The Premier League never sleeps. It barely even blinks. But as the calendar ticks into 2026, every club, from title-chasing giants to relegation battlers, will have taken a quiet moment to look in the mirror, clutch a lukewarm protein shake, and whisper a New Year’s Resolution they hope nobody remembers by February.
Some of these resolutions are about silverware. Some are about survival. Others are about stopping absolute chaos from becoming a weekly habit. All of them will feel painfully familiar for fans.
Here’s a funny, honest, and painfully accurate look at what all 20 Premier League teams would have put on their 2026 New Year’s Resolution list.
Arsenal’s 2026 resolution is written in bold, underlined, and circled three times.
They don’t want another “We went close” season. They don’t want compliments about style, structure, or promising underlying numbers. They want the thing. The big trophy. Or maybe even two. That is what turns progress into permanence and potential into success.
Secondary resolutions include:
Arsenal are tired of being everyone’s “next year” team. In 2026, they want this year to be their year.
Villa’s resolution is defensive, but confident.
They want to show that European qualification isn’t a one-off summer fling, but a long-term relationship with a team and squad building for a big future. That means juggling domestic consistency with continental adventures without looking like they’ve accidentally booked two weddings on the same day.
After a slow start, they have done that magnificently, especially in the Premier League.
Key goals include:
Villa in 2026 want belief to become expectation. They are third for a reason and now need to show they are going to be real contenders for more than just a one-season wonder.
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Bournemouth’s resolution is about timing.
Every season seems to involve a dramatic late surge where suddenly everything clicks, results arrive, and survival looks inevitable. Or they start well before results drop off. That has been the case so far this season.
Their 2026 checklist:
If Bournemouth can find the form they showed earlier this season under Andoni Iraola, they will be just fine.
Brentford’s resolution is subtle but important.
They want to keep being smart without becoming readable. Opponents have started to plan specifically for them, and the element of surprise isn’t what it once was. But Keith Andrews has done a good job since taking over from Thomas Frank and has done far better than many expected.
What they’re aiming for:
Brentford in 2026 want evolution, not reinvention.
Brighton’s New Year’s Resolution is more of a polite plea to the footballing universe.
They’re happy to be admired. They’re less thrilled about watching half their squad leave every summer while everyone else applauds their recruitment model.
Their 2026 goals:
Brighton don’t want praise. They want stability in their squad to allow them to build for the future.
Burnley’s resolution is philosophical. Relegation is on the cards once again, but that has never been a massive concern at the club.
They want to stay in the Premier League without abandoning the identity that got them there. That’s a tightrope walk involving bravery, stubbornness, and the occasional reality check. Manager Scott Parker is well aware of the limitations of his team.
Their wishlist:
Burnley in 2026 want to prove principles and pragmatism can coexist. Avoiding the drop may be tough, but it won't be cataclysmic to a well-run club.
Chelsea’s resolution is existential. What Chelsea will turn up in 2026? Will it be the team that lost at home to Bournemouth and Aston Villa, or the team that won the FIFA Club World Cup beating Paris St Germain 4-0 on their way to victory?
They don’t just want results. They want an identity. Something recognisable. Something repeatable. Something that doesn’t change every time the wind shifts. They need consistency, of results and squad.
The internal memo likely includes:
Chelsea in 2026 want clarity and an identity. And a trophy would no go amiss either.
Palace’s resolution is simple, direct, and easy to understand. They want to find the form that saw them earn a place in Europe, win the FA Cup and then the Community Shield in mid-late 2025.
They need to find the consistency they showed from March through to November, where they proved incredibly difficult to beat and which earned Oliver Glasner huge plaudits as their manager.
Their 2026 plan:
Palace don’t need massive changes, just a few tweaks and perhaps, a few players back from injury and the AFCON.
Everton’s New Year’s Resolution is whispered, not spoken aloud, for fear of tempting fate.
They want a season without points deductions, off-field panic, or existential dread by November. Just football. Safe, consistent, functional, mid-table football will do for a start to avoid the relegation worries of recent years. A few goals from their strikers wouldn't go amiss either.
Their hopes include:
Everton fans don’t want drama anymore. They want peace. And David Moyes is doing a good job at giving them that.
Fulham’s resolution is about avoiding stagnation and to maintain the improvements shown especially in recent weeks.
