Premier League Predictions: Can Liverpool Defend Their Title?
Liverpool's Premier League victory last season took many by surprise, but the question now is whether they can successfully defend their title.
Reds manager Arne Slot aims to lead his team, which finished 10 points ahead of their closest rivals, Arsenal, last season, to another championship. However, will the Gunners finally break through after finishing second for three consecutive years? How will Manchester City respond after losing their title following four consecutive victories? Can Chelsea improve on last season's fourth-place finish, or will another team emerge as a contender for the top spot?
We consulted 32 BBC TV and radio pundits for their top four predictions, along with insights from artificial intelligence and Opta's 'Supercomputer'.
The AI prediction was generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat, which was asked to predict the Premier League table for the 2025-26 season. Opta's 'Supercomputer', a sophisticated algorithm based on betting market odds and its own 'Power Rankings' calculated from past results, simulated all 380 Premier League matches 10,000 times. Interestingly, it reached the same conclusions as 12 of our pundits, including Chris Sutton, who employs a similar method for his weekly predictions.
If you disagree with our experts or believe you have a better grasp of the situation, you can submit your own top-four prediction and forecast the rest of the Premier League table at the bottom of this page.
These predictions were based on the squad's condition as of Thursday, August 14, with over two weeks remaining until the transfer window closes at 19:00 BST on Monday, September 1.
Last season, nine teams were mentioned in the predicted top-four positions, but this time only four have been highlighted.
The overall expected rankings based on all 34 predictions are as follows:
Liverpool (121 points)
Arsenal (90 points)
Manchester City (83 points)
Chelsea (46 points)
This ranking system awards four points for first place, three for second, two for third, and one for fourth.
Liverpool - 'If they sign Isak, hand them the title now'
Only two out of 30 BBC predictors anticipated Liverpool finishing higher than third last season, but this time, 21 out of 34 predict they will be champions, with only three expecting them to finish lower than second.
Danny Murphy: It's always challenging to make predictions before the transfer window closes, as there is still much business to be done, including at Liverpool. I believe this will be a tightly contested title race; they may take some time to gel due to the influx of new players. However, I am backing Slot's team because of their midfield talent and the confidence they gained from last season, plus I expect them to make additional signings.
Chris Sutton: I am sticking with Liverpool, regardless of whether they sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. However, I do think it will be a challenge for them. There are concerns about how the players are coping with the loss of Diogo Jota and its potential impact.
Troy Deeney: Liverpool has improved in every area. While they lost Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jeremie Frimpong is just as capable at right-back. They won the league last year without a traditional number nine, and they still have Mohamed Salah, along with new additions like Hugo Ekitike and possibly Isak.
Alan Shearer: Liverpool are favorites even without Isak, considering their impressive performance last season when they won the title comfortably.
Wayne Rooney: Honestly, I hope Isak stays at Newcastle! I already see Liverpool as favorites, but if Isak joins, they could become unstoppable. Replacing Alexander-Arnold was crucial, as many chances and goals came from that side, but I believe Frimpong can fill that role effectively.
Steve Sidwell: Liverpool was outstanding last season, and I see them continuing to improve. If they sign Isak, I would hand them the title immediately.
Rachel Brown-Finnis: Each time City won the title under Guardiola, they would add a player or two, and Liverpool has done the same.
Anita Asante: They have added depth and versatile players, creating a well-balanced team that allows for positional rotation.
Thomas Hitzlsperger: They will be exciting to watch with Florian Wirtz in the lineup, but defending the title presents a different challenge.
Leon Osman: I initially favored Liverpool for the title again. They won comfortably last season and have strengthened well, but I wonder if they might lack some balance defensively in midfield with Wirtz's inclusion.
Nedum Onuoha: I expect them to compete fiercely to defend their title. I believe the new signings will adapt quickly and shape the team's future.
Chris Waddle: They are thrilling in attack, but their defense raises concerns. Virgil van Dijk is an excellent player, but at 34, it’s challenging for him to maintain peak performance throughout the season.
Matt Upson: Some questioned Van Dijk's performance in the Community Shield, but he can appear sluggish at times. However, once he finds his rhythm, his decision-making is exceptional. The addition of two new full-backs will require time for the defense to gel.
Chris Sutton: They definitely need at least one more center-half for depth. I’ve noticed Slot’s comments about teams figuring them out in the latter half of last season, so it will be interesting to see if they adopt a different, more aggressive pressing style, which could put more strain on their defense.
Ellen White: If they secure Isak and Marc Guehi from Palace, that would be fantastic business, complementing their current acquisitions. They are the team others must challenge.
Theo Walcott: Their aggressive transfer market approach will bolster their chances of winning again.
Arsenal - 'They finally have the striker they have been looking for'
Last year, 37% (11 out of 30) of BBC predictors believed Arsenal would finish in the top four, and this season, they are once again viewed as strong contenders.