The Premier League has never been a league where the previous season’s champions are guaranteed to repeat. Yet Liverpool, having just completed a title-winning campaign under Arne Slot, are the only team with both the firepower and the structure to make a serious case for another league crown this season. With Mohamed Salah’s 34-goal, 23-assist season proving that age is no barrier to dominance, and a squad reinforced by strategic signings, the Reds enter 2024-25 as the most complete team in England. But the path to another title is not guaranteed—it will depend on whether they can sustain their attacking brilliance against a defensive resurgence from rivals, and whether their new managerial identity under Andoni Iraola can bridge the gap left by Slot’s departure.
Salah’s numbers from last season were not just impressive; they were historic. At 32 years old, he scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists in the Premier League alone, a combination of creativity and finishing that has rarely been matched in the modern era. Yet this season, Liverpool’s attacking play has been disrupted by tactical adjustments from opponents. Teams have increased the frequency of low blocks—26% of Liverpool’s possession this term, up from 22% last season—while reducing high pressing, which has dropped from 25% to just 20%. The result? Salah, who thrives in open spaces, has found himself playing through more congested midfields. If Liverpool are to retain their title, they must either adapt their build-up play to bypass these defensive walls or find a way to create the same level of individual brilliance Salah delivered last year.
The challenge for Liverpool extends beyond Salah, however. The Reds are now eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal after just 11 games, a gap that mirrors Manchester City’s collapse in 2023-24 before their late-season resurgence. That season, City lost nine of their first 12 matches in all competitions before rallying to finish third—a drop of 20 points from their previous title-winning campaign. Liverpool’s current struggles are not just about Salah; they are about consistency. The team that won the title last season has been inconsistent this term, with a defensive record that, while improved, still leaves them vulnerable to late-season collapses. The question is whether Iraola’s tactical adjustments—rooted in a defensive identity far removed from Slot’s fluid, possession-based approach—can stabilize the squad before the title race intensifies.
Momentum is everything in the Premier League, and Liverpool’s lack of it is a liability. Manchester United, by contrast, entered last season with a new manager in Michael Carrick and a team that had already shown signs of cohesion under his leadership. They lost just two of the 17 games Carrick managed, finishing with a 71% win rate. United’s ability to build on that momentum could see them challenge for the top four, if not the title itself. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s new manager faces the unenviable task of maintaining the squad’s confidence while navigating a transitional phase. The Reds’ future in the Champions League—already under threat after a poor start—adds another layer of pressure. A defeat at Old Trafford this weekend would not just be a setback; it could signal a deeper crisis in their title ambitions.
Yet Liverpool’s case for another league crown remains strong. They have the attacking firepower, the defensive depth, and the experience to compete at the highest level. The difference between another title and a top-four finish may come down to whether they can replicate Salah’s individual brilliance at scale, whether their new manager can instill the necessary discipline, and whether their rivals—Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United—stumble in the final stretch. One thing is certain: the Premier League is due for a wide-open title race. Liverpool’s ability to dominate it will determine whether they remain the team to beat—or if the crown slips away once again.
