UK Football Ante Posts 2025/26

Here are my football ante posts for the 2025/26 season:

Singles - posted 28th July 2025

Premier League - Liverpool outright 15/8 Bet 365, William Hill, Coral, Ladbrokes

Championship - Coventry to be promoted 9/2 Bet 365, 7/2 Coral, Ladbrokes, Betfred

Championship - Coventry top six finish - 11/10 Bet 365, William Hill, Betfred

League One - Stockport outright 12/1 Coral, Ladbrokes, each-way (3 places, 1/4 odds)

League One - Stockport to be promoted 7/2 Coral, Ladbrokes, Betfred

League One - Stockport top six finish 11/10 Bet 365, Betfred, Evs William Hill

League One - Bradford top half finish 11/10 William Hill

League Two - Chesterfield outright 13/2 Bet 365, Coral, Ladbrokes, each-way (3 places, 1/4 odds)

League Two - Chesterfield to be promoted 6/4 Betfred, 11/8 Bet 365, Coral, Ladbrokes

National League - York outright 11/4 Bet 365, Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes

Multiples

Multi 1 14/1 treble with Betfred, 14/1 Paddy Power, 13/1 Bet 365 (posted 28th July 2025)

• Liverpool outright (Premier League)
• Stockport top six finish (League One)
• Chesterfield to be promoted (League Two)

Multi 2 18/1 treble with Betfred, 18/1 Paddy Power, 14/1 William Hill (posted 28th July 2025)

• Liverpool top 2 finish (Premier League)
• Stockport to be promoted (League One)
• Chesterfield to be promoted (League Two)

Multi 3  56/1 treble with Paddy Power, 51/1 Bet 365, 50/1 Betfred, 47/1 Coral, Ladbrokes (posted 28th July 2025)

• Coventry to be promoted (Championship)
• Stockport to be promoted (League One)
• Chesterfield to be promoted (League Two)

Multi 4 21/1 treble with Bet 365, 17/1 William Hill (posted 28th July 2025)

• Stockport to be promoted (League One)

• Chesterfield to be promoted (League Two)
• York to be promoted (National League)

Multi 5 - 18/1 four-fold with Betfred, 17/1 Paddy Power, 17/1 Bet 365, 15/1 William Hill (posted 28th July 2025) - strong fancy

• Liverpool top 2 finish (Premier League) 
• Coventry top six finish (Championship)
• Stockport top six finish (League One)
• Chesterfield to be promoted (League Two)

Multi 6 - 16/1 four-fold with William Hill (posted 28th July 2025) no other firms have the Bradford market yet

• Liverpool top 2 finish (Premier League)
• Coventry top six finish (Championship)
• Bradford top-half finish (League One)
• Chesterfield to be promoted (League Two)

Bet Reasoning (28th July 2025)

Premier League

When Jurgen Klopp announced he was leaving LIVERPOOL at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, few would have expected the Reds to win the 2024/25 title at all, let alone win it with such ease. 

Huge credit goes to Arne Slot for making such a huge, instant impact - Liverpool ranked first in the division for xGF and although they ranked third (1.26) behind Arsenal (1.10) and Man City (1.12) for xGA, they possess such a potent attacking threat, which they have strengthened even further this summer, they could prove extremely difficult to stop and will continue to blow teams away.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has finally secured his move to Real Madrid and is their main departure, but the recruitment of Jeremy Frimpong from Leverkusen and Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth means the Anfield outfit arguably look stronger in the full-back positions. Frimpong had a superb goal/assist record playing right-wing back for Leverkusen and should continue to yield an attacking output on the right even after Trent's departure. 

The strong axis of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis McAllister remains in central midfield and will allow Mo Salah, new recruit Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo to attack at will. 

One of the criticisms of Liverpool in the past has been their inefficiency in front of goal, with Darwin Nunez often very wasteful. It is exciting, then, that 22-goal Hugo Ekitike has arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt, while there are still rumours linking the Reds with want-away Newcastle forward Alexander Isak. Should they secure Isak's signature, the Reds could dominate the division for years to come.

Man City still look to be a club in transition and need to adapt to losing talisman Kevin De Bruyne, while Rodri also recovers from a long-term injury. Chelsea won the Club World Cup with an impressive 3-0 demolition job of PSG and look to be live dangers, but you'd think the one-month turnaround from ending the tournament in America, to the start of the EPL season, could catch up with them later in the year.

