![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/darke_ian_m.jpg&h=80&w=80&scale=crop.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ian DarkeSep 12, 2025, 09:00 AM<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>Darke, who called games for the network during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, is ESPN lead soccer voice in the United States. He has covered the Barclays Premier League and the Champions League since 1982, and has one of the world’s most recognizable soccer voices.<\/p>\n Only three gameweeks have been played in the Premier League<\/a> season, and already some observers are handing the title to Liverpool<\/a>. The defending champions have spent nearly \u00a3450 million to improve their squad, and they are the only team with three wins to start the 2025-26 campaign. Signing striker Alexander Isak<\/a> from Newcastle United<\/a> at the end of the transfer window seals the deal, right? The title is Liverpool’s to lose.<\/p>\n Well, not necessarily.<\/p>\n Admittedly, the Reds are the favorites, but so were Manchester City<\/a> if you turn the clock back 12 months. City had won the previous four titles and started the 2024-25 season with three victories. They went unbeaten until November before they unexpectedly imploded — over a stretch of nine league matches, they lost six and drew two.<\/p>\n In other words, first impressions can be misleading. Arne Slot’s team is top of the table without hitting top form, which might be a worry for its rivals. Liverpool have needed late goals to beat Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal<\/a> and avoid dropping points, but their frightening firepower is unmistakable when you look at the goal-scoring potential of Isak, Hugo Ekitike<\/a>, Florian Wirtz<\/a>, Cody Gakpo<\/a> and, of course, last season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner, Mohamed Salah<\/a>.<\/p>\n If the Reds have a concern, it’s a shortage of defensive cover after the signing of England<\/a> defender Marc Gu\u00e9hi<\/a> fell through on deadline day. It leaves them in a precarious position. They cannot afford to lose center backs Virgil van Dijk<\/a> or Ibrahima Konat\u00e9<\/a> to long-term injury, especially while newly arrived fullbacks Jeremie Frimpong<\/a> and Milos Kerkez<\/a> continue to acclimate.<\/p>\n Arsenal will hope to take advantage of Liverpool’s weaknesses, but their recent loss at Anfield due to Dominik Szoboszlai<\/a>‘s fantastic free kick reopened the debate about whether manager Mikel Arteta is sometimes too cautious in big games. The Gunners were a shade too passive and played for a point they did not get. They were not great despite winning at Old Trafford against Manchester United<\/a>, either, though they hammered Leeds United<\/a> easily enough.<\/p>\n It’s way too early to write off Arsenal, who have good cover in almost every position after some smart summer recruitment. To surpass Liverpool, however, Arteta will need new striker Viktor Gy\u00f6keres<\/a> to get 15 to 20 goals.<\/p>\n – Ogden: Biggest Premier League storylines after international break<\/a> Chelsea<\/a>, after looking jaded in a scoreless draw against Crystal Palace<\/a> in their opening match, have won twice since and conceded only one goal. They might be title contenders with the solid midfield duo of Mois\u00e9s Caicedo<\/a> and Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez<\/a> shielding the back line. Meanwhile, their quantity of attacking options is off the charts. Cole Palmer<\/a> and Pedro Neto<\/a> are joined by Jo\u00e3o Pedro<\/a>, Jamie Gittens<\/a>, Liam Delap<\/a>, Est\u00eav\u00e3o<\/a>, Alejandro Garnacho<\/a> and Facundo Buonanotte<\/a>.<\/p>\n What about Manchester City? The early outlook is grim: No team has lost two of its first three games and been crowned champions since Manchester United in the first Premier League season of 1992-93. Pep Guardiola will have to work some serious magic to buck that trend. Midfielder Rodri<\/a> said they “played like kids” in a game they lost but dominated at Brighton. For whatever reason, they seem to still have the fragile streak that became apparent last season. It is a rebuilt side over the past few windows, but one so far lacking the near-invincible look of Guardiola’s six title-winning outfits.<\/p>\n 1:48<\/p>\n Man City’s Donnarumma ready to fulfil Premier League ‘dream’<\/p>\n Gianluigi Donnarumma talks about his move to Manchester City after joining the Premier League side on deadline day from PSG.