Premier League: Who are most likely to challenge Liverpool this season?

Liverpool, entering their first season under new manager Arne Slot and coming off a Premier League title win with four games to spare, are confident about defending their title. They have invested significantly in the summer transfer window, spending £269m so far. Key signings include a club-record £100m (potentially rising to £116m) deal for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69m, Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for £40m, Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m, and Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in a £25m deal agreed last year.

However, their title rivals, including last season's top five teams, have also spent heavily. Arsenal, for example, have spent £201m on summer transfers. Their key signings include striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting, midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford, and defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia. Several players, including Kieran Tierney, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, were released.

BBC Sport analysis highlights that this season is crucial for Arsenal, with the club openly aiming to "reach new heights" and win a first trophy since 2020. Manager Mikel Arteta has significantly reshaped the squad with over £190m in initial fees, particularly emphasizing the arrival of Gyokeres. Despite transforming Arsenal into consistent title contenders and securing Champions League football, the pressure is on to finally win silverware after near misses. Arteta has also adjusted Arsenal's playing style during pre-season, focusing on quicker ball progression to create scoring chances, aiming to complement Gyokeres' strengths. The analysis suggests that if these changes succeed, Arsenal will likely be strong contenders again.