Premier League Club-By-Club Predictions: While not the favourites to stay up, Burnley are one of the more interesting relegation contenders. But can they survive the loss of James Trafford?

The 2024-25 season saw Burnley finish second in the EFL Championship. After earning 100 points and conceding just 16 goals over the 46-game campaign, can Burnley replicate their efforts in the Premier League? Or will they be sent straight back down for the second time in three seasons?

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While Burnley finished 2024-25 as the best side not to win the Championship, they enter the Premier League season with a much stiffer challenge: ensuring survival after such a strong season. 

With Sunderland and Leeds all spending big in the transfer windows, can Burnley and their own transfer acquisitions outperform expectations?

What Noah says:

Despite being in a weaker position compared to their promotion counterparts, Burnley did make some key investments during the transfer window. Most notably, the Clarets brought in Kyle Walker from Manchester City to provide the squad with some Premier League experience. Other moves made over the summer included the acquisition of Jacob Bruun Larsen from VfB Stuttgart.

The one problem for Burnley? Their opening slate is filled with big fixtures. After kicking off their 2025-26 Premier League campaign away to Tottenham, they return home to play a crucial fixture against Sunderland, one that could easily play a role in determining who stays in the Premier League and who goes down. 

Following those two games, Burnley plays Man United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, and Aston Villa in that order; that slate of five games takes the Clarets into the October international break, which they come out of to play two more relegation battle fixtures against Leeds United and Wolves. 

Despite playing Arsenal and Chelsea in November, that month also sees the Clarets take on West Ham and Brentford, which should give the club some reprieves. The same could be said for December as the only established European contender Burnley plays in the six games leading up to the end of 2025 is Newcastle (though the Clarets do play Newcastle twice in that span). 

While Burnley has the chance to enjoy a more doable kickoff to 2026 in the form of a match against Brighton, that is followed by games against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham, before a rematch with Sunderland closes out the Clarets’ January slate. Then over the next eight games, Burnley plays against European opposition just once on February 21st against Chelsea, while they also take on relegation fighters Everton once during that stretch. 

The final six games of Burnley’s schedule is probably the most daunting stretch of all; even if the Clarets aren’t relegated yet, playing Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Arsenal within that final stretch could devastate any survival hopes. Should they still be in a position to survive, a Matchday 38 encounter against Wolves could easily decide the fate of one or even both clubs. 

As indicated earlier, the transfer of Kyle Walker and Jacob Bruun Larsen should help to keep Burnley afloat in the relegation battle. However, losing goalkeeper James Trafford will hurt, and I cannot see how the Clarets make up for the loss in terms of goal difference. Unless the Clarets’ goalkeeper depth makes a difference, it could be a long season at Turf Moor. I do think Burnley will be in the fight to stay up, but they will fall short of survival.

Projected finish: 19th

What Ellie says:

Coming up as the highest points-scoring championship side not to win, Burnley have their work cut out for them. Recently, every team that was promoted the previous season has been sent straight back to the Championship.

It will be difficult for the Lancashire side to keep afloat in the top tier of English football. Scott Parker has his work cut out to keep his side up for the 26/27 season. The inclusion of Kyle Walker in the side will invigorate the side and help with the defensive structure of the side. Making sure they stay away from injuries and ensure their players are ready for the step up in competition and prove themselves as contenders to stay up.

They kick off the season with Tottenham away, and then have some fairly easy games to ensure the team is ready for the season. They then have a very difficult September whilst they are still learning their form in the league.

The run-in of hosting Manchester City and away at Arsenal in the last five games will make it difficult if they are fighting for survival.

Projected finish: 19th

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Article written by Noah Guttman and Ellie Swain