<\/p>\n Across Manchester, United’s soap opera goes on. But amid the understandable furor of the humiliating loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in the Carabao Cup<\/a>, it’s time for United supporters to calm down. The Red Devils played well and were unlucky to lose 1-0 against Arsenal, started with an electric 15 minutes at Fulham<\/a> before fading, then made hard work of beating Burnley<\/a> in a game they should have led 4-0 at halftime. New signings Bryan Mbeumo<\/a> and Matheus Cunha<\/a> have impressed, Mason Mount<\/a> is rediscovering his mojo and new striker Benjamin Sesko<\/a> could be a difference-maker.<\/p>\n I am at a loss to understand why United took a punt on young goalkeeper Senne Lammens<\/a> when there was an opportunity to sign Emiliano Mart\u00ednez<\/a>, one of the best in the world, from Aston Villa<\/a>. But they did need to sign someone after the hapless errors of Altay Bay\u0131nd\u0131r and Andr\u00e9 Onana<\/a>. United needed a new No. 6 — a real “midfield general” — but came up short before the transfer window closed. It would also help improve United’s shaky self-belief if the admittedly likable coach Ruben Amorim stopped wearing his heart on his sleeve quite so much as he does. He will know that a top-six finish is the minimum requirement.<\/p>\n All of ESPN. All in one place.<\/p>\n Watch your favorite events in the newly enhanced ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. Sign Up Now<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>‘s new manager, Thomas Frank, made a sensational start with a smart display at European champions Paris Saint-Germain<\/a>, a home win over Burnley and a victory at Manchester City. Their tepid defeat at home to a brilliant Bournemouth side was a reality check, but Frank is tactically switched on, and snatching Xavi Simons<\/a> from under the noses of Chelsea was a transfer coup. Whether Tottenham’s squad is deep enough to cope with the demands of the Premier League and Champions League is open for debate.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Aston Villa are off to a worrying start — they’ve yet to score and look porous at the back. Wolves are also struggling, though keeping striker J\u00f8rgen Strand Larsen<\/a> was a vital piece of business. It will be a battle, but don’t be surprised if the men from Molineux make their usual midseason recovery.<\/p>\n Brentford<\/a> have lost some key players and could be in a relegation scrap; they earned only three points from their first three matches. West Ham United<\/a>‘s shock win at Nottingham Forest<\/a> took the heat off manager Graham Potter. Will the Hammers build on that result? It’ll depend on whether Potter can inject pace and dynamism into the team.<\/p>\n The early signs are that Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Fulham and Brighton will be tough opponents for every team they play, and it’s good to see Everton<\/a> in the new Hill Dickinson Stadium being inspired by a reinvigorated Jack Grealish<\/a>. Qualifying for European competition is the aim for all those clubs.<\/p>\n Newcastle have looked a shade punchless without the rebellious Isak. With two points from three games, they need new strikers Nick Woltemade<\/a> and Yoane Wissa<\/a> to start delivering. But they are contenders to finish top-five.<\/p>\n 1:29<\/p>\n Postecoglou: I knew Spurs sack was coming before winning the final<\/p>\n Ange Postecoglou reflects on the end of his time at Tottenham after making his Premier League return with Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n Nottingham Forest fans will be aghast at the departure of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who led the club back into Europe in qualifying for the Europa League. But his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had clearly fractured. It will be fascinating to see how Ange Postecoglou fares as his replacement. Spurs’ 17th-placed finish last season got him sacked, so he has something to prove.<\/p>\nMohamed Salah, left, and Liverpool struck an early blow in the title race with a 1-0 win over Riccardo Calafiori and Arsenal, but twists in the tale await.\u00a0David Price\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images<\/p>\n
– Connelly: Premier League ‘ifs’ list: How contenders can come together<\/a>
– Olley: Chelsea FC’s 74 charges explained: What are they accused of?<\/a><\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/r1531432_1296x729_16-9.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n