They’ve proven they belong at this level. Now they want to grow without losing what makes them effective. Marco Silva has done a decent job of this but they need to push on towards the top half.
Their 2026 aims:
Fulham want to move forward, not tread water stylishly. Investment may be required.
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Leeds United started the current season slowly after promotion from the Championship but recently results have improved under manager Daniel Farke.
United fans will be delighted with recent home form which has seen them beat or draw with teams like Chelsea and Liverpool. They need much more of that fight and vigour for battle in order to keep progressing in 2026.
Key objectives:
Leeds want 2026 to see them establish themselves as an EPL club.
Liverpool’s resolution is transitional. They need to evolve, but avoid the dismal runs of form that dogged the first half of their season.
They want evolution without erosion. That means refreshing legs, roles, and ideas while maintaining intensity and identity. Players like Wirtz, Isak and Frimpong need to justify the money spent on them last summer.
Others like Mo Salah, need to show they can evolve into a new look Arne Slot Liverpool team.
Key objectives:
Liverpool in 2026 want to look new without feeling unfamiliar.
City’s resolution is terrifyingly simple. Keep the pedal to the metal on all fronts.
They need to keep wanting it. Motivation is the only thing that can slow them down, and they know it. They are in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, second in the league table and in the latter stages of the Champions League, plus have the FA Cup to aim for in January.
Their 2026 checklist:
City don’t need to resolve to improve. They must resolve to dominate again.
United’s New Year’s Resolution is painfully relatable.
They want normality. A clear system. Predictable performances. Fewer emergencies disguised as seasons. They need consistent results, home and away, players who are performing well, less dissention in the ranks and a system that works for the team and manager which gets consistent results.
Their internal wishes:
United in 2026 want their football club to be about football again.
Newcastle’s resolution is about improving their form on the road. Which has, in short, been dismal this season.
They’ve moved from surprise package to established contender. Now they must deal with pressure, European commitments, and scrutiny. It is one thing winning at St. James' Park frequently, but you won't progress until you can match that with consistent away form.
Their goals:
Newcastle made big strides last season but have fell off the pace so far this. They'll want to change that.
Forest’s resolution is about margins and maintaining the improvement under Sean Dyche.
They’ve not had the best start to the 2025/26 season but since Sean Dyche took over, form and performances have improved, which promises a brighter start to 2026. However, they need to be more consistent and pick up more points away from home.
Their focus:
Forest have potential to move back up the table. It is up to Dyche to find that and achieve it.
Regis Le Bris will not want anything other than consistency for 2026. After a year which saw them surprise many with success in the playoff final against Sheffield United, the Black Cats have taken the Premier League by storm to lie well inside the top half.
So, Regis Le Bris and Sunderland fans wishes for 2026 will be simple and will include:
Sunderland will feel Christmas came early in 2025, so bank on them enjoying more success in 2026.
Tottenham’s resolution is blunt. Their league form has to improve.
They want to turn good football into tangible reward in the league. The Europa League win last season was fabulous. But it came at the expense of a miserable league performance. Once again this season, their league form is poor under Thomas Frank.
Their goals:
Spurs in 2026 want to take the next step on from their Europa League success by being better in the league.
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West Ham’s resolution is simple but massively important. They must survive in the Premier League.
They’ve tasted continental success recently, but successive managerial changes have not worked out and Nuno Santo is already under pressure with his team five points adrift of safety.
With a huge stadium and fan base, it would be a financial disaster for the Hammers to go down.
Their aims:
West Ham fans will know just how important 2026 will be for their team.
Wolves’ resolution is simple. They need to win a game in 2026!
They’re tired of doing the hard part and then suffering anyway. Control needs conversion. Chances need to be created and finished, while defensively, they need to be much, much stronger.
Their 2026 focus:
Wolves would also like VAR to give them a decision or two having suffered appallingly at the hands of technology over the past couple of seasons.
New Year’s Resolutions in football are fragile things. They’re written in hope, tested by February, and often abandoned by March. Injuries happen. Form dips. Fixtures pile up. Reality laughs.
But for all 20 Premier League clubs, 2026 begins with belief, ambition, and at least one promise they swear will be different this time.
Some will keep them.
Some will forget them.
And some will pretend they never made them at all.
That’s the Premier League. Happy New Year.
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