2025-26 Premier League closed with Arsenal ending a 22-year title drought, as the season wrapped and the club lifted the trophy in London, while Manchester City and Liverpool saw a generational shift that included the departures of several foundational figures. This review looks back at five players and managers who shaped the past decade of English top-flight football.
2025-26 Premier League: Manchester City chapter
Tactical revolution, Pep Guardiola
Guardiola transformed Manchester City over a 10-year spell, reshaping English football with precise possession play and intense pressing that became mainstream in the Premier League. He led City to six Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League, and he installed a system that remained effective even with heavy squad rotation.
High points included a 100-point title in 2017-18 and the 2023 season in which City completed a treble of domestic league, FA Cup, and Champions League, milestones that cemented his reputation among the league’s best managers. The club said Guardiola will move into a global role with City Football Group as its football ambassador, and that he does not plan to manage another club in the short term.
Relentless midfield engine, Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva has been described by Guardiola as one of the manager’s most complete players, able to operate in midfield, on the wing, and as a false nine. His work rate, ball retention under pressure, and tactical intelligence were key to City staying balanced in big games.
A standout moment came in the 2022-23 Champions League semi final, when Bernardo scored twice in a 4-0 win over Real Madrid to help City reach the final. That season ended with City beating Inter Milan in the Champions League final, completing the treble.
Transfer outlook: Portuguese media and club reports say Bernardo is considering a return to Portugal, with Benfica frequently named as a likely destination. The player has long been linked with a move back home, and reports expect a decision after the summer window.
Versatile center back, John Stones
Signed early in Guardiola’s tenure, John Stones recovered from a dip in form to become a hybrid center back and defensive midfielder whose technical ability challenged the traditional English defender archetype. His ball skills and positional play helped City maintain a tactically flexible back line.
One of Stones’s most cited moments came in a high-stakes match against Liverpool on January 3, 2019, when his clearance off the line prevented what would have been a decisive goal. City won that game 2-1 and went on to finish the season with 98 points, edging Liverpool by a single point.
Transfer outlook: Stones is reported to be seeking a new challenge and is linked with Inter Milan, where sources say he could thrive in a league that emphasizes tactical positioning over physical duels.
2025-26 Premier League: Liverpool chapter
Merseyside talisman, Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah spent nine seasons at Liverpool and became the club’s leading Premier League scorer while maintaining remarkable durability and consistency. He was the spearhead of Liverpool’s return to the top of English football, helping the club win multiple domestic and international trophies.
Salah won two Premier League titles with Liverpool, in 2019-20 and 2024-25, and helped the club to Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup victories during his spell. He also contributed to cup success domestically, and his nine trophies for the club underline a decorated Anfield career.
Highlights: Salah broke the club’s single season scoring record in his first campaign with 32 Premier League goals, and on March 2023 he surpassed Robbie Fowler’s long standing club tally. In the season finale on May 24, 2026, Salah set a new Liverpool Premier League assist record, surpassing Steven Gerrard.
Transfer outlook: Italian sports outlets have reported Juventus interest in Salah, potentially to reunite him with his former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, although Juventus sporting director Marco Ottolini has publicly denied substantive talks. The Saudi Pro League remains an option, with former teammates Sadio Mane and Fabinho already in that competition. Reports suggest Salah will reveal his next club after the 2026 World Cup.
Left flank engine, Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson joined Liverpool in 2017 from relegated Hull City for a reported fee of 8 million pounds, a move widely seen as excellent value. Over nine seasons, his attacking instincts, accurate crossing, and leadership helped power Liverpool’s wide play alongside Trent Alexander Arnold.
Robertson shared a record for most assists by a defender in a single season in 2019-20 and later surpassed Leighton Baines to become the Premier League defender with the most career assists at the time. He was a key figure in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign and a fan favorite at Anfield.
Transfer outlook: With his contract expired at the end of 2025-26, Robertson is expected to attract interest across Europe. Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has publicly identified Robertson as a player who could help the club rebuild following promotion, while reports name Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, and Celtic among the interested parties. For now, Robertson appears inclined to remain in the Premier League.
As the 2025-26 Premier League season closes, Arsenal’s championship celebrations mark a changing of the guard in English football, and the departures of Guardiola, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Mohamed Salah, and Andy Robertson leave an era defined by tactical evolution and sustained rivalry. Each figure departs with a legacy that will shape how clubs build and compete in the Premier League moving forward.