Is it going to be a surprise?
The new season of the English Premier League has just started. Last season was a runaway train as Liverpool stormed away with the league, leaving other teams playing catch-up. Arsenal’s weak attacking force allowed Liverpool to extend their supremacy at the top, and while Manchester City were still searching for the new identity Pep was trying to rebuild, Liverpool changed the dynamics of the league and made it look easy.
Other managers made Arne Slot look like a genius. Slot did not buy any new players and instead relied on the same team Klopp had built, guiding them to the title in a stylish manner. While other teams looked on, they could only wish they had the tools to bring Liverpool down. By Easter 2025, the title race was already over.
Last season brought disappointment, especially for Arsenal and Manchester United. Arsenal finished runners-up again in Arteta’s fifth season in charge, while Manchester United ended in fourteenth place, failing even to secure European football after their loss to Tottenham.
Can fortunes turn for these clubs? Will Manchester City fight back to reclaim their crown, or will Liverpool win it again with ease? These are the questions fans are asking, and the statistics seem to provide some early answers. Based on form and the players they acquired in the off-season, Liverpool should once again be favourites. Manchester City have strengthened, but the loss of key players such as Jack Grealish (who, despite not playing every game, still made valuable contributions last season) could impact their rhythm. Arsenal, meanwhile, have bolstered their squad with a proven striker, raising hopes of more goals this season. However, their tactical approach remains a question mark, as Arteta still appears to be figuring out his team’s style of play.
Manchester United have undergone a significant transformation this summer. Ruben has had a full pre-season to assert his authority and style, and the acquisitions of Premier League-proven players, alongside a young talent like Benjamin Šeško, suggest a brighter future. Can United win the league? That may be too far-fetched, but with only one game a week to focus on, they are at least guaranteed to produce better football.
Football is unpredictable, and no one truly knows who will win the league. Leicester City’s miracle title in 2016 proved that anything is possible, and such a feat could, in theory, happen again. However, smaller teams like Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest may find it difficult to compete for the top four this season, as their involvement in Europe could take its toll. Chelsea, meanwhile, may also have something to say in the title race after their Club World Cup triumph, but fatigue could play a role given their involvement in every competition.
This season will be far tougher than the last. There will be no runaways, as teams are expected to bring their A-game. Liverpool are strong contenders, but so are both Manchester clubs; Pep has already proved he is the best, while Amorim has shown he knows how to win trophies in his first proper season at any club he manages. Chelsea will certainly have their say, and Arsenal must finally deliver. If Arteta cannot win the title this season, serious questions must be asked as to whether he is the right man to take Arsenal forward.
