Jamie Carragher names dark horses who could rival Liverpool for the Premier League title next season
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Jamie Carragher believes a fourth team could launch a surprise title challenge when Liverpool look to defend the Premier League next season. It’s been a marvellous maiden campaign for Arne Slot at Anfield as the Dutchman guided Liverpool to the Premier League title with four games remaining. And while Manchester City and Arsenal have enjoyed subdued campaigns, the Reds have been imperious, losing only two league games to draw them level with arch-rivals Manchester United on 20 English league titles. ‘I’m delighted Liverpool won the title, nobody expected that and to do it so comfortably, you can’t really believe it,’ Carragher told Metro at the 2025 Women’s Football Awards. ‘A great job by the players but especially from the manager. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. ‘Now the exciting part is what is he going to do in the summer to put his stamp on the squad, because it’s just a squad that was left by Jurgen Klopp that he’s managed to get a little bit more out of.’ Federico Chiesa’s arrival from Juventus was the only signing made by Slot during his first summer window at Anfield, but Carragher is expecting the Dutchman to be far more active this time around having fully got to grips with his squad. Liverpool cruised to their 20th league title last weekend (Picture: Getty) ‘I think now he’ll look to bring his own players in,’ the former Liverpool defender added. ‘The club have had 12 months to assess everything transfer-wise and the manager has also had time fo see who he rates and doesn’t rate and I would expect five or six players to leave and five or six to come in and then Liverpool will be a lot stronger.’ Even if they strengthen, Liverpool will no doubt be prepared for a tougher title race next time around, with City and Arsenal also likely to recruit heavily in the summer in a bid to bounce back next season. Jamie Carragher was full of praise for Arne Slot’s first year in charge (Picture: Getty) But Carragher warned his former side that they should also keep an eye out for a surprise challenge from the chasing pack, and earmarked Newcastle as a side who could take the next step up and challenge for league silverware. Eddie Howe’s side started slowly this campaign but have been superb since the turn of the year, further demonstrating their quality when they defeated Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup a few months ago. ‘I think it will be them two (City and Arsenal) who come back to challenge Liverpool,’ Carragher said. ‘City will go again in the market and Arsenal will do will do the same. But Carragher reckons an ever-improving Newcastle could be one of three teams to challenge his former side next season (Picture: Getty) ‘But from that chasing pack, Newcastle could spring a surprise. If they keep their best players and just add one or two squad players, they are a top team. ‘We saw that against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final and they can take any of those teams. They’ve got great support at home as well and in certain positions – especially centre forward and central midfield – they have players who are as good as anybody in the Premier League.’ ‘It’s great to see the growth of the Women’s Football Awards’ Carragher and Gabby Logan co-hosted the 2025 Women’s Football Awards (Picture: Getty) For a third year in a row, Carragher took on hosting duties at the Women’s Football Awards, a night dominated by Chelsea following their latest WSL triumph. ‘I thought it was a brilliant evening – I really enjoyed it and it was great to share the stage with a broadcasting legend like Gabby Logan,’ he reflected. ‘The media interest tells you how much it’s grown but as well with the
Jamie Carragher believes a fourth team could launch a surprise title challenge when Liverpool look to defend the Premier League next season.
It’s been a marvellous maiden campaign for Arne Slot at Anfield as the Dutchman guided Liverpool to the Premier League title with four games remaining.
And while Manchester City and Arsenal have enjoyed subdued campaigns, the Reds have been imperious, losing only two league games to draw them level with arch-rivals Manchester United on 20 English league titles.
‘I’m delighted Liverpool won the title, nobody expected that and to do it so comfortably, you can’t really believe it,’ Carragher told Metro at the 2025 Women’s Football Awards.
‘A great job by the players but especially from the manager.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘Now the exciting part is what is he going to do in the summer to put his stamp on the squad, because it’s just a squad that was left by Jurgen Klopp that he’s managed to get a little bit more out of.’
Federico Chiesa’s arrival from Juventus was the only signing made by Slot during his first summer window at Anfield, but Carragher is expecting the Dutchman to be far more active this time around having fully got to grips with his squad.
‘I think now he’ll look to bring his own players in,’ the former Liverpool defender added.
‘The club have had 12 months to assess everything transfer-wise and the manager has also had time fo see who he rates and doesn’t rate and I would expect five or six players to leave and five or six to come in and then Liverpool will be a lot stronger.’
Even if they strengthen, Liverpool will no doubt be prepared for a tougher title race next time around, with City and Arsenal also likely to recruit heavily in the summer in a bid to bounce back next season.
But Carragher warned his former side that they should also keep an eye out for a surprise challenge from the chasing pack, and earmarked Newcastle as a side who could take the next step up and challenge for league silverware.
Eddie Howe’s side started slowly this campaign but have been superb since the turn of the year, further demonstrating their quality when they defeated Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup a few months ago.
‘I think it will be them two (City and Arsenal) who come back to challenge Liverpool,’ Carragher said. ‘City will go again in the market and Arsenal will do will do the same.
‘But from that chasing pack, Newcastle could spring a surprise. If they keep their best players and just add one or two squad players, they are a top team.
‘We saw that against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final and they can take any of those teams. They’ve got great support at home as well and in certain positions – especially centre forward and central midfield – they have players who are as good as anybody in the Premier League.’
‘It’s great to see the growth of the Women’s Football Awards’
For a third year in a row, Carragher took on hosting duties at the Women’s Football Awards, a night dominated by Chelsea following their latest WSL triumph.
‘I thought it was a brilliant evening – I really enjoyed it and it was great to share the stage with a broadcasting legend like Gabby Logan,’ he reflected.
‘The media interest tells you how much it’s grown but as well with the players we got down here this evening. So I think you can just see it growing in terms of numbers, but in terms of the profile of people who are at the event.’
It could well get even better for women’s football in England in the coming months as the Lionesses look to defend the European Championship they won at Wembley back in 2022.
‘I think everybody comes together for the tournaments, he added. ‘You go back a few years to when they won the Euros and the level of interest was something I’d never seen before around a women’s tournament.
‘It just seemed to capture everybody’s imagination and it’s just gone from there. They came close obviously last time [in the World Cup], but hopefully they can go one better again.’
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