2 days ago
48
Former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has weighed in on the upcoming Premier League title race, suggesting that the speed at which new signings acclimatize could be decisive.
Last season saw the Reds effortlessly claim the trophy in 2024-25, breaking away from the pack to halt Manchester City's streak of four successive league victories. Arsenal, too, failed to pose a serious threat, even with City's dip in form.
Building from a position of dominance, Liverpool has been active in the transfer market this summer. It has already brought in Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Jeremie Frimpong for a combined sum of approaching $300M.
Hugo Ekitike is also on the verge of completing a move to Anfield, potentially adding another $105 million (£78 million) to their expenditure.
With City, Arsenal, and Chelsea all anticipated to be in contention and having invested heavily themselves, Hodgson believes the integration of these new players will be crucial to determining who comes out on top this season.
"I think you would really need a crystal ball to say which of these top five or six teams are gonna have a successful season," he commented during an interview with Hajper. "The thing I think that really struck me last season was the teams below that five or six.
"Let's take Liverpool out of it, let's take City out of it, let's take Arsenal, let's take Chelsea, let's take Newcastle and Aston Villa. Let's just take those out for a second because they are such widely established clubs.
"What really struck me was the Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Brentford, all what those five teams did.
"To get so close, if you like, to that classic top six in the quality of their play and to have such good seasons, all of those clubs. Unfortunately, none of them actually quite made the vault over the top six.
"But I think that tightening, it's not like the league is only going to be challenged for by one team each year, we've already accepted that it's probably gone to five or six now. I think those five teams I just mentioned, they've compacted the league even more and made it even more difficult for the top ones.
"As far as the top ones are concerned, in my opinion, it will be quite simply a case of how they start, how the new players settle in, how the Club World Cup will affect Chelsea and Man City, it might do slightly.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
"Then of course injuries. These are things no one can predict and that's why of course betting companies will always be successful because no one, even however much they study the game, study the team, study the form, it's game. It's not a science football, it's a game.
"Things happen in the game that you just cannot predict, you cannot compensate for and that's why we will always be interested to see who comes out on top."
Hodgson took charge at Liverpool during the summer of 2010. His tenure lasted just six months before he was dismissed due to the side's poor form and succeeded by Kenny Dalglish.
Liverpool.com says: The Premier League title should be there for the Reds to go for again this season. They have improved while there are question marks remaining at both Arsenal and Manchester City, though hitting the ground running again will be important.
English (US) ·