Liverpool and Manchester City will begin the new Premier League season facing a major test of their ability to adapt after losing two figures who shaped their dominance in the competition over the past decade.
Liverpool enter the campaign without Mohamed Salah for the first time since 2016, while Manchester City will be without Pep Guardiola on the touchline after the Spaniard ended his hugely successful spell at the club.
Salah completed his move to Turkish side Trabzonspor earlier this month, bringing an end to his illustrious Liverpool career.
Guardiola, meanwhile, stepped down at the end of last season after almost a decade in charge.
City will host Bournemouth on Sunday in Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League match as Guardiola’s successor.
Later that day, Liverpool’s new manager, Andoni Iraola, will lead the Reds against Newcastle in their first league outing since Salah’s departure.
Both clubs are entering unfamiliar territory after difficult final seasons for their outgoing icons.
Guardiola delivered six Premier League titles and Manchester City’s first Champions League crown during his tenure, collecting 20 trophies in total.
He also guided the club to the FA Cup and League Cup in his final season, although City had surrendered their dominance after failing to win the league in his last two campaigns.
The 55-year-old previously admitted that he struggled to find the energy needed to lead City’s challenge against Arsenal last season, with the Gunners eventually finishing seven points ahead to claim the title.
Guardiola’s difficult final years were also influenced by significant changes behind the scenes.
The departure of long-serving football director Txiki Begiristain in 2025 affected him deeply, with the City boss admitting that “a part of me is leaving”.
City are also still dealing with Football Association charges over alleged financial breaches, while several key players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez, have left the club in recent years.
The combination of squad rebuilding and pressure surrounding the club appeared to take its toll on Guardiola, paving the way for Maresca to inherit a demanding job.
Maresca knows the environment well, having previously worked as one of Guardiola’s assistants during City’s treble-winning 2022-23 campaign.
However, his managerial record is considerably less extensive, following spells with Chelsea, Leicester City and Parma.
Liverpool, meanwhile, face the enormous challenge of replacing one of the most influential players in their modern history.
Salah arrived from Roma in 2017 for £36 million and quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s most prolific forwards.
During his Liverpool career, the Egyptian scored 257 goals in 442 appearances across all competitions, ranking third on the club’s all-time scoring list.
He won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Anfield and delivered countless decisive performances.
However, his final season at the club was far less memorable. Salah was dropped on several occasions by Arne Slot and later accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus”.
The relationship between the forward and Slot never completely recovered, while Salah scored only seven league goals as Liverpool finished fifth before the Dutchman was dismissed.
Replacing a player of Salah’s calibre will require a collective effort rather than the arrival of a single star.
Iraola will be hoping Alexander Isak can rediscover his best form after an injury-hit first campaign at Anfield, while new arrival Victor Munoz and teenage forward Rio Ngumoha will also be expected to contribute.
Despite the changes at both clubs, the coming season will reveal whether Liverpool and Manchester City can successfully build new identities after losing two personalities who defined their respective eras.