I've been a fan of Arsenal in recent years but they are in my bad books after last year, when they failed to recruit a World class striker and paid the price for it. The arrival of Viktor Gyokeres will come as a relief to the long-suffering Gunners, but Liverpool were clearly the best team in the division last year and they've recruited better than anyone else in the division - and that should stand them in good stead when AFCON arrives mid-season and they lose Salah (Man City will also lose Omar Marmoush to Egypt, too).

Sadly, Liverpool will attempt to defend their crown without Diogo Jota, but his tragic death this summer could galvanize this great club, their great fanbase (it already has by the look of it) and talented squad, and give them an even bigger incentive to ensure they finish top of the pile again.

Championship

None of the three promoted sides were good enough to survive in the Premier League last year - with Southampton and Leicester turning in particularly hideous efforts. Ipswich actually finished beneath Leicester in the end, with the trio 13+ points off safety, although due to their management and strong performance the last time they graced the Championship, I'd fancy them to fare best of the relegated sides.

That said, I'm not interested in backing Ipswich at the prices and instead have sided with COVENTRY in the promotion and top six markets. Frank Lampard took over from the popular Mark Robins mid-season and the Sky Blues finished the season strongly - in the second half of the season their points return was bettered by only Burnley and Leeds.

Some would argue Coventry were a little unfortunate to get dumped out of the play-offs by Sunderland last term after dominating across the tie - but that's football, and they must go again. They were also beaten playoff finalists in 2022/23. 

Lampard's credentials at the top level are questionable, but he's clearly a very capable Championship manager and after ranking third for xGF (1.51) behind Leeds (1.79) and Middlesborough (1.59) and ranking seventh for xGA behind Leeds, Burnley, Sheff United, West Brom, Sunderland and Sheff Wed, the midlands side have a strong base to work from.

The Championship looks fiercely competitive again and it will be interesting to see how Sheffield United fare without Chris Wilder, having performed so well for so long last term. They were the other team I contemplated backing, but on the basis of managerial stability, and at the bigger price, Coventry narrowly edged the vote for me.

League One

Huddersfield have recruited really well this summer as they bid to avoid a similar drop-off in performance, which proved their undoing last year. Only two sides performed worse in the second half of the year. 

My worry with the Terriers is their manager, as Lee Grant is unproven, and the American owner may not be willing to give him much time to achieve results, given his considerable investment. Alfie May is a brilliant signing from Birmingham and I do very much respect Town, but it wouldn't surprise me if Grant is sacked before Christmas and then they mount a strong title challenge after switching boss mid-season.

The sides relegated from the Championship all command respect - Luton, Plymouth and Cardiff - Luton, especially, since they are still banking parachute payments following their Premier League relegation two years ago and have recruited Nahki Wells from Bristol City to lead their line. However, I don't rate any of those sides as strongly as big-spending pair Birmingham and Wrexham, who have just moved up and out of the division, and I think it might be worth taking a punt on something bigger priced thus year. I'm going back to STOCKPORT.

The Hatters did us a star turn in League Two two years ago, beating Wrexham to the title, and they enjoyed a magnificent campaign last term, finishing third. 

A well-run club, with a clear plan, they've made year-on-year progress under Dave Challinor and ranked third for xGF (1.53) behind Barnsley (1.57) and Birmingham (1.56) and second for xGA (1.05) behind only Birmingham (0.98) last year. 

I'm sweet on them to finish in the top six again, but if they can keep the momentum going, they may finish even higher, so I've nibbled them each-way to win the league and also for promotion.

My other bet in the division - and only William Hill and Bet Victor have prices for the market at the time of writing - is BRADFORD to finish top-half. 

Bradford should have won the league last year after Walsall's collapse in the New Year but a horrendous run of injuries to their attacking players saw main striker Andy Cook crocked from January onwards and Antoni Sarcevic, Bobby Pointon and Alex Pattison, all other key men sidelined for extended periods. Despite those troubles, Bradford ranked sixth for xGF and fourth for xGA and still managed to get over the line, securing promotion in the 90+6th minute at home to Fleetwood, with a scruffy, deflected effort that prompted three pitch invasions before the ref could finally blow his whistle.

