Premier League: What To Watch Out For As World's Most Popular Football League Begins Today

Last Updated:August 15, 2025, 17:19 IST

Even by Premier League standards, spending by clubs this season has been substantial. Nearly $3 billion has been spent on players since the end of last season.

Alexander Isak scored 23 goals in the Premier League last season. (AP Photo)

The 2025-26 Premier League season kicks off on Friday with defending champions Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield.

Here’s what to know ahead of the new campaign in the world’s most popular football league:

Emotions high at Liverpool

Liverpool aims to retain the top-flight title for the first time since the mid-1980s, against the backdrop of a tragic event. Friday evening is sure to be emotional as Anfield hosts a competitive match for the first time since the death of Diogo Jota, who played for Liverpool for the past five seasons. Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car accident in Spain last month.

The club is still mourning Jota’s loss, and it remains uncertain how the players will be affected this season.

“The first time we arrive for a session, the first time we play a game, the first time after 20 minutes (Jota wore No. 20) they sing his song — all these things are difficult," Liverpool manager Arne Slot said.

There will be a moment’s silence at all Premier League matches in the first round in memory of Jota and his brother, with players from all clubs wearing black armbands. Messaging and imagery will be shared with clubs for use on big screens.

Man City tries to bounce back

Pep Guardiola has never gone two seasons without winning a league title. This could be one of the Manchester City manager’s motivations as the former champions look to bounce back from finishing third last season, after winning the previous four Premier League titles.

City enters another season with more than 100 charges hanging over the club after being accused of financial misconduct by the Premier League in 2023. An independent commission heard the case between September and December last year, but no verdict has yet been reached. City has always denied any wrongdoing.

Arsenal finally has a new striker

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faced the same question every week last season: When are you going to sign a striker? He now has one in Viktor Gyokeres, a revelation at Sporting Lisbon where he scored 97 goals in 102 games.

With Arsenal also signing an elite holding midfielder in Martin Zubimendi, expectations will be high for Arteta to deliver the club’s first league title since 2004 after three straight runner-up finishes.

The pressure is also on Gyokeres to make a difference up front. The 27-year-old Sweden striker has never played at such a level before and is getting a second chance at the Premier League after failing to break through at Brighton.

Spending on players has been heavy

Even by Premier League standards, spending by clubs this season has been substantial. Nearly $3 billion has been spent on players since the end of last season — and there are still over two weeks left in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool has been the biggest spender, with an outlay of around $350 million on players like German playmaker Florian Wirtz, French striker Hugo Ekitike, and full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong. That figure could yet increase if Liverpool signs unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak in the coming days.

Chelsea has spent around $330 million, bringing in two new strikers in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Manchester United, whose attack has been reshaped with the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo, and Arsenal have both spent around $260 million on players.

Will all the promoted teams get relegated again?

It’s never been harder to stay in the Premier League after being promoted from the Championship. In the past two seasons, all three clubs that have come up have been relegated the following year.

Over to you, Leeds, Burnley, and Sunderland.

Sunderland’s return to the top-flight is arguably the most intriguing. The northeast team was last in the Premier League in 2017 and has since been the subject of a Netflix documentary, Sunderland ‘Til I Die, which chronicled its troubles in the lower leagues.

Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...Read More

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...

Read More

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London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published:

August 15, 2025, 16:56 IST

News sports Premier League: What To Watch Out For As World's Most Popular Football League Begins Today

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