Arne Slot has tipped Chelsea to challenge for the Premier League title this season after revealing that they were his pick for the championship last term.
The Liverpool boss will begin the defence of the crown his won in his debut campaign on Friday night when the Reds open the 2025-26 season at Anfield against Bournemouth.
After following up their impressive title triumph with a summer spend set to reach £270million with the arrival of young Italian defender Giovanni Leoni, the Merseyside club are the favourites among many to come out on top once again.
But the Dutchman has identified the Blues as a threat, hailing their squad depth and winning mentality, having secured the Conference League and Club World Cup in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge.
‘I expected them to win last season already,’ he told talkSPORT. ‘The amount of quality they have and they were there at the start of the season. They were in [the title race] after ten games. They were still there [in December].
‘Squad depth, quality, they have a very good manager as well, and I think they’ve shown this by winning the trophies they won last season.
Arne Slot has tipped Chelsea to challenge for the Premier League title this season after revealing that they were his pick for the championship last term
The Dutchman hailed the squad depth of the reigning Conference League and Club World Cup champions
‘It was good for us that they also had a period last season where they struggled and that’s why they couldn’t compete till the end for the league title.
‘But now they’re strengthening the team again, so a team that’s, in my opinion, one of the ones that are going to challenge for a league title.’
The Blues, who will return to the Champions League this season after finishing fourth last term, are the outsiders for the biggest domestic prize among the bookies.
But with a summer spend topped only by the Reds, they are sure to improve on their points tally from last term.
Maresca’s side has been bolstered by the additions of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, Jorrel Hato and Estevao, though Cole Palmer remains their mercurial talisman.
The Stamford Bridge club also have the advantage of a gentle start to the campaign, with clashes against Crystal Palace, West Ham, Fulhama and Brentford before their first meeting against another side in the traditional big six.
That meeting against Manchester United at Old Trafford at the end of September, however, begins a tougher run of games that also include clashes against Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.