Why Liverpool Could Be the sneak Favorites for the 2026/27 Season

Liverpool may not be the first team that comes to mind when discussing the favorites for the 2026/27 Premier League title. Arsenal and Manchester City will naturally dominate most of the conversation, while Manchester United, Chelsea and other contenders will hope to close the gap. But there is a strong argument that Liverpool could become one of the season’s biggest surprises.

The Reds are entering a new era under Andoni Iraola, and while there are still obvious weaknesses within the squad, the foundations could be much stronger than many expect. If Liverpool can make a few more additions before the transfer window closes, particularly in attack and midfield, they could quickly develop into one of the most dangerous teams in England.

A Promising Pre-Season — With One Major Warning

Andoni Iraola – Getty Images

Liverpool’s pre-season has provided plenty of reasons for optimism.

Iraola began his reign with a 4-2 victory over Sunderland in Nashville before Liverpool followed it up with a 1-0 win over Wrexham at Yankee Stadium. Rio Ngumoha scored the winner against Wrexham, while Liverpool’s young players once again demonstrated that there is plenty of potential throughout the squad.

However, the Leeds game exposed one of the biggest concerns. Liverpool raced into a 2-0 half-time lead through Luke Chambers and Florian Wirtz, only to collapse after the interval and lose 4-2. Leeds scored four times in the second half, highlighting how quickly Liverpool’s intensity and control could disappear.

The same pattern appeared against Monaco. Liverpool looked excellent during the opening period, with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz putting them 2-0 ahead. But Monaco fought back to win 3-2, with Liverpool conceding twice in the second half before a late winner.

The final major pre-season test against Como was much more encouraging. Liverpool won 2-0 at Anfield through goals from Cody Gakpo and new defender Jérémy Jacquet, while the team looked considerably more controlled across the match. Iraola has acknowledged that improving the team’s second-half performances and fitness will be important as the season begins.

That makes the pre-season difficult to judge purely by results. Liverpool have shown that they can produce excellent football, but they have also shown that the intensity required by Iraola’s system can be difficult to maintain.

Iraola Could Be the Difference

The appointment of Andoni Iraola is perhaps the biggest reason Liverpool could surprise people.

The Spaniard built his reputation at Bournemouth by creating a high-energy, aggressive and vertical team. His football is based around pressing, quick transitions, attacking space and getting players forward quickly. Reuters describes his approach as a high-octane, vertical attacking style, something that could fit naturally with Liverpool’s traditional identity.

There are similarities to several successful modern managers.

Liverpool’s previous manager, Arne Slot, preferred a more controlled possession game compared with Jürgen Klopp’s famous “heavy-metal” football. Iraola, however, could bring back some of the chaos and intensity that made Klopp’s Liverpool so difficult to play against, while still retaining the technical quality developed during Slot’s period.

There are also similarities to managers such as Roberto De Zerbi and Ange Postecoglou in the way Iraola wants his teams to play aggressively and commit numbers forward. But his Bournemouth side was particularly dangerous when winning the ball and immediately attacking the spaces left by opponents.

That could be hugely beneficial at Liverpool.

Players such as Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Federico Chiesa, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha can thrive in a system that creates transitions and gives attacking players freedom to move into dangerous areas.

But Liverpool Need More

Andoni Iraola – Getty Images

This is where the transfer window could determine whether Liverpool are merely a top-four contender or a genuine title challenger.

The pursuit of Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye has been one of the major stories surrounding the club. Liverpool have reportedly explored a move for both PSG attackers, although the financial demands have made the double deal complicated.

Barcola would arguably be the more transformative addition. His pace, ability to beat defenders and versatility would give Iraola another elite attacking option.

Mbaye would provide another young, explosive player who could develop into a major asset, while also giving Liverpool more depth across the front line.

However, Liverpool arguably need another midfielder just as much.

Iraola’s system demands enormous physical output. Liverpool need players capable of pressing, covering space, carrying the ball and immediately transitioning from defence to attack. Having another high-quality midfielder would allow Iraola to rotate his team without dramatically reducing the level of performance.

