Study reveals that Man City and Arsenal fans have the highest hopes ahead of the new Premier League season... with one major side's fanbase only 61 per cent confident of a strong campaign

Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool fans are the most likely to be hopeful about a strong Premier League season, according to a Sky Sports survey.

Southampton (36%) have the least optimistic fan base in the top flight, while Tottenham Hotspur supporters (61%) were the least likely of any ‘big six’ team to express hope ahead of the new season, in a survey of over 5,000 fans from the 92 clubs in the Premier League and EFL.

Alongside City (89%), Arsenal (85%) and Liverpool (84%) fans, supporters of Accrington Stanley (88%), Wrexham (81%) and Stevenage (80%) are among the most positive about the season ahead, which begins on Friday evening with two Championship fixtures.

From Arsenal to Walsall, fans of each of the 92 clubs, including actor Danny Dyer and comedian Josh Widdicombe, have also come together to tell their stories of fandom ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

West Ham fan Dyer has recorded a rallying pre-season pep talk for new Hammers manager Julen Lopetegui, cheekily requesting that ‘Jules’ builds the team around Dyer’s future son-in-law Jarrod Bowen. 

Bowen is engaged to Dani Dyer, daughter of Danny, and the pair have been together since 2021.

Meanwhile Plymouth Argyle supporter Widdicombe has created a video foreseeing that Wayne Rooney will seal promotion to the Premier League for Argyle.

Accrington Stanley fan Iain Tricket has created a special edition milk bottle in a nod to the famous 1980s advert while Manchester City supporter Charlie Gibson’s story is all about the bond football formed between him and his late grandfather, who suffered from dementia.

According to the survey, more than one in 20 supporters (6%) believe football is the most important thing in their life – even when compared to their family members, work, or chances of romance. While 13% admitted they’d skip a first date to watch their beloved football team.

Jamie Carragher said: ‘The football pyramid is what makes the game so well loved and competitive in this country. I used to experience that love and tribalism up and down the country first-hand! 

'At the heart of it, I’m a fan myself, so to see supporters come together with all their talents is fantastic. It really does show you what football means to so many, and I can’t wait for it to all kick off now.’

With the EFL season kicking off this week, the soon to launch Sky Sports+ will bring more football to fans than ever before, with supporters across the leagues able to watch their club at least 20 times this season. Sky Sports will also broadcast 128 Premier League games live and exclusively throughout the season.