Premier League 2025-26 Preview No 12: Liverpool

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 1st (NB: this is not needfully Andy Hunter’s prediction but nan mean of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 1st

Prospects

Champions for a record-equalling 20th time, and by a comfortable margin, first-choice transportation targets secured successful an eager recruitment thrust and nan anticipation of Alexander Isak arriving too: Liverpool look successful outstanding style to observe their 21st title this season. A seventh Champions League triumph will besides beryllium considered a realistic target by Arne Slot.

Expectations are precocious astatine Anfield but immoderate study of nan nine must see nan immeasurable effect of Diogo Jota’s tragic death connected teammates and colleagues. It is nan chartless facet successful their title defence.

On insubstantial Liverpool person upgraded nan squad that won nan Premier League pinch 4 matches to spare and handed Slot greater extent and versatility for his 2nd season. The caput coach rotated sparingly successful nan convention and his attack was rewarded handsomely. Slot, however, felt that fatigue caught up pinch nan squad during a series of 30 matches betwixt November and March and he should person made much changes for nan Carabao Cup last conclusion by Newcastle. Expect much rotation this season.

Liverpool person added gait successful some full-back positions pinch nan signings of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, 2 parts of a connection transportation model erstwhile they spent almost £300m. Hugo Ekitiké was signed from nether Newcastle’s noses aft a breakthrough play pinch Eintracht Frankfurt and nan coveted Florian Wirtz arrived for a nine record – and perchance British grounds – fee. Slot believes nan Germany world will bring “a fewer other weapons” to nan side. Rich successful attacking options, Liverpool by opposition look ray successful cardinal defence and will require different imperious run from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. The brace were a formidable portion past season. The defending champions look nan same.

The manager

There is simply a stark opposition betwixt nan characteristic of nan Liverpool caput coach and nan head he succeeded past summertime but, acknowledgment to his tactical brilliance and calm, grounded manner, Slot exceeded expectations successful evolving nan squad built by Jürgen Klopp. History was made arsenic a result. Slot made nan champion commencement by immoderate Liverpool head pinch 11 wins successful his first 12 games, became nan first Dutch coach to triumph nan Premier League and joined nan Anfield greats Joe Fagan and Sir Kenny Dalglish successful winning nan title successful his first season. After nan tragic events of nan summer, nan 46-year-old said: “To correspond this nine successful this metropolis now moreover intends much to maine and to my woman than it did before.”

Off-field picture

It has been a devastating summertime for Liverpool aft nan deaths of Jota and his relative André Silva successful a car mishap connected 3 July. The Portugal world was 1 of nan astir down-to-earth and celebrated figures successful nan dressing room, arsenic good arsenic a superb finisher who won nan Premier League and Nations League successful nan weeks earlier his death. The writer verge down nan Main Stand astatine Anfield became a oversea of tributes to nan 28-year-old, who joined his semipermanent partner Rute Cardoso, nan mother of their 3 young children, 11 days earlier nan accident. Liverpool person permanently retired Jota’s No 20 garment successful his honour crossed each levels of nan nine and person plans for a imperishable memorial.

Star signing

A definite Newcastle striker could make a precocious play for this title but, successful nan meantime, it is Wirtz who embodies Liverpool’s ambition and willingness to salary a grounds interest for a transformative signing. The champions hit disconnected title from Bayern Munich and Manchester City for nan 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who besides had liking from Real Madrid. Slot believes Wirtz’s productivity will compensate for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit and alteration Liverpool to move power successful possession into much emphatic victories. Wirtz has looked a people enactment successful pre-season, nan erstwhile Bayer Leverkusen player’s passing, touch, consciousness and expertise to find pockets of abstraction successful and astir nan punishment area impressing.

Liverpool spent a nine grounds £116m to motion Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen. Photograph: Elli Birch/IPS/Shutterstock

Stepping up

With impeccable timing, nan 16-year-old left-winger Rio Ngumoha shone successful a pre-season friends against Yokohama F. Marinos connected nan time Luis Díaz completed his £65.5m move to Bayern. A good show capped by an fantabulous individual extremity showed Slot location could beryllium different action to switch nan Colombian. Ngumoha repeated nan instrumentality successful his adjacent outing against Athletic Bilbao. Chelsea were furious erstwhile Ngumoha near for Liverpool past summer. The teenager, for his part, felt location was a much straightforward pathway to nan first squad astatine Anfield. He will motion his first master statement erstwhile he turns 17 connected 29 August.

A large play for

Alexander-Arnold’s departure creates an opening for Conor Bradley to found himself arsenic nan first-choice right-back. However, immoderate imaginable of a straightforward promotion for a 22-year-old who has each nan attributes for nan job, and nan acquisition of 57 appearances for Liverpool, was curtailed days aft nan Premier League trophy was lifted. The champions announced nan £29.5m signing of Frimpong connected nan time they accepted a €10m package from Madrid for Alexander-Arnold’s early release. The title for Bradley remains arsenic fierce arsenic ever, but an opportunity is location to beryllium seized.