Identifying the Premier League title contenders

Defending champions Liverpool are seen as one of the leading candidates for the Premier League crown this year. However, Liverpool is well aware of how tough it is to win back-to-back league titles, something they haven’t achieved since 1984.

Since their last consecutive league triumph, Liverpool hasn’t managed to repeat the feat. This highlights the challenge of defending the title for the Merseyside club. And the Reds aren’t the only club struggling to hold onto their championship.

Only Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, has dominated by winning six out of seven seasons from 2018 to 2024. They successfully defended their title, a feat not seen since Sir Alex Ferguson’s mighty Manchester United in 2009.

Manager Arne Slot’s immediate success in his debut season with Liverpool has placed him among the elite group of coaches who claimed the Premier League title in their first year—following Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini, and Antonio Conte.

To strengthen their Premier League title defense, Liverpool has recruited quality signings like Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Armin Pecsi, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Jeremie Frimpong. These additions significantly boost The Kop’s attacking power.

If Anfield’s team manages to secure Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi, they could become one of the strongest squads in Premier League history this season.

Man City endured a sudden and disastrous decline last season as their title defense collapsed. Losing the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace resulted in their first trophyless campaign in eight years.

To regroup this season, Pep Guardiola has overhauled the squad, signing nearly ten new players since January.

After Pep Guardiola last missed out on the Premier League title, the Spanish tactician responded by winning four consecutive seasons. This serves as a warning to City’s rivals that they should never underestimate them in this year’s race.

Man City’s weakness last season was in midfield, lacking an adequate replacement for Rodri during his serious injury. If the Spanish star returns to top form this year, Pep Guardiola’s side will be a formidable opponent.

As for Arsenal, no club has been more consistent than the Gunners over the past three seasons. Yet, they have not claimed their first English title since 2004, finishing runners-up three times—twice to Man City and once to Liverpool last season.

The signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres is considered the perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s tactical system. Gyokeres netted 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting Lisbon, surpassing superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Mohamed Salah last season. Arsenal hopes the young forward can replicate that form in the Premier League.

With targeted reinforcements, the Gunners are aiming for the highest goal: ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League trophy. Their biggest challenge remains their composure in decisive matches, which has cost them the advantage in previous seasons.

This season’s list of Premier League title contenders must include Chelsea, the 2025 FIFA World Cup champions.

After winning the FIFA Club World Cup in the US, Chelsea is now viewed very differently and even rated highly. Their young squad, led by Enzo Maresca, requires greater stability—a quality Maresca must quickly instill if they are to challenge for the Premier League title.

Under Enzo Maresca, the Blues boast a youthful and ambitious squad. Chelsea’s midfield is considered their strongest area, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez forming a perfect partnership. Caicedo excels at pressing and disrupting opponents, while Fernandez delivers incisive passes. At the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, they neutralized PSG’s midfield in the final. Additionally, Romeo Lavia and Reece James are high-quality options.

Chelsea’s attack is also highly rated, featuring Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, and Pedro Neto.

The last time the Premier League witnessed a three-horse race was the 2013-2014 season, when Steven Gerrard’s slip allowed Man City to overtake Liverpool and Chelsea. Such drama could return this season.

Defending champions Liverpool may face an even greater challenge from Arsenal. Man City is also ready to rejoin the race after last season’s setback. Pep Guardiola is demonstrating his determination to revive the team this season. In 17 years of top-level coaching, the Spanish manager has never gone two consecutive seasons without a league title. Chelsea is also a strong contender.

The Premier League, already fierce, is heading toward an incredibly dramatic season as all the top clubs in the competition are outspending the rest of European football.