Five big questions ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season | OneFootball

After 82 days away, the Premier League returns this weekend with champions Liverpool taking on Bournemouth in the opening game.

It's set to be another absorbing campaign but what are the five biggest questions ahead of kick off?

Let's find out.

Can Liverpool retain their Premier League title?

Liverpool’s triumph last season was built on defensive steel, midfield balance and Mohamed Salah’s enduring brilliance.

Arne Slot's men finished strongly, seeing off late pressure from Arsenal, but ultimately won their 20th league title at a canter.

Now the Anfield outfit face the challenge of becoming the first side since Manchester City in 2019 to retain the title.

Depth may prove decisive with injuries to key players derailing them last time they were reigning champions in 2021, and Slot will be wary of history repeating itself.

Some incredibly exciting summer additions have added fresh energy, yet all of their rivals have strengthened too.

If Liverpool can maintain their intensity and rotate wisely, back-to-back championships remain within reach.

Are world champions Chelsea genuine title contenders?

Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph under Enzo Maresca capped a remarkable turnaround for the Blues.

However, domestic consistency remains the missing ingredient for west London's big-spending and big-selling footballer factory.

Last term, they often sparkled against elite opposition yet stumbled against stubborn mid-table sides.

Maresca’s tactical discipline has brought a clearer identity, while marquee signings have boosted both quality and depth.

Still, navigating the demands of European and domestic competition will be a stern test for a squad that has occasionally looked fragile under pressure.

Chelsea have the firepower to mount a serious challenge, but to be champions they must turn promise into ruthless, week-to-week domination of the Premier League calendar.

Can Ruben Amorim end Manchester United’s Banter Years?

Manchester United’s decline over the past decade has been a heady mix of awful recruitment, internal complacency, big-club hubris and tactical naivety.

But in Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils might finally have a coach who can turn this clown car around.

The Portuguese tactician arrives with a reputation for organised pressing, structured build-up and maximising youthful potential.

He inherits, however, a fractured dressing room, a fanbase yearning for a clear vision and a squad that has underperformed despite significant investment.

The young coach must quickly instil discipline without stifling creativity, and results will need to improve early to avoid unrest.

If Amorim can unify the club and impose his philosophy, a top-four push is plausible. Failure to adapt to England’s intensity, however, could deepen United’s competitive struggles.

Will the promoted teams go straight back down again?

📸 Ed Sykes - 2025 Getty Images

The gulf between the Championship and Premier League has rarely been wider, making survival a daunting task for this season's newly promoted sides.

The past two campaigns have been catastrophically bad for the relegated teams, with Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United earning just 66 points between them in 2023/24 and Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton getting only 59 last term.

This time, it's up to Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley to avoid that historic low, but there are plenty of positives for the promoted trio.

Sunderland have gone big and gone early, with marquee signings like Granit Xhaka and Simon Adingra.

Leeds have the ever-impressive Daniel Farke at the helm and have the momentum of being the best side in the Championship last year.

Burnley, meanwhile, are backed by American money and, fascinatingly, Kyle Walker at right back.

It all points to an intriguing opening day and a season which could prove that second-tier sides can still compete at the top table.

How will Pep Guardiola cope with a Manchester City rebuild?

For the first time in years, Pep Guardiola faces a genuine squad overhaul at Manchester City.

Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker have departed, and new recruits like Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders must quickly assimilate into the manager's intricate tactical system.

Guardiola’s challenge will be balancing immediate competitiveness with bedding in new signings, while fending off revitalised rivals.

The Catalan is a master at evolving his teams, but losing multiple leaders in one summer risks disrupting cohesion.

His track record suggests he can recalibrate quickly, yet the Premier League’s unforgiving nature leaves little room for transition seasons. Success will hinge on how swiftly City’s rebuild gains tactical fluency.

📸 Carl Recine - 2025 Getty Images