That is where the Monaco and Leeds matches become particularly important. Liverpool’s starting XI can look excellent, but if the substitutes cannot maintain the same intensity, the team becomes vulnerable.

Add Barcola, Mbaye and another quality midfielder, and suddenly Liverpool’s bench becomes much more frightening.

The Pros and Cons

The biggest pro for Liverpool is their attacking potential.

Wirtz has another year to adapt to English football, Isak is entering the season fit and fully involved in pre-season, and players such as Gakpo, Chiesa and Ngumoha provide different attacking profiles.

The second major advantage is Iraola’s tactical identity. Liverpool know exactly what they are trying to become: intense, aggressive and difficult to play against.

There is also the potential for the squad to improve dramatically simply through chemistry. Liverpool have undergone significant defensive changes, with Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson departing, while Ronald Araújo has arrived on loan and Jérémy Jacquet has joined permanently. Virgil van Dijk has already admitted that the new defensive unit will need time to develop cohesion.

That is the biggest con.

Liverpool are still a team in transition.

Their defence needs to settle, their squad depth needs strengthening and Iraola has to prove that his intense style can survive the demands of a full Premier League season.

Can Liverpool Start Fast?

The opening fixtures could be extremely important.

Liverpool begin the Premier League season away against Newcastle United on August 23 before facing Nottingham Forest at Anfield and then travelling to Ipswich. They then host Fulham before visiting Bournemouth.

The Newcastle game is the immediate test.

St James’ Park is one of the most difficult places to start a season, and Newcastle are unbeaten in their last four opening-day fixtures.

Liverpool cannot afford to allow Newcastle to turn the game into a physical battle. Iraola’s side should look to press aggressively from the beginning, prevent Newcastle from building comfortably and attack the space behind their defensive line.

The key will be maintaining that intensity after half-time.

If Liverpool can produce the same level of football for 90 minutes that they have shown during the best periods of their pre-season matches, Newcastle could struggle to contain them.

Then comes Nottingham Forest at Anfield, followed by Ipswich away. Those are exactly the type of fixtures Liverpool need to win if they want to establish themselves as genuine contenders early.

A strong opening could create momentum before the bigger tests arrive.

Liverpool vs the Other Favorites

The obvious favorites remain Arsenal and Manchester City.

Arsenal have consistency, an established structure and a squad that has been competing near the top for several seasons. Manchester City remain Manchester City and have the experience required to win long title races.

Manchester United and Chelsea could also be dangerous, particularly if their new additions settle quickly.

But Liverpool have something that could separate them from some of those teams: uncertainty can sometimes be an advantage.

Nobody quite knows what Iraola’s Liverpool will look like by October.

If Wirtz explodes into form, Isak stays fit, Ngumoha continues developing and Liverpool add another two or three quality players, the ceiling of this team becomes extremely high.

They do not need to be the favorites in August.

They just need to still be in the conversation in March.

The Sleeper Team?

That is why Liverpool could be the Premier League’s sleeper team for 2026/27.

They are not without weaknesses. Their second-half performances in pre-season have exposed concerns over fitness, depth and game management. Their defence is still adapting, and Iraola has to prove that his football can translate from Bournemouth to a club with title expectations.

But there is also enormous potential.

Liverpool already possess elite-level attacking talent, an exciting group of young players and a manager whose philosophy could perfectly suit the identity of the club.

Add a player of Barcola’s quality, bring in Mbaye or another explosive attacker, strengthen the midfield and suddenly the conversation changes.

Liverpool stop being the team rebuilding under a new manager.

They become a team nobody wants to face.

And if Iraola can solve the second-half problems that have appeared during pre-season, the Reds could go from being overlooked to becoming one of the biggest title threats in the Premier League.

Liverpool might not be the obvious favorite for the 2026/27 season. But that could be exactly what makes them the most dangerous sleeper of them all.