Premier League 2025-26: Analysis, key signings and predictions Alofoke Deportes

“` The Premier League is back! After a season full of emotions, where Liverpool was crowned champion and Chelsea celebrated their victory in the Club World Cup, English football returns stronger than ever. The 2025-26 season promises to be epic, starting with the match between Liverpool, the defending champion, and Bournemouth at Anfield. Despite a brief rest period, teams have made significant moves in the transfer market. Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City have invested heavily, anticipating an intense fight for the title. Chelsea, true to form, has also strengthened its squad. Tottenham has a new coach and a void to fill after the departure of Son Heung-Min. Newcastle faces challenges with its star striker, and Manchester United continues to spend without a clear strategy. Ryan O’Hanlon and Bill Connelly, prominent analysts, present their traditional pre-season with predictions for the standings. Below, a detailed analysis of each team, highlighting their changes and expectations.

1. Liverpool

Position in the previous season: 1st (84 points, goal difference +45)

• Key signings: Florian Wirtz (attacking midfielder, Bayer Leverkusen, €125M), Hugo Ekitike (center forward, Eintracht Frankfurt, €80M), Milos Kerkez (left-back, Bournemouth, €46.9M), Jeremie Frimpong (right-back, Bayer Leverkusen, €40M).
• Key departures: Luis Díaz (left winger, Bayern Munich, €70M), Darwin Núñez (center forward, Al-Hilal, €53M), Jarell Quansah (center-back, Bayer Leverkusen, €35M), Caoimhín Kelleher (goalkeeper, Brentford, €14.8M), Trent Alexander-Arnold (right-back, Real Madrid, €10M).

Key statistic: Following a risky playing style with Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool was more patient under Arne Slot’s management in 2024-25, which translated into immediate results.

• Liverpool 2023-24: 0.157 xG per shot (eighth), 0.152 xG allowed per shot (third).
• Liverpool 2024-25: 0.179 xG per shot (second), 0.134 xG allowed per shot (third).

The Reds improved the quality of their shots and reduced defensive errors, which allowed them to surprisingly win the title. The big question is whether the offensive reconstruction will affect the team’s balance.

Liverpool has invested heavily, renewing Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, and signing young talents like Wirtz and Ekitike. With the departures of Díaz and Núñez, Salah will have a new support team. Will this new offensive talent compensate for the possible decrease in Salah’s performance? Will Frimpong’s presence put more pressure on the defense?

If Liverpool doesn’t meet expectations in 2025-26, defensive errors could be the cause. Despite this, the team’s talent positions them at the top of the league.

2. Arsenal

Position in the previous season: 2nd (74 points, goal difference +35)

• Key signings: Martín Zubimendi (defensive midfielder, Real Sociedad, €70M), Viktor Gyökeres (center forward, Sporting Lisbon, €65.8M), Noni Madueke (right winger, Chelsea, €56M), Cristhian Mosquera (center back, Valencia, €15M), Christian Norgaard (defensive midfielder, Brentford, €11.6M), Kepa Arrizabalaga (goalkeeper, Chelsea, €5.8M).
• Key departures: Thomas Partey (defensive midfielder, Villarreal, free), Kieran Tierney (left back, Celtic, free), Jorginho (defensive midfielder, Flamengo, free), Takehiro Tomiyasu (end of contract).

Legend: Will Arsenal be able to break their 22-year title drought?Key statistic: Arsenal has eight players valued at at least 60 million euros in its current squad. However, none of them played 90% of the minutes in the Premier League last season. Arsenal could improve this season, mainly because their best players will likely play more minutes in 2025-26. The big question is whether Arsenal can generate enough quality opportunities to win the league. Arsenal had the best defense in the league, but needs to improve the creation of high-quality opportunities to aim for the title.

3. Manchester City

Position in the previous season: 3rd (71 points, goal difference +28)

• Key signings: Tijjani Reijnders (midfielder, AC Milan, €55.0M), Rayan Aït-Nouri (left-back, Wolves, €36.8M), Rayan Cherki (right winger, Olympique Lyon, €36.5M), James Trafford (goalkeeper, Burnley, €31.2M), Sverre Nypan (midfielder, Rosenborg, €15.0M).
• Key departures: Yan Couto (right-back, Bor. Dortmund, €20.0M), Máximo Perrone (midfielder, Como, €13.0M), Kevin De Bruyne (attacking midfielder, Napoli, free), Kyle Walker (right-back, Burnley, free), Jack Grealish (forward, Everton, loan).

