one point, while disappointing, is a giant leap. 

The upcoming season is expected to produce another epic top-six battle. The likes of Manchester United and Tottenham, who missed out on the top six last season, are doing all they can to prepare for a return to their previous levels. 

Tottenham, for example, has hired highly-rated coach Thomas Frank after letting Ange Postecoglou go after he led them to an embarrassing bottom-five finish. Frank will at least aim to return Spurs to their previous level, which saw them consistently compete for a top-six position in the Premier League. 

Meanwhile, it appears that the signing of the duo of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will revitalise Manchester United. Like Tottenham, Manchester United finished inside the bottom six last season. But they have set about rebuilding this summer ahead of a potential return to the Champions League next year.

Those who buy Premier League tickets are already waiting with high expectations as the 2025/26 season draws near. Entertainment and intrigue are expected to be in full swing starting this month. 

But with the season almost upon us, which team outside the traditional Big Six will crash the top-six party? 

Who will be the next Nottingham Forest or Aston Villa? 

In this article, we consider the top outsiders for a potential top-six finish in the Premier League this season. 

Crystal Palace

On paper, Crystal Palace should be one of the clubs expected to push for a top-six finish this season, given their achievements last season.

The London-based club has been hitting some remarkable heights since Oliver Glasner joined in the second half of the 2023/24 season. The former Eintracht Frankfurt manager has transformed the Eagles, and last season he led them to an FA Cup win over Manchester City. That historic win meant that fans and those who buy Crystal Palace tickets saw their team win a major trophy for the first time in its history.

As a result of their cup win, Palace are set to play in Europe for the first time in their history next season. Having qualified for a place in Europe through a domestic cup win, the Eagles’ next target should be to establish themselves as a top-six team. 

However, there is little optimism among fans that such an achievement is possible this season, considering their history, with Palace’s best league finish so far being 10th position. Additionally, their activity in this transfer window is threatening to hinder their ability to get off to a good start again. Oliver Glasner’s men have been unable to make any quality additions to their squad, and they are in danger of losing their best players to their Premier League rivals this summer. 

Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Jean Claude Mateta, who were arguably their best players last summer, are attracting serious interest from top Premier League clubs. Should any of these players leave without adequate cover, Palace could potentially go from top-six hopefuls to potential relegation strugglers. It remains to be seen how things turn out, though.

Fulham

Fulham is another team that showed potential for a top-six finish last season. 

The Cottagers have been steadily improving since their return to the Premier League in the 2022/23 season. Although they have failed to finish above the top ten during that period, they have consistently maintained their quality and identity. 

Despite finishing 11th, Fulham’s 54-point haul marked their best-ever return in a Premier League season. Under Marco Silva last season, they delivered some of the most attractive and effective football among clubs outside the traditional Big Six.

The next step in Fulham’s progression is to challenge for a top-six finish, and supporters, including those who hold Fulham tickets, are right to expect that ambition to take shape in the upcoming campaign.

Brighton 

Brighton are another club that has been teetering on the doorsteps of the top six for quite a while now.

The Seagulls will begin their ninth season in the top flight by August, and there is genuine belief among those who buy Brighton and Hove Albion tickets that another shot at European qualification is achievable. 

Despite suffering inconsistency and injuries at some point last season, Brighton still finished in the top half, accumulating 61 points, which was just one shy of the 62 points they won in their best-ever season when they finished in sixth position. 

So, having steadied the ship in his first season, the highly-rated Fabian Hürzeler can and should target a top-six finish next. However, it remains to be seen whether the departures of João Pedro, Pervis Estupiñán, and Simon Adingra will affect them in the upcoming season. 

Everton

Everton is another team that can mount a serious challenge for a top-six spot in the 2025/26 season. The Toffees have been one of the Premier League's ever-present and historically resilient sides.

They enjoyed a strong period of success during the mid-to-late 2000s, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League once and maintaining a consistent presence in the top half of the table under David Moyes.

Toffees never finished below 10th in a seven-year period between 2007 and 2014. Their last top-six finish came during that period (in 2013/14) under Roberto Martínez, as they finished in fifth place that season. However, Everton has struggled both on and off the pitch in recent years, often battling relegation rather than competing for European places. The club now stands at the edge of a transformative era, though, with the return of Moyes and the direction under their new ownership. 

The upcoming 2024/25 season marks a turning point as they prepare to move into their long-awaited new home at Bramley-Moore Dock. The multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art venue is expected to usher in a fresh sense of ambition and identity for the Merseyside club, with Everton ticket buyers hoping the club will finally build on the stability and turn a corner. 

Although a top-six challenge may look too ambitious given the strength of the competition, the Toffees may begin this new chapter with European qualification.

Bournemouth 

Last season, Bournemouth tickets were among the most in-demand among clubs outside of traditional big clubs. 

The Cherries produced their best season in top-flight history last season, winning 15 games and recording 56 points. They also played an entertaining brand of football that had even rival fans applauding. 

Their efforts last season secured them a ninth-place finish, three places up from their 12th-place finish in the 2023/24 season. Following that trajectory, the next step for Bournemouth will be a top-six finish. 

However, their push could be hampered by the departures of two standout performers from last season — Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez. That said, Bournemouth’s recent track record in the transfer market suggests optimism. Supporters have reason to believe the new signings brought in to replace Huijsen and Kerkez are capable of stepping up and effectively filling the gaps left by the pair.

Sunderland

Sunderland may be a surprise team in this list, but the Black Cats have a genuine case here. 

Sunderland will play in the Premier League for the first time since their relegation from the top flight in the 2016/17 season. That season they finished in 20th position and were also relegated to League One the following season. 

But after securing their promotion to the big league thanks to their playoff triumph after a fourth-place finish in the Championship, Sunderland have gone about preparing for life in the top flight in style.

The Black Cats have outspent many of their top-six ‘rivals’, including Newcastle and Aston Villa, this summer. Although a top-six finish is a far dream, those who purchase Sunderland tickets are expecting a good season in the top flight. In any case, it remains to be seen what they can pull off.

Conclusion 

The 2025/26 Premier League season promises another thrilling race for a top-six finish, with several clubs outside the traditional elite showing real potential to disrupt the established order. 

Nottingham Forest's near miss last season, Crystal Palace's historic cup triumph and Fulham’s steady growth show us the possibilities. The contenders are many and varied, with clubs like Brighton, Bournemouth, Everton, and even newly promoted Sunderland bringing different strengths to the table. If squad improvements align with on-pitch performance, a major shake-up in the top six is certainly within reach.