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Liverpool didn’t just win the Premier League last season; they blew their competition away.
In a campaign where few predicted they’d be serious contenders under a new manager, Arne Slot delivered something out of the ordinary.
The Dutchman’s debut season at Anfield brought a level of control, consistency and attacking clarity that overwhelmed the rest of the league.
Arsenal offered the most resistance but still finished ten points behind the champions, while Manchester City, usually the standard setters, ended up thirteen points adrift in third.
Now, with the fixture list for the 2025/26 season unveiled yesterday, focus now turns to the opening stretch of a new campaign and the growing question of whether anyone can close the gap on Liverpool.
In the transfer market, the early signs suggest that the Reds are intent on strengthening from a position of power.
Jeremie Frimpong has already been confirmed as their first summer signing and deals for Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, are closer than ever.
As for Manchester City, they are looking to respond after a rare season without silverware, have also made early moves.
Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri have joined the Citizens from AC Milan, Olympique Lyonnais and Wolves.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are yet to act in the market.
After finishing as Liverpool’s closest challengers, the pressure is on Mikel Arteta to find that extra gear – but as things stand, they will approach the new season with the same core that ultimately came up short on three consecutive occasions.
With the opening fixtures now locked in, the three main title-rivals face very different starts.
How they truly begin the campaign will shape the months ahead.
LIVERPOOL FIRST 5Liverpool FC.
AFC Bournemouth (H) – 15th August
Newcastle United (A) – 23rd August
Arsenal (H) – 30th August
Burnley (A) – 13th September
Everton (H) – 20th September
The Champions’ opening five fixtures provide a platform.
Home games against Bournemouth, Arsenal and Everton combined with away trips to Newcastle and Burnley, offer a balance of challenge and opportunity.
Crucially, three of those five arrive at Anfield where the Reds lost just one match last season – to Nottingham Forest.
The Cherries is an ideal curtain-raiser for Liverpool, but not without threat.
Arne Slot’s side will then be the first visitors to St.
James’ Park in front of a packed Geordie faithful, the atmosphere and the challenge expected to be electric.
But it’s the matchday three showdown with Arsenal that stands out as a possible early marker in the title-race, an added advantage being played at home.
The first of the newly promoted sides are Burnley at Turf Moor post the first international break, before hosting bitter rivals, Everton, for the opening Merseyside Derby of the season.
A tally of nine to twelve points from this run would be more than acceptable for Liverpool.
If they manage to take all fifteen, they’re already halfway to sending another strong message.
ARSENAL FIRST 5David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images.
Manchester United (A) – 17th August
Leeds United (H) – 23rd August
Liverpool (A) – 30th August
Nottingham Forest (H) – 13th September
Manchester City (H) – 20th September
If Mikel Arteta was hoping for a steady start, he won’t find it here.
Arsenal’s first five games are loaded with significance, starting with an opening weekend trip to Old Trafford.
Manchester United may remain unpredictable, but it’s rarely a stadium that offers comfort.
The home opener against the champions of the Championship, Leeds, should bring a straightforward three points, but it’s the games that follows which catch the most attention.
A trip to Anfield puts Arsenal straight in the fire.
Their record away to Liverpool remains poor, having not won since 2012 – a 2-0 victory, and this comes prior to two huge home matches.
Nottingham Forest who frustrated top sides last campaign, and Manchester City, who will relish the chance to test the Gunners’ credentials early.
In terms of pure difficulty, Arsenal arguably face the hardest run out of their rivals and while a slow start wouldn’t rule them out of contention, but it could leave them playing catch-up.
MAN CITY FIRST 5Kristian Skeie – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images.
Wolves (A) – 16th August
Tottenham (H) – 23rd August
Brighton (A) – 30th August
Manchester United (H) – 13th September
Arsenal (A) – 20th September
Manchester City’s start is intriguing.
There are no easy wins on paper, but also no single fixture that screams unwinnable.
Wolves away has tripped up Guardiola before, but City will be confident enough to back themselves.
The visit of Tottenham Hotspur could then be a wildcard shout, with new boss, Thomas Frank given his first top test.
Brighton will host Man City at the AMEX Stadium before the first pause for internationals, before making a swift return into derby-day action.
Manchester United at home, followed by a blockbuster visit to face Arsenal, ultimately rounding off the five-game stretch.
What’s most notable is that three of City’s first five are away from home.
A solid start would be ten points are more, any less and the pressure could mount fast, especially if Liverpool set a pace like last season.
THE EARLY VERDICT
Liverpool have the clearest runway on their path to retaining their Premier League title.
A well-balanced mixed of home fixtures and beatable opponents, aside from Arsenal, gives them every chance to establish a lead early.
Virgil van Dijk and co.
celebrating the Premier League trophy lift on the final day of last season.
Liverpool FC.
The Gunners, by contrast, walk a tightrope.
Three of their five games come against last season’s top four and none are easy.
If no new additions are to be added soon, they will be running the risk of being exposed before September ends.
Manchester City’s run starts quietly but ends brutally, with their two hardest games against direct rivals.
As ever nothing is won in the first month.
But in a league where ninety-plus points has become the benchmark, the tone is set early, and no one did it better than Liverpool last season.
Slot and co.
turned early momentum into relentless dominance, never looking back and now, with a favourable opening run and reinforcements incoming, they are perfectly placed to take control again.
The task is clear.
Defend the crown, dictate the pace and remind everyone why the title resides at Anfield.
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