Analytics

Exactly 12 months ago, Liverpool secured five victories at the start of the Premier League season and seemed well on their way to defending their title under Arne Slot. That triumphant run kicked off with a match against bold Bournemouth, managed by Andoni Iraola. Little did anyone know that just a year later, the Basque would take the managerial seat at Anfield while the Dutchman would be asked to step aside.

Sixty-five days after a dramatic defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, the England squad is set to open a new chapter. The tournament in the USA ended for Thomas Tuchel's team with a thrilling shootout against France in the third-place match (6-4), yet the 'Three Lions' returned home with a heavy heart and a long list of missed opportunities. Now, the German will announce his first squad post-tournament. Ahead lies a challenging schedule: four matches in eleven days in the Nations League, with Spain, Croatia, and the Czech Republic on the agenda. BBC Sport experts Sami Mokbel, Jess Anderson, and John Murray have dissected the key challenges for the national team's staff.

Manchester United have had a challenging start to the new Premier League season, earning just four points from their first four matches. While there is no immediate threat to Michael Carrick's position, the team's results have sparked discussions about potential replacements should the crisis worsen.

The fallout from rapid change is rarely benign, and in North London, Tottenham's struggles are unfolding with brutal clarity. The club has failed to score a single goal in their first four Premier League games and has already crashed out of the League Cup. When asked if the hierarchy has overdone it with such a massive overhaul in one transfer window, the answer seems glaringly obvious: yes.

In the summer of 2025, Leeds United's decision to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a free agent was met with widespread sarcasm from fans. Social media was awash with jibes at the move: 'Can you play football? No! You're 188 cm tall? Brilliant, you're in!' and 'I hope the club hired a few more doctors,' reflecting the scepticism surrounding a player who had struggled with injuries and form.

Optimism at the start of the football year can be intoxicating. Regardless of how the previous season ended, the summer brings a wealth of hopes: fresh transfers, an ambitious manager, and grand aspirations. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out by mid-September, absolutely everything can go awry. The rainbow expectations have quickly turned into an uncomfortable anxiety, and the end of May feels like a distant memory.

Manchester United under michael carrick has managed just four points from their opening four games in the premier league. This tally mirrors the rocky start made by ruben amorim last season, which ultimately led to his dismissal.

Leeds' home ground becomes a real nightmare for opponents when the referee's whistle blows late into the evening. Under the guidance of German manager Daniel Farke, the team displays an incredible unbeaten run at Elland Road during matches that kick off at 19:45 or later.

Taking the reins at Manchester City immediately after the legendary Pep Guardiola seemed akin to a suicide mission. Few roles in world football are as thankless as attempting to replace a manager who has secured six Premier League titles and a treble in just a decade. Yet, Enzo Maresca’s early weeks in charge have made this colossal task appear deceptively straightforward.

Four matches played — it’s a short distance to draw final conclusions about the championship intrigue. However, at the start of the 2026/27 season, Arsenal and Manchester City, who have fought for the title in three of the last four years, look like insurmountable monoliths compared to the completely dismantled challengers.