Liverpool Are Title Favourites!

Arne Slot Expecting Reds to Compete for Premier League Crown Again – But Insists Tag Isn’t Just Down to £300m Spending Spree

It’s a brand-new Premier League season, and already the talk has begun: who are the real title favourites? For Liverpool boss Arne Slot, the answer is pretty simple – yes, the Reds belong in that conversation. But not for the reason many think.

Yes, they’ve spent big this summer – almost £300 million on a handful of high-profile signings – but Slot is quick to point out that football isn’t just a shopping contest. Liverpool’s status as favourites, he insists, comes from something more enduring: last season’s success, their winning mentality, and a squad hungry to do it all over again.

The Summer Spending That Got Everyone Talking

Liverpool’s transfer window has been headline-grabbing to say the least. Four new faces have arrived at Anfield:

• Florian Wirtz – one of Europe’s most creative midfielders

• Hugo Ekitike – a young forward with pace to burn

• Jeremie Frimpong – a marauding right-back tailor-made for attacking football

• Milos Kerkez – a left-back with energy and tenacity

The combined outlay? Just shy of £300 million. And the shopping might not be over yet. The Reds are still being linked with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, though their reported £110 million bid has already been turned down.

From the outside, it’s easy to see why some fans – and rival supporters – are quick to label Liverpool as favourites simply because of their recruitment spree. But Slot sees it differently.

Slot: “It Would Be Weird If It Was Just About Spending”

When asked directly if Liverpool are favourites for the Premier League this season, Slot didn’t shy away from the question.

“If you won it last season, it’s quite normal that you are part of the favourites again for next season,” he explained. “For me it would not be normal if it’s about spending, because the net spend of us compared to the other teams is not in our favour, if you look at the last two seasons.”

That point about net spend is crucial. Yes, Liverpool have spent heavily this summer, but they’ve also brought in a significant amount through player sales – nearly £150 million, in fact. The departures of Luis Díaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhín Kelleher, Tyler Morton, and Nat Phillips have balanced the books to some extent.

In other words, Liverpool’s spending looks lavish in isolation, but the overall picture is more measured. Slot is making sure people understand that.

Why the Reds Are Really Favourites

FC Bayern Munchen v Olympique Lyonnais – Pre-Season Friendly

Slot is adamant: Liverpool’s status as title contenders isn’t because of flashy transfer business. It’s because of what they’ve already achieved.

“That we are favourites because we won it last season and we played so well, that’s clear. And the ambitions haven’t changed, because the ambition of this club is always to compete for every trophy.”

It’s an important reminder. This is a Liverpool team that, under Jurgen Klopp last season, found their way back to the top of English football. They rediscovered their rhythm, pressed with intensity, and played the kind of football that makes them one of the hardest teams in Europe to stop.

Slot’s job now is to keep that momentum rolling – not to tear it up and start from scratch.

Building on a Winning Foundation

Arne Slot may be new to Liverpool, but he’s no stranger to managing expectation. His time at Feyenoord showed he can blend tactical discipline with attacking flair, and he’s walking into a dressing room full of proven winners.

The key difference this season? Depth. Those four new signings aren’t just there to make up the numbers. Wirtz can add creativity in tight games. Frimpong and Kerkez will give Liverpool genuine width from full-back positions. Ekitike offers a fresh attacking option and a different profile to Darwin Núñez or Diogo Jota.

Last year’s champions have strengthened in the right areas, and Slot knows that’s what could make the difference in the title race.

Why Net Spend Matters – and Why Slot Keeps Mentioning It

It might seem like a small detail, but Slot’s emphasis on net spend is strategic. In the modern Premier League narrative, big-spending clubs are often portrayed as “buying the title.” Slot wants to distance Liverpool from that label.

Yes, they’ve spent. But so have Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea – all of whom have had bigger net spends over the last two seasons. Liverpool’s approach has been to refresh the squad while maintaining financial balance. It’s not just about writing cheques; it’s about long-term sustainability.

And for Slot, that’s a vital point to make as he builds his own credibility with fans and the media.

The Competition: City, Arsenal… and a Few Dark Horses

Of course, Liverpool won’t have the title race to themselves. Manchester City remain the gold standard under Pep Guardiola, Arsenal have been steadily improving under Mikel Arteta, and both Chelsea and Manchester United will expect to be in the mix.

Slot is under no illusions about how competitive the league will be.

“Like all the other ones did, we brought in good players,” he said. “So we are one of the favourites – but so are others. This league has no easy games, and the difference between first and fourth can be very small.”

That’s a sentiment Liverpool fans know all too well. The Premier League title has been decided by single points more than once in recent memory.

The Immediate Challenge: Crystal Palace in the Community Shield

Before the league campaign begins, Liverpool have an early chance to lay down a marker. They face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium – a fixture often seen as a curtain-raiser for the season, but one that can give a psychological edge.

Win it, and the Reds start the season with silverware and momentum. Lose it, and questions will immediately follow about whether the squad is ready.

Slot will know the stakes, even if he plays them down publicly.

The Season Opener: Bournemouth at Anfield

Then comes the real thing. On August 15, Liverpool open their Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth. It’s the kind of fixture they’re expected to win – but also the sort that can trip up title challengers if complacency creeps in.

Under Slot, expect a high-energy start, especially with a home crowd eager to see their new signings in action. An early flurry of goals could be the perfect way to announce that the champions mean business.

The Bigger Picture: A Squad Ready for Another Run

Liverpool v Athletic Club Bilbao – Pre-Season Friendly

Liverpool’s advantage this season may come from balance. The squad blends experience – players like Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Alisson – with youthful energy and new arrivals. Slot inherits not a rebuilding project, but a fine-tuned machine in need of just a few adjustments.

And while £300 million worth of new signings will always grab the headlines, the true story of Liverpool’s title defence will be written in the details: tactical tweaks, squad rotation, and mental resilience during the winter grind.

Conclusion: Favourites for the Right Reasons

Liverpool are, without doubt, among the favourites for the Premier League title. Arne Slot isn’t running from that label – he’s embracing it. But he’s also shaping the narrative: this isn’t about outspending rivals, it’s about building on a championship-winning season and sustaining success.

The spending spree? It helps. The departures? They matter too. But ultimately, Liverpool’s belief comes from something far more powerful than money – the memory of lifting the trophy last May and the hunger to do it again.

For Slot, that’s the foundation for everything. For the rest of the league, it’s a warning.