Liverpool and Manchester City begin new Premier League era without Salah and Guardiola

Liverpool and Manchester City begin the new Premier League season facing major questions after losing the defining figures of their recent success, Mohamed Salah and Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City host Bournemouth on Sunday in Enzo Maresca’s first league match as Guardiola’s successor, before Liverpool’s new manager Andoni Iraola takes his side to Newcastle later the same day.

It is the first time since 2016 that Liverpool will start a campaign without Egypt forward Salah as their attacking talisman. City, meanwhile, must discover whether they can maintain their standards after Guardiola’s departure ended the most successful period in the club’s history.

Salah joined Turkish club Trabzonspor earlier in August, bringing to an end his Anfield career. Guardiola resigned at the conclusion of last season after guiding City to six Premier League titles and their first Champions League crown among 20 trophies during his time in charge.

Both clubs’ uncertain outlook reflects not only the scale of those departures but also the difficult circumstances that preceded their farewells in May.

Manchester City face a difficult succession

Guardiola, 55, ended his final season by winning the FA Cup and League Cup, but City had already lost their position as England’s leading force after failing to win the Premier League title in each of his last two campaigns.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager admitted he had struggled to find the energy needed to lead City’s challenge against Arsenal last season. The Gunners eventually finished seven points clear to claim the title.

Guardiola was also affected by the departure of his long-standing director of football Txiki Begiristain in 2025, saying: “a part of me is leaving”.

City are still involved in a long-running Football Association case concerning alleged financial breaches, which has yet to reach a resolution. Guardiola felt obliged to remain loyal to the club, but he appeared increasingly worn down by the task of rebuilding a squad that had lost several established players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez.

The club’s expensive reconstruction has produced only partial success, leaving Maresca with a considerable challenge as he attempts to follow one of the most decorated managers in football history.

Maresca is familiar with City, having worked as Guardiola’s assistant during their treble-winning 2022-23 season. However, the 46-year-old has relatively limited experience as a manager, following less than two seasons at Chelsea, a year in the second tier with Leicester and a short spell at Parma.

That record is a sharp contrast with Guardiola’s trophy-laden managerial career at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before he moved to Manchester.

Liverpool move on from Salah

Around 35 miles away along the East Lancashire Road, Liverpool are also entering the first season of a new chapter.

When Salah moved from Roma for £36m in 2017, few could have anticipated the impact he would have at Anfield. The forward had struggled during his time at Chelsea, but quickly became a success at Liverpool.

The 34-year-old scored 257 goals in 442 appearances in all competitions, making him the third-highest scorer in the club’s history. He also helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup while producing a long series of decisive and memorable performances.

His departure, however, followed a troubled final period. Salah was left out by Arne Slot on several occasions last season and accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus”.

The relationship between Salah and Slot was never completely repaired. Salah scored only seven league goals as Liverpool finished fifth, before the Dutch manager was dismissed.

Replacing a player of Salah’s generation and influence will require more than one signing. Iraola will hope Sweden striker Alexander Isak can make a significant improvement after an injury-disrupted first season at Anfield, while new arrival Victor Munoz and teenager Rio Ngumoha will carry substantial expectations.

Liverpool and Manchester City will attempt to build new identities, but neither club is likely to feel quite the same without the two figures who defined their eras.

Image: PAUL ELLIS / AFP