No one can deny it: the Premier League is by far the most intense championship in the world. It’s also one of the most watched ones, with millions of fans watching from all over the world. And don’t forget about the tournaments organized by top teams in Asia or North America, gathering millions of fans around.
But then, that’s exactly what makes the Premier League so difficult to predict, too. Half a season into the year, take the first team and put it against the last team.
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Sure, the first one is likely to win, but it’s not a guaranteed win. That’s what makes it difficult to predict, too.
Brighton, A Pleasant Surprise Last Season
Talking about surprises, remember when Arsenal used to dominate the Premier League? It was the top team for nearly half a year, only to slowly lose everything towards the end of the season as Manchester City quickly drew in.
Brighton’s win over Arsenal was one of the best surprises of the year. Arsenal was pushing for the title, yet no one expected the small team from the southern coast to score three and concede none in London. Brighton also gave Manchester City some headaches in May.
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Some of the best-scoring games include the home fixture with Wolverhampton (6-0) and the one with Grimsby Town in the FA Cup quarter-finals (5-0).
Brighton was a tough nut to crack for West Ham too (4-0), not to mention Liverpool (2-1 and 3-0), Chelsea (4-1) and Leicester City (5-2), among many others.
Given such scores, Brighton qualified for the Europa League, making a nice impression against teams like Ajax (2-0) or Marseille (2-2).
With all these, Brighton & Hove Albion is not expected to do well in the Premier League and challenge for the title.
In fact, it’s placed behind Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle by websites like GG.Bet.
Favorite Candidates For The Premier League Title
The Premier League started on the 11th of August, with the last game scheduled for the 19th of May, 2024. There will be 38 rounds.
Manchester City will have to defend their title. However, given the transfers and improvements during the season break, only Arsenal and Liverpool are considered serious contenders.
Manchester City are the favorites this year. Pep Guardiola’s squad has dominated the Premier League for nearly a decade now. Besides, 2023 was the first time Manchester City have managed to win a treble.
However, City has already lost a few times this season, failing to show much improvement. Wolverhampton Wanderers beat City at home, not to mention Arsenal.
Squad depth seems to be a bit of an issue, especially with De Bruyne injured and Gundogan out of the team.
It’s worth noting that the City had a similar issue last year. With all these, the second part of the season saw Pep Guardiola’s team winning almost every game. Despite Arsenal being well ahead, City managed to win the Premier League.
What About Arsenal?
Arsenal was pretty close last year. No one really expected Arsenal to be at the top, but Mikel Arteta’s men did well and dominated the first half, losing over the past few games of the season.
The summer brought in a few improvements, with Declan Rice being the top transfer. The Gunners have done a fairly good job over the first quarter of the season without losing any game at all.
Arsenal will definitely be a challenger, and hopefully, for the fans, the team has learned from last year’s mistakes.
Is Liverpool Worth Any Attention?
Finishing fifth last year, Liverpool is not doing well. The squad definitely needs to be rebuilt. Jurgen Klopp did a good job over the past years, but it’s time for some refreshment.
The midfield must be rebuilt before anything else, with Szoboszlaj showing he’s worth his value.
Klopp loves 4-3-3, and fortunately for Liverpool, the club has quite a few good options, including Salah, Nunez, Diaz, Jota, and Gakpo.
As for the defensive side, Liverpool players haven’t been too convincing last year. Hopefully, for the fans, things will improve this year.
Given the lack of bomb transfers and the aging team, most sports betting websites rank Liverpool in the third position, behind Manchester City and Arsenal.
Other teams worth some attention include Tottenham, Newcastle United and Manchester United. However, none is expected to pose a serious challenge for the title. Chances are they’ll qualify for European competitions but without aiming for the title.
Brighton, like last year, has been considered the underdog. A small team from a small town, keeping Premier League’s giants under control.
Conclusion
Bottom line: it’s hard to estimate too much for the current season. About 25% of it has already gone. So far, it looks like Arsenal, City, and Liverpool will have to fight for the title, with other reputable teams pushing from behind.
