The Premier League is gearing up for what promises to be a fiercely contested 2025/26 season, and all eyes are on Liverpool as they attempt to defend their crown. After clinching the title by a commanding 10-point margin last term, the Reds have splashed nearly £300 million in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike. Yet, despite this flurry of activity and a rejected £110 million bid for Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, the mood among pundits is anything but unanimous regarding Liverpool's prospects.
Jamie Carragher, the Liverpool legend who knows the club inside out after 737 appearances and seven major trophies, has cautioned against assuming the title race is a foregone conclusion. Speaking on Sky Sports on August 13, 2025, Carragher said, "Yeah, I think so, but I don't get this narrative of Liverpool are going to run away with it." His skepticism is rooted not only in the unpredictability of football but also in Liverpool's recent stumble in the Community Shield, where they lost to Crystal Palace on penalties at Wembley.
"If you look at history, it could tell you that it's not just about having the best players, it's about having the best team, and sort of making that balance right, and at the weekend it didn't quite look right," Carragher reflected, referencing the Community Shield defeat on August 11. He continued, "I think we will have a title race, and I think there's a lot of talk. I think the great thing about football is what we actually saw on Sunday with Liverpool. It didn't look right. It tells me it's not just about spending lots of money and buying the best players, you've still got to manage that team and make it work and have a nice balance to it."
Carragher’s measured take is a timely reminder for fans and pundits alike: a big budget and big names don’t always translate into instant success. The integration of new signings like Wirtz, Frimpong, Kerkez, and Ekitike could take time, and the Community Shield loss was a tangible sign that the team is still finding its rhythm. But Carragher was quick to single out one new arrival for praise. He described 22-year-old German international Florian Wirtz as a player who "just looks class" and "feels like a star has come to the Premier League." Carragher even dared to compare Wirtz to Kevin De Bruyne, saying, "You think of losing Kevin De Bruyne, for me, one of the greatest players we've ever had in the league, and hopefully this guy can take his mantle."
While Carragher preaches caution, his fellow Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville is more bullish about Liverpool's chances, especially if they manage to lure Alexander Isak away from Newcastle. "Liverpool won it really comfortably last year and have had a great transfer window," Neville observed at the unveiling of Sky Sports' Premier League coverage. "If they get Isak, which it looks like he's agitating for a move, then it will make them massive favourites. But Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, I think will push them closer than last year."
The Isak saga has become one of the summer's most captivating storylines. Liverpool’s £110 million bid was turned down by Newcastle, but with the Swedish striker reportedly pushing for a move, speculation remains rife. Should the transfer materialize, Neville believes it could tip the scales decisively in Liverpool's favor. Yet, as Carragher points out, football is rarely that simple. Even the best-laid transfer plans can falter if team chemistry lags behind expectations.
Elsewhere in the league, the transfer window has seen top clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal make bold moves of their own. Neville expressed his curiosity about how new signings at other clubs will fare, particularly at Chelsea, who have brought in Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, and Liam Delap. "I will be intrigued by the players that the top clubs have signed," Neville said. "Those players that are in big positions, which of those are going to step up and become real? None of them at the moment, you'd say, are world-class and deemed to be the best in the world, but which of those can become those players? And I think that's the intriguing thing about this season, which of those are going to really catch fire?"
The consensus among both Carragher and Neville is that the title race will be anything but straightforward. Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea are all expected to mount serious challenges, and with so many new faces in key positions across the league, predicting the outcome is a fool's errand at this stage. The unpredictability is what makes the Premier League such a spectacle—no matter how much money is spent or how many stars are signed, nothing is guaranteed until the final whistle blows in May.
For Liverpool, the coming weeks will be crucial as they look to integrate their new signings and potentially finalize the Isak deal. The pressure is on manager and players alike to find the right blend and hit the ground running. Carragher’s words ring true: "It's not just about spending lots of money and buying the best players, you've still got to manage that team and make it work and have a nice balance to it." The Community Shield loss may have been a minor setback, but it serves as a cautionary tale for those expecting Liverpool to cruise to another title.
Meanwhile, fans can look forward to an unprecedented level of access this season, with Sky Sports set to broadcast at least 215 live Premier League games—an increase of up to 100 more matches. The broadcaster has also slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL, and beyond. With so much action on tap and so many storylines developing, the 2025/26 campaign is shaping up to be one for the ages.
As the transfer window edges towards its conclusion and the new season kicks off, Liverpool’s rivals are circling, new stars are emerging, and the Isak saga continues to simmer. Will the Reds’ record spending and star acquisitions be enough to keep them at the summit, or will another contender seize the moment? For now, the only certainty is that the Premier League drama is just getting started.
