Manchester City have undergone a heavy transition this summer, with Pep Guardiola replaced by Enzo Maresca after a decade. The club spent heavily to rebuild, paying a British record £125m to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and reunite Maresca with Enzo Fernandez for £125m. Further additions included Iliman Ndiaye for £65m and Morocco 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £85.6m.

City's total spending reached a Premier League record £458m for a single window, though they achieved roughly £300m in player sales, illustrating vast turnover. Liverpool appointed Andoni Iraola to replace Arne Slot, targeting Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for £123m to replace departed Mohamed Salah. However, Liverpool's opening draws against Newcastle and Forest revealed a persistent flaw: the lack of a natural number six in midfield leaves them vulnerable to counter-attacks.

Iraola showed no inclination to sign a defensive midfielder, potentially leaving a weakness that could stop them challenging for the title after a dismal defence last season.