Champions, contenders and relegation candidates in Europe’s top five leagues

WITH the 2024/25 season about to kickoff in Europe’s top footballing nations, we take a look at those likely to be lifting the trophy come the season’s end, celebrating continental football qualification and the ones likely to be crying into their beer mugs in the English Premier League, La Liga, LiguOe 1, Serie A and Bundesliga.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

1 English Premier League

1.1 Likely champions

After masterminding a shock triumph without major transfer moves last season, Arne Slot and Liverpool have enjoyed a bumper transfer window so far, and are not done yet.

This, coupled with a dominant display last season, has made them favour-ites to defend their title.

The only question for Slot may be the time it will take for the new arrivals to bed in with the rest of the established stars.

Runners-up Arsenal have also strengthened, though, and are likely to once again be the Reds’ strongest challengers. The wily Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will also be determined to return to their glory days and can’t be written off.

1.2 Europe bound

Those likely to join Liverpool, Arsenal and City in qualifying for the Champions League include Fifa Club World Cup winners Chelsea.

The only thing potentially ruling them out of title contention is the question of squad depth.

Manchester United are long shots for Europe, should Ruben Amorim’s revival finally bear fruit. Europa is more likely for Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, though.

1.3 Relegation candidates

Considering the struggles newly promoted sides have faced staying up in the Premier League, recently promoted Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland are widely tipped to go straight back down to the championship.

Yet with Brentford in seeming disarray amid a worrying exodus of key players to rival teams, the race to avoid the axe may not be that straightforward this season.

2 LaLiga (Spain)

2.1 Likely champions

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are defending champs and enter the season as favour-ites once again, although Real Madrid might have something to say about that.