Liverpool and Manchester City will open their Premier League campaigns on Sunday. They face major tests of how quickly they can adapt to life without two figures who defined their recent success — Mohamed Salah and Pep Guardiola. The Liverpool Man City rivalry will undoubtedly be influenced by these changes.
According to The Punch, Liverpool will begin a league season without Salah as their talisman for the first time since 2016. Meanwhile, Manchester City enter their first campaign without Guardiola in a decade following the Spaniard’s departure at the end of last season.
Liverpool begin post-Salah chapter
Salah ended his remarkable nine-year stay at Anfield earlier in August after completing a move to Turkish club Trabzonspor.
The Egyptian joined Liverpool from Roma for £36 million in 2017. He went on to establish himself among the greatest players in the club’s history.
He scored 257 goals in 442 appearances across all competitions. During his time, he became Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer while helping the Reds win two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
His final season, however, proved difficult. Salah was dropped on several occasions by former manager Arne Slot. Additionally, he publicly complained that the club had thrown him “under the bus.”
He eventually finished the league campaign with seven goals as Liverpool dropped to fifth place, leading to Slot’s dismissal.
Iraola faces difficult rebuilding job
Former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has now taken charge at Anfield. He faces the difficult task of rebuilding an attack that relied heavily on Salah for almost a decade. In fact, the effects of the Liverpool Man City era are visible in this phase of transition for both clubs.
Liverpool have added forward Victor Munoz and centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, while Ronald Araujo has arrived on loan. However, Iraola has admitted more reinforcements are still required.
Alexander Isak will also carry greater responsibility after an injury-hit first season at Liverpool. He struggled to consistently reproduce the form that earned him his £125 million move from Newcastle.
The Swedish striker now returns to St James’ Park on Sunday as Liverpool begin their campaign against his former club.
City face first season without Guardiola
Manchester City are undergoing an equally significant transition following Guardiola’s decision to step down after 10 years in charge.
The Spaniard transformed City into England’s dominant force after arriving in 2016. He won six Premier League titles and delivered the club’s first Champions League trophy.
Guardiola collected 20 trophies during his reign, overseeing a period in which City repeatedly set new standards for domestic success.
But his final two league campaigns ended without the title. Arsenal eventually finished seven points ahead of City last season.
Several established players had also departed during the latter stages of Guardiola’s reign. This forced City into a costly rebuilding process that remains unfinished.
Maresca inherits Guardiola legacy
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been chosen to succeed Guardiola. He will take charge of his first Premier League match for City when Bournemouth visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Maresca already knows the club well after working as Guardiola’s assistant during City’s treble-winning 2022/23 campaign.
However, the 46-year-old now faces the significantly tougher challenge of succeeding one of the most decorated managers in football history. Notably, the Liverpool Man City fixture will have a new feel with both teams searching for a fresh identity.
His managerial experience includes spells with Parma, Leicester City and Chelsea. Despite the scale of the transition, expectations at the Etihad will remain high.
Two giants face defining season
Liverpool and City have been two of the dominant forces in English football over the past decade. Salah and Guardiola have played central roles in that success.
Both clubs now enter unfamiliar territory. Consequently, the upcoming Liverpool Man City encounters will be seen through a new lens this season.
Liverpool must discover how to replace the goals, assists and influence of one of their greatest-ever forwards. In contrast, City must establish a new identity without the manager who shaped virtually every aspect of their modern era.
How quickly Iraola and Maresca solve those problems could determine whether either side can mount a serious challenge to champions Arsenal this season.
