Four pointers to most open Premier League title race in years

Four pointers to most open Premier League title race in yearsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Is the Premier League due a wide open title race?PublishedJust nowThree of the traditional "big six" have new managers, the defending champions have a key injury and Tottenham and Chelsea are breaking transfer records.After years of Manchester City dominance followed by Liverpool and Arsenal winning titles by at least seven points, the Premier League is due a wide open, unpredictable, multi-club title race.Here are four reasons why 2026-27 could be that season.New managers, new expectationsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Enzo Maresca (left), Andoni Iraola (centre) and Xabi Alonso (right) are all at new clubs this yearHow do you replace the irreplaceable?Manchester City are often title favourites having won six of the past nine Premier League trophies, but they start this new season without their greatest ever manager, Pep Guardiola.The 55-year-old led City to 17 major trophies in 10 years, but left at the end of last season and has since been replaced by his former assistant Enzo Maresca.Maresca has been out of work since stepping down as Chelsea boss in January. The Blues also have a new gaffer. They replaced Maresca with Liam Rosenior in January but he was let go before the end of the season and now former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso is at the helm.Alonso won the Bundesliga with an invincible Bayer Leverkusen team two years ago but last term had a difficult spell in charge of Real Madrid.Many thought he would replace 2024-25 title-winner Arne Slot at Liverpool but the Reds instead have appointed Andoni Iraola, who finished sixth with Bournemouth last season.That's three huge clubs with three new managers.What's more, Manchester United's Michael Carrick and Tottenham's Roberto de Zerbi only took charge part way through last season.So five of the traditional big six will start to the new campaign with a different manager to th...