Can big spending Liverpool retain their Premier League crown?

We’ve enjoyed yet another wonderful summer packed with exciting football action, from Chelsea lifting the Club World Cup to the Lionesses securing back-to-back European titles at the Women’s Euros. 

The Football League is already back underway and after Sunday’s Community Shield curtain-raiser, the Premier League finally returns this weekend. Reigning champions Liverpool have added plenty of fresh faces but they didn’t get off to the ideal start, falling to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Wembley on Sunday. 

But they’ll be hoping their new recruits can spark another title push and there may yet be a few more signings to come. 

Liverpool target another title under Arne Slot 

After winning the Premier League in his first season since taking over from Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot is on a mission to deliver Liverpool’s first back-to-back titles since 1984. The squad has undergone a major revamp, with Trent Alexander-Arnold making the controversial move to Real Madrid, while Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have also departed. 

In their place, Liverpool have spent big, bringing in Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, as well as flying left-back Milo Kerkez from Bournemouth. They also splashed out on striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, and he got off to the perfect start, firing Liverpool ahead just four minutes into his debut against Palace. 

It wasn’t the only debut goal at Wembley. Frimpong’s cross looped in to put Liverpool back in front after Jean-Philippe Mateta had equalised from the penalty spot. Despite Liverpool’s dominance, Palace never gave up, and they were back on level terms when Ismaïla Sarr fired past Alisson in the second half. 

The game went to penalties and Dean Henderson was the hero for the Eagles once again, saving from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott. Young midfielder Justin Devenny stepped up for the deciding kick and made no mistake, securing Palace and Oliver Glasner their second piece of silverware in three months. 

Liverpool will no doubt bounce back, and they could yet add more depth to their squad, with wantaway Newcastle star Alexander Isak and Palace captain Marc Guehi still heavily on their radar. Yet while the Reds will undoubtedly be favourites for the title, they face stiff competition. 

Who are their main title rivals? 

Manchester City will inevitably be back following an uncharacteristically quiet season last time out. Like their Merseyside counterparts, they’ve also strengthened over the summer, bringing in Tijani Reijnders, James Trafford, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Rayan Cherki. 

Pep Guardiola’s side could only finish third last season, but they’re undergoing a changing of the guard at the Etihad. After an influx of fresh new faces, the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker have departed, with Jack Grealish expected to follow. 

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Arsenal have also splashed out on new recruits, setting up what could be one of the most competitive title races in years. The Gunners may finally have solved their striker problem, having pulled the trigger to bring in hitman Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon, while they’ve also secured Noni Madueke from Chelsea. 

Free-spending Chelsea have also bolstered their forward line, snapping up Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Jamie Gittens. They’re still riding high after going all the way in the inaugural edition of the revamped Club World Cup and they’ll be confident that Enzo Maresca can finally get them challenging at the top of the English pyramid once again. 

Both Manchester United and Tottenham endured nightmare Premier League campaigns last season, finishing 15th and 17th respectively. But both are on a mission to bounce back. Spurs went all the way in the Europa League and with Champions League football to look forward to, they’ll be confident of faring much better this time around. 

United have also been busy in the transfer market. The additions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha make them considerably more potent up top, and they’ll look to provide plenty of service to their new £74m striker Benjamin Sesko, who joined from RB Leipzig last week. 

While it’s impossible to predict where every side will finish, it feels as though the Premier League’s ‘big six’ are as strong as they have been in years. But as we’ve seen from the likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in recent seasons, there’s always the chance that other clubs can infiltrate the higher reaches of the table. Whatever happens, we’re set for yet another thrilling Premier League season. 

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