Reigning champions Liverpool launch the Premier League season on Friday after a record-breaking £2 billion spending spree strengthened Europe’s richest league.
Liverpool’s squad to face Bournemouth at Anfield will feature £100 million midfielder Florian Wirtz and new forward Hugo Ekitike, alongside several other recruits. They remain favourites to defend their crown, though the impact of Portuguese forward Diogo Jota’s tragic death in a July car crash in Spain remains to be seen.
Arsenal, one of their main challengers, face a stern opening test away to a revamped Manchester United on Sunday. Newcastle, meanwhile, will travel to Aston Villa without unsettled striker Alexander Isak, who is wanted by Liverpool.
Big-spending Liverpool seek cohesion
Liverpool have abandoned their traditionally cautious transfer policy, becoming England’s biggest spenders for the first time since 2007—other than Manchester City’s spree in 2019. Their US owners have sanctioned £260 million in signings, including defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, with Isak and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi also linked to Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Díaz, and Darwin Núñez have departed, and pre-season matches revealed a potent attack offset by defensive vulnerabilities.
Manager Arne Slot admitted the squad is still adapting: “We’ve lost five to six players who played a lot of minutes last season and brought in four new ones, so it’s normal there’s a bit of adaptation. But we are definitely ready for the league to start.”
Sesko and Gyökeres aim for instant impact
Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres will make their Premier League debuts at Old Trafford. Arsenal had pursued Sesko for over a year before opting for Gyökeres, whose 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting Lisbon convinced them he could deliver their first title since 2004.
United manager Ruben Amorim, who previously coached Gyökeres, rebuilt his attack with Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha in a £200 million overhaul following United’s worst season since 1974, when they finished 15th and failed to qualify for Europe.
Both clubs need a strong start, and the performance of their new strikers could prove decisive.
Villa and Newcastle target Champions League return
While the Premier League’s “big six” flexed their financial muscle this summer, Aston Villa and Newcastle have been more restrained due to financial sustainability rules. Villa’s major signing has been Ivorian striker Evann Guessand from Nice, while Newcastle’s attempts to replace Isak have repeatedly failed despite Saudi ownership.
Nevertheless, both clubs have outperformed members of the “big six” in recent years and will again aim for Champions League qualification.