The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the WhatsApp group is buzzing about a few weekend pints, with the mood unmistakably upbeat.
The fact that the majority of the members in the group are children of the Seventies and therefore Liverpool fans might well account for much of the optimism as we embark on another Premier League season.
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The Reds go to post as defending champions and favourites to hold on to their crown for the first time since 1984, when Ian Rush was in his pomp and most of those aforementioned WhatsAppers were in short pants. Indeed the senior citizen of the group still insists on wearing shorts most of the time when he should really know better.
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And followers of Arne Slot’s side, who coasted to a 10-point victory last term, have every reason to feel buoyant ahead of the big kick-off at home to Bournemouth on Friday night.
There will be a poignant air around Anfield as well following the death of striker Diogo Jota during the off-season, and his team-mates will be determined to pay fitting tribute to him with three points on the opening night.
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A minute’s silence for former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was interrupted by Crystal Palace fans at Wembley
The death of Diogo Jota will provide an emotional inspiration for Liverpool this season(Adam Davy/PA)
The impact of Jota’s passing as the season goes on is the one big unquantifiable, although I suspect it will serve to galvanise an experience-laden dressing room during any sticky spells over the next nine months.
Slot did a remarkable job in succession to Jurgen Klopp last term, and has added his own stamp to the squad this summer with the additions of Germany’s best young talent in Florian Wirtz, potentially the best left-back around in Milos Kerkez, and the promising Hugo Ekitike.
If the transfer of Alexander Isak from Newcastle gets over the line, the rest might feel like giving up, because adding the league’s best striker to already the best team seems like the ultimate power-play.
Erling Haaland would argue his case that he is still the best centre-forward around, and his form will be key to Manchester City’s chances of reclaiming their perch as England’s top dogs, although Pep Guardiola’s men will go off as third-favourites in a tight market.
Liverpool are a best-priced 19/10 (AK Bets) to make it back-to-back titles, with City at 7/2 with Bet Victor, and Arsenal sandwiched in between at 5/2 with a number of firms.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has strengthened the core of his squad with several summer additions
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has strengthened his squad with several summer additions but still has to prove he is an elite manager(Adam Davy/PA)
The Gunners have finally addressed their own striker issues by recruiting Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, and Mikel Arteta will desperately hope the Swede proves the final piece of the jigsaw as they seek a first title since the Invincible season of 2003/04.
Martin Zubimendi has joined to add more quality in a midfield that already boasts Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, while there is no doubting Arsenal’s defensive fortitude, and Bukayo Saka is a genuinely world-class creative talent.
My big concern is Arteta himself. He moved away from a free-flowing style last season in search of a winning formula, while the signs from pre-season are that they will be more direct to suit the powerful but less that silky Gyokeres.
That’s all well and good, but when technicians like Saka and Odegaard want to get the ball down and play, things might get a bit jumbled.
Liverpool eased up to the title with 84 points last term – the lowest winning total since Leicester were champions in 2016 – and Arsenal were still 10 adrift in second.
Last season might well have been their opportunity and they missed out, and I can’t help but thinking there is more chance of City pushing Liverpool hardest this time around.
Everything that could go wrong basically did for Guardiola in 2024/25, with a long-term injury to key man Rodri the main problem.
The Spanish linchpin has had a slight setback in his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury but is due back in September, and Pep has recruited heavily to be covered for any further issues.
Manchester City eased to victory in their Club World Cup opener despite Rico Lewis’ late dismissal (Derik Hamilton/AP)
Phil Foden looked back to his best at the Club World Cup and will be a key man for Manchester City this season(Derik Hamilton/AP)
Kevin De Bruyne has traded the Sky Blue of Manchester for Naples but his genius has been sliding for a while, and Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders should make up for the Belgian’s loss, while Phil Foden simply can’t be as bad as he was last term and showed real signs of a return to form during the Club World Cup.
It may have been a blessing in disguise that City made an early exit from that event, while Chelsea went on to be crowned officially the best club side on the planet.
