Premier League supercomputer gives Liverpool title verdict as clear four-way race emerges
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Liverpool are trying to defend their Premier League title(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool are the clear favourites to retain their Premier League title this season, but they have three rivals for the crown, according to new research.
Arne Slot won the 2024/25 title, finishing 10 points clear of Arsenal, in his first campaign as Reds boss and his side have made a perfect start this season.
Liverpool sit top of the Premier League table after three matches, having beaten Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal to claim nine points.
They needed late goals to see off the Cherries and Magpies before a stunning Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick downed the Gunners.
Liverpool have spent £450million in the summer transfer window to strengthen their squad, with Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike the headline additions in attack.
That expenditure has helped strengthen their position as title favourites, according to the CIES Football Observatory, who give them a 28.9 per cent chance of lifting the trophy again in May.
The research takes into account variables including performance data and transfers to calculate the probability and underlines how competitive the Premier League should be this season.
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That is because Arsenal are given a 18.8 per cent chance of winning the title, narrowly ahead of Chelsea (16.2 per cent) and Manchester City (14.4 per cent).
It could feasibly be a four-horse race this time around, which is a real contrast to Europe’s other top divisions.
For example, Paris Saint-Germain have a 73 per cent chance of winning Ligue 1, while Bayern Munich (61.4 per cent) and Real Madrid (40.6 per cent) are significant favourites in the Bundesliga and La Liga respectively.
Interestingly, Nottingham Forest are rated the fifth-favourites for the Premier League title, on 7.9 per cent, ahead of Newcastle (5.8 per cent), Aston Villa (3.2 per cent) and Manchester United (2.6 per cent).
Arne Slot knows it won't be straightforward for Liverpool to retain their title(Image: Getty Images)
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