Wayne Rooney explains the impact Enzo Maresca to Man City would have on the Premier League

Add as preferred source on Google

A new era will begin at Manchester City this summer, with Pep Guardiola stepping away after 10 very successful years.

Guardiola and former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp previously dominated the English top flight for many years, with very few other teams really getting a good crack at the league title.

However, now Enzo Maresca is expected to join Man City this summer, Wayne Rooney has suggested the title race could be wide open come 2026/27.

26/27 Premier League title race could be wide open without Pep Guardiola

Arsenal are the 2025/26 Premier League champions and are obviously going to keep Mikel Arteta, barring an exceptional set of circumstances.

But elsewhere, Liverpool’s form has fallen off a cliff under Arne Slot, yet they are still expected to keep the Dutchman as their manager next term.

Manchester United look likely to have Michael Carrick in charge come 2026/27, and it remains to be seen how he will fare after a transfer window and pre-season.

Chelsea also have a new manager, confirming the appointment of Xabi Alonso after their FA Cup final loss.

In turn, when speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show this week, the former England international has suggested that Maresca will not have the same impact as Pep at Man City, and the title race could be wide open next season as a result.

He said: “And the talk is Maresca is going to go in. And I just don’t think that he’ll have the same impact in from that point of view. So I really do think it opens it up.

“And the Premier League next season is going to be so exciting. You’re obviously going to have City, the new manager, Chelsea, the new manager, Man United, Liverpool potentially with a new manager.

“So the Premier League next year will be wide open to see who wins that title.”

The favourites to win 26/27 Premier League

Rooney is partially correct in his assessment as the majority of the top clubs are now entering rebuilding periods, with it hard to predict how they will get on.

There is no longer a clear standout manager like in previous years with Pep and Klopp.

But on paper, it does seem like Arsenal are, as long as they have a good summer transfer window, the best positioned to lift the trophy again.

They have a very settled squad, an established manager and a clear style of play – even if it’s not the most popular among other fanbases.

As for the rest of the challengers, it’s just impossible to say how good the likes of City and Chelsea will be under new coaches, while it is very hard to see Slot turning things around at Liverpool.

Based on the second half of this season, some may say Man Utd will be up there, but again, they will have to contend with European football next term, unlike in 2025/26 when they have largely been playing once a week.