Each passing Premier League season throws up a lot of fascinating outcomes, especially when it comes to the title race.
Liverpool took many by surprise last term, while Manchester City fell below expectations.
The 2025-26 campaign promises to be another thriller, and Afrosport takes a look at the title contenders and pretenders.
The Contenders
Liverpool
Not many expected much from Liverpool after a third-place finish during the 2023-24 season, which brought to an end Jurgen Klopp’s almost nine-year reign at Anfield.
In came an unfamiliar Arne Slot to take charge after leading Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title, and without any big spending in the summer and winter transfer windows, Liverpool were in command of the Premier League, and ultimately won it 10 points clear of Arsenal.
The Reds have now strengthened this summer by purchasing Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike, all above £200 million.
The Merseyside outfit could also potentially get want-away Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, further strengthening their quest to win back-to-back Premier League titles for the first time.
Arsenal
The Gunners have been steadily improving under Mikel Arteta since he took charge of the club in December 2019, however Premier League success has been eluding them.
For the third season in a row, the North London outfit finished second in the standings, much to the frustration of the fans who have now gone 21 years without top-flight success.
Arsenal have been known to play without an out-and-out striker, and after much yearning from the fans, the club finally signed one of Europe’s most coveted strikers in Viktor Gyokeres, from Sporting Lisbon.
With a staggering 97 goals in 102 games in Portugal, the Swedish striker might just be the missing puzzle that will get the Gunners over the line to finally win the title.
The Pretenders
Manchester City
City boss Pep Guardiola is known to be a serial winner, and evidence of that was winning four Premier League titles in a row, something no team has done before. Also, not forgetting the historic treble during the 2022-23 season.
The 2024-25 campaign was therefore one the Citizens were expected to dominate, however an anterior cruciate ligament injury to influential midfielder Rodri in September last year coincided with the worst league form ever for Guardiola.
City struggled to win games, and even reinforcements worth up to £180 million in the January transfer window did not help. The men in sky blue almost did not get to qualify for the Champions League, but got enough crucial points at the end of the season to ultimately finish third but 13 points behind champions Liverpool.
Guardiola has invested again this summer by purchasing Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and James Trafford, however the experience of last season is giving a sense that perhaps, the solid dynasty the Spaniard built in Manchester might have come to an end and will be difficult to replicate.
After all, his signings in the last couple of seasons have not clicked, and with Rodri still not fit, and creative Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne now gone, the 2025-26 campaign might just be another struggle for City rather than a title challenge.
Chelsea
The Blues will start the 2025-26 Premier League season as world champions after winning the revamped FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer.
Not many had expected them to do it, but they defied the odds by sweeping past a solid Paris Saint-Germain in the final in New Jersey.
It has a strong sense of hope for a solid season for the West London club, but that solidness might come in cup competitions and not the league.
Chelsea last tasted league success in 2017 under Antonio Conte, and since then have not even managed to finish second on the table.
Last term, they almost failed to make the top five but scaled through on the final day of the season. Head coach Enzo Maresca has solid summer reinforcements in Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, and Jorrel Hato, among others. However, this has been a similar transfer pattern under the Todd Boehly-led ownership, and nothing significant has changed in the Premier League.
Manchester United
Fans of the Red Devils will want to quickly forget the 2024-25 season, which saw the team finish a dismal 15th in the league and also lose the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
Some have forgiven head coach Ruben Amorim, as he came mid-season and inherited an already underperforming team, while others felt there was no excuse for such a disastrous finish.
Whichever side of the divide anyone is on, United have gone all out to strengthen this summer by signing Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, while discussions are ongoing with Brighton & Hove Albion to bring Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba to Old Trafford.
On the other side, players who are considered toxic to the dressing room, such as Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, have all indicated their desire to leave the club.
This has now brought a perceived semblance into the team, with some believing United can finally play well in the Premier League with consistent results and possibly challenge for the title.
However, that could be getting ahead of themselves, as even Amorim does not yet have 100% confidence in the team, which practically sums up where the club is at the moment.
