{"id":405075,"date":"2025-09-07T11:10:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T11:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/405075\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T11:10:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T11:10:14","slug":"premier-league-title-race-florian-wirtz-impact-liverpool-2025-26-season-predicted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/405075\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier League title race, Florian Wirtz impact &#8211; Liverpool 2025\/26 season predicted"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The latest Liverpool news as we take a look at what some of the pundits have had to say about the current season as the Reds look to defend their title.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Liverpool-v-Arsenal-Premier-League.jpg\" alt=\"Arne Slot prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. \" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Arne Slot prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. (Image: Gaspafotos\/MB Media\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With the first international break of the new <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/barclays-premier-league\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Premier League<\/a> season here, there is a bit of time to reflect on the first few games of the season for <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/liverpool-fc\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Liverpool<\/a>. The Reds went into the campaign looking to defend their title and have been active in the transfer market to help them do that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The likes of <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/florian-wirtz\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Florian Wirtz<\/a>, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/hugo-ekitike\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Hugo Ekitike<\/a> and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/jeremie-frimpong\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Jeremie Frimpong<\/a> will be joined by deadline day signing <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/alexander-isak\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Alexander Isak<\/a> after the international break. The former Newcastle United man completed a \u00a3125 million move to <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/anfield\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Anfield<\/a> before joining up with the Sweden squad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Even without the striker in their ranks, Liverpool have started the season in perfect fashion in terms of results. Late winners against AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle were <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/liverpool-player-ratings-arsenal-breaking-32384583\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">followed by a 1-0 win over title rivals Arsenal<\/a> last weekend.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/liverpool-braced-five-way-marc-32429934\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32429934\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Liverpool braced for &#8216;five-way&#8217; Marc Guehi transfer war after summer blow<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/liverpool-sent-strong-florian-wirtz-32429891\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32429891\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Liverpool sent strong Florian Wirtz message as Alexander Isak decision defended &#8211; &#8216;If people worry&#8217;<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It means that <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/arne-slot\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Arne Slot<\/a>&#8216;s side have picked up all nine points available from the first three games. It leaves them sitting at the top of the table and as the only team still to have a 100% record.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As ever, the 2025\/26 season is expected to throw up some twists and turns along the way. But what could the campaign look like by the time May 2026 comes around? Here\u2019s a look at some of the predictions made by pundits over the last few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Title defence<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking to the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/football\/article-15000605\/Peter-Crouch-Premier-League-predictions-Former-Liverpool-star-gets-crystal-ball-Liverpool-kick-new-season-TONIGHT-against-Bournemouth.html\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a> before the season, former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch backed his former club to retain the title this time around. \u201cI think they&#8217;ve signed well. I think they won it at a canter last year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI think the other teams have closed the gap well, but I think Liverpool will have just enough. Especially if they sign one more centre forward. Adding Isak to the list would seal the deal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking to <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/articles\/cx27rrrz2nko\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">BBC Sport<\/a> before the season, 21 of the 33 pundits named Liverpool as their title winners. One of those was former <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/barclays-premier-league\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Premier League<\/a> striker Troy Deeney who explained: \u201cLiverpool have got already better in every area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI know they have lost Trent Alexander-Arnold but Jeremie Frimpong is just as good at right-back &#8211; not with his passing range, but they don&#8217;t need that with the other players they have got. Up front, they won the league last year without having an out-and-out number nine. They have still got <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/mohamed-salah\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> and now have Hugo Ekitike, and potentially Isak too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Wayne Rooney was in agreement: \u201cI already have Liverpool as favourites to win the Premier League but if Isak comes in then they are going to be unstoppable,\u201d he said, \u201cA big thing was them replacing Alexander-Arnold, because a lot of their chances and goals came from that right side, but I think Frimpong has got the attributes to go and fill that.<\/p>\n<p>Outstanding players<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As part of his predictions, Crouch also named two Liverpool players who could be outstanding in the Premier League this season. He named Mo Salah as his golden boot winner, with Florian Wirtz as his player of the season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On the golden boot, he said: \u201cI think it\u2019s between two, Erling Haaland and Mo Salah but I\u2019m going to go for Salah. I think it\u2019ll be someone from the winning team and I think Liverpool are going to win the league.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And on the player of the season: \u201cI also think the Player of the Season will come from the winning team so I\u2019m going to go with Florian Wirtz. I think he\u2019ll be class this season and I\u2019m looking forward to seeing him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Florian Wirtz impact<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Talking of Wirtz, he has also been picked out by former Liverpool man Robbie Fowler as the player to watch this season. Speaking to <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/football\/3466018\/premier-league-predictions-arsenal-man-city-brentford\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">TalkSPORT<\/a> before the start of the season he said: \u201cI think he&#8217;s a player Liverpool have lacked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cHe is a player who can unlock defences. I know it&#8217;s tongue in cheek saying you put your neck on the line because they&#8217;ve spent \u00a3100m, but he&#8217;s been prolific.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cHis assist record at Leverkusen has been outstanding, he&#8217;s been one of the top players for Germany. There&#8217;s no guarantee he&#8217;s going to set the Premier League alight, but he&#8217;s a player I want to see. He&#8217;s an exciting player, and I can&#8217;t wait to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The best LFC news, features, videos and podcasts<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Nobody covers Liverpool Football Club in more detail than the ECHO. 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