Guardian writers have tipped Liverpool to finish 4th in the 2026-27 Premier League campaign. The club enters this season under the guidance of new head coach Andoni Iraola, who was highly sought after by clubs including Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and Crystal Palace following his successful tenure at Bournemouth. Iraola was not promised an easy transition upon his arrival; he noted at his unveiling that the owners were transparent about the club’s imperfections, including injury concerns and the necessity of replacing key departing players. His primary mandate involves validating the club’s significant investment strategy, restoring confidence at Anfield, and stabilizing a squad that faced an erratic 2025-26 season.
The previous campaign was marked by inconsistency, featuring both impressive winning streaks comparable to Aston Villa and Manchester City, and concerning losing runs. Iraola, who finished his final season at Bournemouth on an 18-match unbeaten league streak, is tasked with instilling that same level of reliability at Liverpool. His appointment follows the departure of Arne Slot, whose tenure was complicated by internal challenges, including the passing of Diogo Jota and public friction with Mohamed Salah. While Iraola inherits a squad rich in individual talent, he faces the immediate hurdle of replacing Salah, with no direct successor yet secured.
The squad’s attacking output now relies heavily on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, both of whom are expected to improve upon their debut seasons. Wirtz has shown promise in a central role behind Isak during pre-season, while Dominik Szoboszlai has committed his future to the club with a new five-year contract. Despite these strengths, questions persist regarding the team’s defensive depth, leadership, and width. The club remains in pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, though negotiations are ongoing. In the meantime, Jérémy Jacquet, a £55m signing from Rennes—potentially rising to £60m—is viewed as a vital defensive recruit. Although a shoulder injury curtailed his debut season, the 21-year-old has already shown promise during pre-season outings.
Off the pitch, the club is undergoing a period of significant administrative transition. Michael Edwards has left his role as chief executive of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG), and sporting director Richard Hughes is expected to depart once the transfer window closes. The most prominent development, however, is the entry of a new consortium acquiring a 30% stake in Liverpool for £1.65bn. This group includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, and Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. Bhatia has joined the board as vice-chairman, though the long-term implications of this investment remain a subject of debate among supporters.
The Spirit of Shankly supporters union has publicly questioned the nature of this deal, seeking clarity on whether it signals a wider exit strategy for FSG or a one-off investment. FSG maintains that the partnership is intended to bolster global business and technological opportunities rather than serve as an exit plan for the owners, who purchased the club for £300m in 2010. This follows a period of tension last season, during which FSG was forced to abandon plans for multi-year ticket price increases following widespread fan protests and subsequent engagement with supporter groups.
Looking toward the future, the pre-season period has provided a platform for emerging talent. While Rio Ngumoha may see increased opportunities depending on the club’s success in the winger market, 19-year-old Trey Nyoni has been the standout performer. Nyoni impressed with his composure and ability to execute Iraola’s tactical demand for quick, forward-thinking passes from the midfield. As Iraola looks to implement his aggressive, front-foot style of play, these young players may prove essential in helping the club navigate a challenging transition period. The report also notes that guardian writers’ predicted position: 4th (NB: this is not necessarily Andy Hunter’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips). The report also notes that “They said we would have some challenges, we would have to replace important players leaving, we have some injuries, but we are here to solve these kind of problems.” Validating last summer’s expensive recruitment strate. The report also notes that similarly to Slot in 2024, Iraola has been bequeathed a rich inheritance in terms of individual talent. The report also notes that this is just as well as the sales pitch did not come with bells and whistles attached. The report also notes that “They said we would have some challenges, we would have to replace important players leaving, we have some injuries, but we are here to solve these kind of problems.” Validating last summer’s expensive recruitment strategy, restoring the faith of the Anfield crowd and rebuilding in an impatient environment can be added to that list. The report also notes that but his ability to step back and problem-solve – taking Bournemouth into Europe last season despite losing most of his defence in the summer and Antoine Semenyo in January, for example – will have also appealed, liverpool were enticed by Iraola’s style of play. The report also notes that how much of last season’s regression can be pinned on the former head coach will become apparent in the months ahead. The report also notes that however, he is starting from a lower base in terms of constructing a team, unlike his predecessor.
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