The 2025–26 Premier League season has begun, and Liverpool, the defending champions, is fighting to protect their position from fierce challenge from some of their opponents.
It has been more than 12 weeks since Liverpool won their second Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season as head coach at Anfield. The Reds finished 10 points ahead of their closest rivals, Arsenal, in second place.
In light of past season data, we examines the number of points that the Merseyside giants could need to win the Premier League title after they defeated Bournemouth 4–2 at home to start the new season.
A minimum of 88 points may be necessary to win the Premier League title.
After the Premier League was established in 1992, 22 clubs participated in 42 games during the course of the first three seasons. From the 1995–96 season forward, the league was trimmed to 20 teams and played 38 games.
The champions have averaged 87.8 points since the first Premier League season in 1992–93, although recent results indicate that title challengers will need more points than that to win overall.
With a minor decline to 90 points during the prior two seasons, the average has increased to 93.6 points since the great manager Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016.
Guardiola had a tough 2024–25 season as his Citizens’ team had to settle for third place, 13 points behind 84-point winners Liverpool. However, he had successfully led Man City to an unprecedented fourth consecutive title in the 2023–24 season, his sixth overall since coming to England.
Even though Man City no longer holds the title of defending champion, they are still the only Premier League team to ever finish with 100 points in a single season. They accomplished this feat in 2017–18, when they won 32 games, drew four, and lost just two to win the championship by an overwhelming 19 points.
No team has ever come this close to earning all 114 of the available points in a 38-game Premier League season.
With 97 points and a second-place finish behind Man City (98) in 2018–19, Liverpool’s 2019–20 championship team, led by manager Jurgen Klopp, nearly tied Man City’s record with 99 points. The Reds are also the team with the most points but no Premier League title.
Champions of the Premier League have reached the 90-point milestone 12 times (36.36%). The first team to accumulate more than 90 points was Manchester United in 1993–94 (42 games), and six of those have been accomplished in the last eight seasons.
No Premier League team won the championship with 90 points or more between 2009–10 and 2015–16. Man City and Man United finished closest in 2011–12 and 2012–13, with 89 points apiece, whereas Leicester City only managed 81 points to win their first and only championship in a remarkable manner in 2015–16.
Who will be competing for the PLC this season?
Defending champions Liverpool started the 2025–26 season as the clear favourites to win the title again because Slot made significant investments in the summer transfer window, spending over £250 million on a number of intriguing new players.
In addition to Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike joining a star-studded squad that includes Player of the Year and top scorer Mohamed Salah, captain colossus Virgil van Dijk, and elite custodian Alisson Becker, the Reds broke the British transfer record by signing playmaker Florian Wirtz and could do so again by signing Alexander Isak.
After adding wing wizard Noni Madueke, midfield maestro Martin Zubimendi, goal machine Viktor Gyokeres, and playmaker Eberechi Eze to their roster, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will be seen as formidable opponents. However, there are still doubts about their ability to advance and break their 22-year top-flight drought following three straight second-place finishes.
Many people believe that Man City will overcome their very high expectations and recover from a poor 2024–25 season. With new additions Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and James Trafford, Guardiola still has a strong team at his disposal despite the departure of Kevin De Bruyne and the injury to Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.
Chelsea, the FIFA Club World Cup winners, is another squad that can be vying for the top slot. The Blues have once again splashed the cash this summer. They have added Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jorell Hato, Jamie Gittens, and Estevao to their exciting, young team, which also includes star attacker Cole Palmer, on whom Enzo Maresca will be counting to deliver once more.
Even though Manchester United has added Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha to their front line, it still seems unlikely that they will contend for the championship right away after finishing in 15th place the previous season. Similarly, Newcastle United and Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur could lose Isak before the transfer window closes.