There is something special happening at Bradford City again, so much so even German owner Stefan Rupp, who for so long has cut a disinterested figure, is regularly on the scene again and has financed some interesting summer business - the most eyecatching of which is arguably Jenson Metcalfe on a three-year deal from Everton. The young midfielder impressed on loan at Chesterfield last season and looks a different sort of signing to the journeymen we've been accustomed to watching in League Two. 

Max Power (new captain after Richie Smallwood was surprisingly let go), Ibou Touray, Matthew Pennington and Stephen Humphrys all add League One experience, Curtis Tilt may turn out to be the nasty unit we've been missing at the back, while Josh Neufville and Will Swan have made strong early impressions during a pre-season programme in which the Bantams have yet to concede a goal (albeit versus limited opposition).

I wanted to back Bradford to finish above the other promoted sides - Doncaster, Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon - but I cannot see such a market in League One, so I've instead backed Graham Alexander's men to finish top-half as I think that's a viable way of getting the Bantams onside. I think Wimbledon, who have lost key men, are heading straight back down, and I can't see Doncaster or Port Vale doing much other than being embroiled in a relegation scrap.

Bradford, with their huge fanbase, and an owner who has awoken from his slumber, with some real momentum around the club again, could be challenging around mid-table. Should we sign a new striker, just in case Cook doesn't hit the ground running upon his return from injury, we may even be glancing, briefly, towards the top 10. 

For now, survival would mark a successful season, but if Valley Parade proves the fortress it was last season, we could ruffle a few feathers, without being strong enough to be of interest in the 'top Yorkshire club' or 'top six' markets. 

I suspect the brief from Alexander will be to set up to be tough to beat, rather than being entertaining, but I look forward to seeing how the new season pans out, either way.

League Two

God, I dislike MK Dons with a passion after their pathetic attempt at promotion when I tipped them up last year. They went through several managers and caretakers, none of whom got the best of out their talented squad. The underlying numbers don't suggest they were unlucky either - they were utter dog dirt, and major improvement is needed if they are to justify favouritism this time.

Paul Warne is respected, given his work at Rotherham and Derby, and if can find the missing ingredients they may well romp the title. Fair play if they do......but I won't be smashing into them two years running. Football is more than just chucking lots of talented individuals together. 

Instead, I'm keen on CHESTERFIELD, who don't have anything like as much improvement to find from last season, who have a potent attack, and have secured the permanent signing of exciting winger Dilan Markanday following his release from Blackburn. He really impressed me on loan there in the first half of last season before being recalled and moving up to League One with Leyton Orient. Things didn't really work out for him in London, but he's back with Paul Cook's men, among a talented squad that still contains Will Grigg and Paddy Madden.

Unsurprisingly, given that attacking arsenal, Chesterfield ranked third for xGF last year (1.20) behind Doncaster (1.57) and Notts County (1.36), while, defensively, they were fifth (1.20) for xGA behind Doncaster (1.13), AFC Wimbledon (1.16), Walsall (1.17) and Bradford (1.18).

Again, there is a really strong platform for the Spireites to work from, and they'd be the strongest fancy of my three Football League selections. I've backed them each-way to win the league and also to secure promotion - in League Two, of course, there are four promotion places up for grabs and not the usual three.

National League

YORK enjoyed a terrific season last term, ending up on 96 points in second but still not going up as Barnet (102 pts) secured the only automatic promotion place in the division. 

Defeat in the playoffs to Oldham will have hurt them, given the Minstermen finished 23 points clear of the Latics in the League. The whole promotion set up from the National League should really be looked at, and it is what it is, but York have strong foundations in place to mount another bold bid if they can shake off that hangover, and I thought they might just usurp Mark Hughes' Carlisle.

Carlisle are a huge club for the level and have splashed (and wasted) some serious money in recent years since their American owners took charge. If they pull their finger out then they should probably win the league, but Hughes blew Bradford's League Two promotion chances with his overcautious approach at times, and I just have slight reservations about whether he will be willing to let the shackles off at the Cumbrian outfit too.

Granted, he did seem to have a positive impact upon his arrival at Brunton Park last year, at a time when they already looked dead and buried, and he may have learned a lesson from his spell at Valley Parade, but I just preferred Adam Hinshelwood's men - keeping hold of star striker Ollie Pearce is important for York and they've made a few interesting summer additions - Hiram Boateng and Ollie Banks add experience to midfield.

They gave League One side Barnsley a good game in a friendly last week. Fingers crossed they can go one better than last year.

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