Liverpool is once again in the familiar ranks of championships, but its appearance and foothold have quietly changed

As the 2025/26 season approaches, Liverpool is once again in the familiar ranks of championship competition, but its appearance and foothold have quietly changed. This summer, Merseyside’s red half of the sky has undergone earth-shaking changes, not only the personnel changes, but also the ambitions shown by the top leaders. Arnold's transfer to Real Madrid may have left emotional scars, but this has not slowed down the club's momentum under Edwards and Richard Hughes, a now-solid leadership team. The young decision-makers were questioned a year ago, and now the doubters of Fenway Group have to stop.

After winning the Premier League title last season, Slott also proved that he was far more than a transition coach, and expectations soared again. The only question left is: Is this brand-new Liverpool going to start dominance…or is it still preheating their red engine?

Slot 2.0: It is no easy task to improve on the championship blueprint as Liverpool head coach to win the league in its first season, and Slot did this with clear tactical thinking and excellent system building ability, which amazed fans and critics. The key to success last season was not only resilience and talent, but also the team regained balance and cohesion.

Arnold's departure this summer, although emotionally unacceptable, is more like a tactical reset than a break, which may even benefit the team, and those game modes that once relied too much on the departing No. 66 will be adjusted. The successor was Flynnpon, a more traditional sideways junction. He has fully participated in pre-season preparations, and his direct ball wind can make Salah feel like a fish in water. His speed and physical fitness are terrifying, while his work commitment and defensive willingness are refreshing.

Another Krkz, who joined early, injected strength and longitudinal impact into the originally tired and lacking change left. Wirtz appears to be the core source of creativity in the offensive third zone, while Ekitic offers options for Slot's preferred center type.

All of these players have plenty of time to fit in, which is the result of the decisive action of management. Liverpool senior managers hope that summer signings will be basically completed by August to avoid the disconnected running-in problem of previous seasons. This is undoubtedly an excellent basis for a top coach like Slott to play his advantage.

With Salah and Van Dyke both renewed their contracts, the core leadership remained intact, while Arnold had not made much contribution to the team's command level. Slott is not starting from scratch – he is evolving his system and planning the path to success.

Chase Isaac and Gei: The last puzzle or plan ahead? The remaining loopholes in the

The remaining loopholes in the Liverpool squad are not deep, but they are still enough to cause one or two concerns. Newcastle has been tough on Isaac's transfer as of early August, but the striker is reportedly actively pushing for the transfer, and the deal will eventually be reached once Eddie Howe finds a replacement.

Isaac's arrival (possibly funded by Nunez, who is about to transfer to Riyadh Crescent) will complete a complete shift in the front line. Isaac is efficient, smart and extremely versatile—under Slott, he will lead the five-man attack line including Werz, Ekitic and the ever-threatening Salah. On the

defensive line, Liverpool has been paying close attention to Mark Guy, especially with only the last year left in his contract. Given that Connate's renewal is pending, Joe Gomez's role may also turn to a rotational replacement, Guy can provide defensive support, Premier League experience and have the potential to grow into a future leader. There may still be new players in the defensive midfielder position – especially before problems are found in the early weeks of the season and the transfer window is closed. If Endo Kazuki's appearance time needs to be managed more carefully, this position is still a potential hidden danger. Despite the highlights of Heraffenberg, the Dutch is not a dedicated expert in protecting the back line.

Edwards and Hughes are not just spending a lot of money to sign ups - they are savvy signings. Each piece of the puzzle fits a larger football map, prioritizing age structure, attendance and room for improvement. This is a plan for the present and for the future.

Recovered Manchester City, desperate Arsenal... and ready Liverpool

Competition is extremely fierce. Manchester City, which was won by Liverpool, will make a comeback with a revenge. Guardiola's final year of contract adds more urgency, and if they can try to avoid punishment before Guardiola leaves office, they may struggle to win another controversial championship. Meanwhile, Arsenal has spent more than £1 billion to build a lineup under Arteta, but still has no important trophy credits - which means this season may be the last chance for this "project" to win the trophy.

However, Liverpool has a unique position, even after the Klopp era. They just won the championship and successfully retained the two most iconic meritorious veterans and carried out high-quality reinforcements on every front. Although a large number of new players will take time to fully run-in, the room for improvement it brings far more than worry. Since most new players were finalized early and the world-class coach now has complete autonomy and clear ideas, the Red Army is ready to attack with all its might and take the initiative. The early weeks of the season will be very revealing—especially with the Community Shield against Crystal Palace as an unofficial benchmark—but its direction is clear to everyone, even the opponent's supporters. Liverpool is more than just a challenger. They have once again become the benchmark to be defeated.