Liverpool has been handed extra motivation after damning Premier League predictions were released ahead of another crucial season for the Reds under new boss Andoni Iraola
Liverpool enters the season with renewed hope under new head coach Andoni Iraola
Liverpool enters the season with renewed hope under new head coach Andoni Iraola(Image: Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Liverpool has been handed extra motivation ahead of the new Premier League season after a series of damning predictions raised doubts over their chances of success.
Andoni Iraola will take charge of Liverpool for his first competitive game on Sunday, August 23, when the Reds travel to Newcastle. The opening match should provide an early indication of how Iraola’s side will operate at the start of the campaign.
Liverpool will need to shore up a defense that looked vulnerable during Arne Slot’s second season, with Jeremy Jacquet expected to start alongside Virgil van Dijk at center-back. The Frenchman will be tasked with bringing greater stability to the backline. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will also be under close scrutiny after both struggled to make a significant impact during their debut seasons at Anfield.
A total of 26 BBC TV and radio pundits have selected their Premier League top four, with each offering an explanation for their choices.
Only a handful of the BBC pundits have backed Liverpool to finish in the top two, while a significant number have left the Reds out of their predicted top four altogether. Last season, 22 of 35 BBC predictors backed Liverpool to win the Premier League, with just three tipping them to finish outside the top two. This time, only four of 28 expect the Reds to finish above third.
Tellingly, not a single BBC pundit has backed the Reds to win the title.
Danny Murphy believes Liverpool may need more time before the Reds are ready to challenge for the Premier League title again. The former Reds midfielder also questioned whether the club has done enough to replace Mohamed Salah.
He said: "Liverpool might need a bit more time before they are challenging for the title again. I am also not sure whether they think they have already got enough to replace Mohamed Salah by bringing in Victor Munoz and maybe giving Rio Ngumoha a bigger role, or whether they are really going to go for Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola, or someone like him, in the next few days."
Liverpool scraped into the top five under Arne Slot last season
Liverpool scraped into the top five under Arne Slot last season(Image: Getty Images)
Theo Walcott believes Liverpool is one of the hardest teams to predict ahead of the new season.
"Liverpool are probably the hardest team to call. Iraola is an excellent manager, and if Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have big seasons, they could absolutely push Arsenal for the title", said Walcott.
Troy Deeney believes Liverpool is well balanced but still needs reinforcements at left-back and in midfield.
The former Premier League striker also identified Isak as the Reds’ X-factor, backing him to thrive as he looks to prove his doubters wrong.
However, one supercomputer predicts Iraola to improve on Slot’s final season in charge and guide Liverpool to a top-four finish ahead of bitter rivals Manchester United.
Betarades’ BETSiE supercomputer has predicted the final Premier League standings ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, with Liverpool finishing fourth and securing Champions League qualification. The model expects the Reds to finish around five points clear of United.