Legend: Laurens: Donnarumma ‘is not a Pep Guardiola player’.Key statistic: In the last three Premier League seasons, Manchester City’s expected goal difference is 0.85 goals per 90 minutes better when Rodri is on the field, compared to when he is not. The big question is, what about the defense? Manchester City controlled possession at a similar pace to what they have had under Pep Guardiola, but they did so by slowing down the game. They allowed more shots and touches inside their penalty area. The simplest explanation is the absence of Rodri and the age of some midfielders. If Rodri does not return fully fit or Guardiola does not find a tactical solution, the defensive transition will be a problem for a second consecutive season.

4. Chelsea

Position in the previous season: 4th (69 points, goal difference +21)

• Key signings: João Pedro (center forward, Brighton, €63.7M), Jamie Gittens (left winger, Borussia Dortmund, €56M), Jorrel Hato (left-back, Ajax, €44.2M), Liam Delap (center forward, Ipswich, €35.5M), Estêvão (right winger, Palmeiras, €34M), Dário Essugo (defensive midfielder, Sporting CP, €22.3M).
• Key departures: Noni Madueke (right winger, Arsenal, €56M), João Félix (center forward, Al-Nassr, €30M), Djordje Petrovic (goalkeeper, Bournemouth, €28.9M), Lesley Ugochukwu (defensive midfielder, Burnley, €28.7M), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (midfielder, Everton, €28.7M), Armando Broja (center forward, Burnley, €23M), Mathis Amougou (midfielder, Strasbourg, €14.5M), Bashir Humphreys (left-back, Burnley, €14M), Kepa Arrizabalaga (goalkeeper, Arsenal, €5.8M).

Legend: Could United regret letting Garnacho join Chelsea?Key statistic: In the last seven seasons, the Premier League champion has averaged only 2.6 significant signings (defined as acquisitions of 10 million euros or more). Chelsea has had eight significant signings this summer. The big question is, when will they decide that the template is ready? Chelsea won the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season. Can you aspire to win the Premier League without stability? Will the summer’s wear and tear affect the Blues?

5. Brighton & Hove Albion

Position in the previous season: 8th (61 points, goal difference +7)

• Key signings: Charalampos Kostoulas (center forward, Olympiacos, €35.0M), Maxim De Cuyper (left-back, Club Brugge, €20.0M), Tom Watson (left winger, Sunderland, €12.0M), Diego Coppola (center-back, Hellas Verona, €11.0M), Do-young Yoon (right winger, Daejeon Hana C., €2.0M), Olivier Boscagli (center-back, PSV Eindhoven, free).
• Key departures: João Pedro (center forward, Chelsea, €63.7M), Simon Adingra (left winger, Sunderland, €24.4M), Pervis Estupiñán (left-back, AC Milan, €17.0M), Valentín Barco (midfielder, R. Strasbourg, €10.0M), Evan Ferguson (center forward, AS Roma, loan fee of €3.0M), Kjell Scherpen (goalkeeper, Union SG, €2.0M), Odeluga Offiah (right-back, Preston, €1.6M).

Legend: Would a big transfer of Carlos Baleba to Manchester United make sense?Key statistic: Last season, eight players who were 22 or younger at the start of the season played at least 1,000 minutes for Brighton. In the last 20 Premier League seasons, only one team had more: Chelsea, in 2023-24, with nine. The big question is, will someone explode? Brighton needs some of its youngsters to improve to be successful. If one of their young attackers, like Yankuba Minteh or Georginio Rutter, makes a leap this season, all that possession in the final third should translate into many more goals.

6. Newcastle United

Position in the previous season: 5th (66 points, goal difference +21)

• Key signings: Anthony Elanga (right winger, Nottingham Forest, €61.4M), Malick Thiaw (center-back, AC Milan, €40M), Aaron Ramsdale (goalkeeper, Southampton, loan).
• Key departures: Lloyd Kelly (Juventus, free).

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