The Merseyside club begin a new chapter following the departure of Arne Slot, with Andoni Iraola now at the helm as pundits across the division offer their assessments of what lies ahead.
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has suggested the club will secure third position in the standings, despite his historical connections to Everton’s ranks. Speaking to BBC Sport, he indicated Arsenal and Manchester City remain the front-runners for the championship, while acknowledging Chelsea and Tottenham are poised to improve significantly. He believes this term will prove more competitive than the last and expects United to concentrate on maintaining a top-four presence.
Another Anfield favourite in Danny Murphy shares a similar outlook, placing the Reds third behind Arsenal and Manchester City. He told BBC Sport that the squad may require additional time before genuine title aspirations become realistic. He expressed uncertainty regarding whether recent signings adequately compensate for the departed forwards, questioning whether the club might pursue further additions before the window closes.
Paul Merson, the ex-Arsenal midfielder, anticipates the Gunners will successfully defend their crown but has identified Liverpool as potential runners-up should two key acquisitions perform strongly. Writing for Sky Sports, he emphasised the importance of consistency, noting the previous campaign’s volatility. He questioned the squad’s ability to match Arsenal’s strength in depth and stressed that critical players would need to feature in the majority of matches throughout the term. He pointed to the failure to replace the departed Egyptian forward as a significant concern, highlighting the void left by his scoring prowess.
Theo Walcott, another former Arsenal player, has similarly backed Iraola’s side for second place, forecasting Arsenal to claim victory with City and Chelsea filling the remaining Champions League positions. Despite a summer expenditure exceeding £400million previously, many contributors underperformed. He suggested to BBC Sport that the situation could change dramatically if those individuals rediscover their best form, describing the incoming manager as highly capable and suggesting the team could genuinely challenge for the championship if certain forwards deliver.
Thomas Hitzlsperger, who previously played for Everton and Aston Villa, has openly expressed enthusiasm for the new manager’s appointment. The German acknowledged personal bias towards his fellow countryman, a £100million acquisition who has yet to demonstrate his full worth but possesses the capability to drive significant improvement. He told BBC Sport that his selection of second place stems from admiration for the manager’s tactical approach and optimism that the German international will finally meet expectations this term.
Peter Crouch, a former striker for the club, holds a more pessimistic view, anticipating failure to secure a top-four finish. He told the That Peter Crouch Podcast that while the new manager appears talented, the cumulative departures of recent years have weakened the squad considerably. He questioned whether adequate replacements have been secured and expressed interest in observing how the Swedish forward performs alongside the French acquisition. His top-four selections comprised Arsenal, Manchester City, United and Chelsea respectively, suggesting Liverpool would miss out despite his prior affiliation.
Troy Deeney, the former Watford captain, has also selected a second-place finish for the club. He indicated to BBC Sport that while the squad maintains reasonable balance, gaps remain in left-back and midfield areas. He identified the Swedish striker as the pivotal figure capable of inspiring success, suggesting many have underestimated his potential impact.