Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher has suggested that Newcastle could emerge as a contender for the Premier League title next term.
It’s been a season for the history books for Arne Slot‘s squad, clinching the league title with four games to spare. With Arsenal and Manchester City lagging behind, Liverpool has run away with the title, tasting defeat only twice throughout the campaign, which has seen the Reds equal Manchester United’s English record of 20 league titles.
Carragher anticipates a strong comeback from both Arsenal and City in the upcoming season, but he’s now also backing the Carabao Cup champion to join the fray.
“I’m delighted Liverpool won the title, nobody expected that and to do it so comfortably, you can’t really believe it,” Carragher expressed at the 2025 Women’s Football Awards.
“Now the exciting part is what he is 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.”
Last summer saw only one new face arrive at Anfield – Italian star Federico Chiesa, who arrived from Juventus. Carragher, who donned the Liverpool jersey 737 times, predicts a bustling transfer window this time around as Slot aims to strengthen his team for its title defence.
He elaborated: “I think now he’ll look to bring his own players in. The club have had 12 months to assess everything transfer-wise and the manager has also had time to 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.”
With potential new faces on the horizon, Liverpool is gearing up for what could be a tighter contest next season, with Arsenal and City likely to put up stronger challenges.
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However, the 2005 Champions League winner points out that a fourth team might give Slot’s squad more competition in its quest to retain the title. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, a victor over Liverpool in this year’s Carabao Cup final with a 2-1 win, was highlighted by Carragher as a possible contender for the league crown.
“I think it will be them two (City and Arsenal) who come back to challenge Liverpool,” Carragher opined. “City will go again in the market and Arsenal 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.”