Enzo Maresca’s men were only fourth-best in the Premier League last season and the betting has them finishing in the same position again.
The Blues are 9/1 chances to win the title and they should get closer to the top three – particularly Arsenal – but I don’t see them getting in the mix just yet.
Maresca has stock-piled attacking riches by adding Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to his squad, while Cole Palmer was electric at the Club World Cup and can become a bona fide superstar.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca (right) praised Palmer’s big-match temperament (Seth Wenig/AP)
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca (right) will lean heavily on talisman Cole Palmer (left)(Seth Wenig/AP)
Defensively they might just still be a bit on the weak side, while they still don’t really have a decent goalkeeper and I agree with the bookies and have them fourth.
Which leads us back to Liverpool as by far the likeliest winners and they are crying out to be backed at 19/10.
The one thing I can possibly see derailing them is a Rodri-like injury to Virgil van Dijk, with Slot making moves to bring in cover, but everywhere else you look there is class and experience, with Mo Salah still firing, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szobozslai getting better all the time, and Wirtz a class addition.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is no big loss, and if Isak comes in it really is game over.
Back Liverpool at 19/10, and I’d also advise a straight forecast punt with City to finish second at 6/1 with Betfred, while the more adventurous might want to add Arsenal in third for a tricast at 14s with Bet365.
Outside of what is a fairly clear top four, the race for fifth and possibly an extra Champions League spot looks wide-open, with Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brighton, Spurs and Manchester United all having claims.
Last season was meant to be a breakthrough for the Magpies after ending a 70-year wait for silverware in the Carabao Cup and claiming the final seat at the Champions League table.
However, the summer has been difficult with Eddie Howe missing out on a host of transfer targets – notably Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, who both chose Manchester United – while Isak has made clear his desire to move on.
Newcastle have a good first 11 but the extra demands of Europe may leave the squad looking very thin, while Villa have quiet in the market, although Ivory Coast striker Evann Guessand is very highly-rated and manager Unai Emery will keep demanding improvement.
The summer has also been underwhelming for Spurs, who have failed thus far to build on the momentum of their Europa League win, which wasn’t enough to keep Ange Postecoglou in a job.
Manchester United fans have welcomed new signing Benjamin Sesko to Old Trafford
Manchester United have signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig to address a lack of goals in the team(Nick Potts/PA)
Thomas Frank did a great job at Brentford but the demands are different at Spurs, and deals have been slow to materialise, with only Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha brought in at the time of writing.
They missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White, while Son Heung-Min has moved on, and James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are long-term injuries.
New recruits are needed – Eberechi Eze could be a game-changer – and while last year’s 17th will be improved upon, it might be worth backing them at 7/2 to finish in the bottom half again.
Brighton are hard to get a handle on and have lost Joao Pedro, which strangely leaves me with Man United as possibly the ‘best of the rest’.
Ruben Amorim had very little impact after replacing Erik ten Hag last November, leading the Red Devils to 15th – by a mile their worst ever Premier League finish.
However, the signs are good that the coach is getting his message across, with the fact he has jettisoned a few high-profile figures showing real strength.
Mbeumo, Sesko and Matheus Cunha are significant attacking upgrades and should address the chronic lack of goals, while Bruno Fernandes will always chip in.
There are still weaknesses at goalkeeper and in midfield that may be dealt with before the window closes, and the medical department need to do more to avoid big injuries.
Leny Yoro and Amad Diallo are ready to kick on and play more prominent roles, while a lack of European action could be a blessing, so there are a few chinks of light at Old Trafford and United might just be worth a bet at 15/8 (888sport) to record a top-five finish.
It is the time of year to be optimistic after all.
PREMIER LEAGUE SELECTIONS
Liverpool to win the Premier League, 19/10 (AK Bets);
Liverpool/Manchester City straight forecast, 6/1 (Betfred);
Liverpool/City/Arsenal straight tricast, 14/1 (bet365);
Manchester United, top-five finish, 15/8 (888sport);
Tottenham Hotspur to finish in the bottom half, 7/2 (William Hill)