October 01, (THEWILL) – The Premier League season has kicked off with a bang, and after the first four games, the landscape is already taking shape. Some teams have made a statement of intent, while others are looking to regroup during the recent international break. Let’s take a closer look at the state of the Premier League so far.
TITLE CHASERS
Jeremy Doku
Manchester City – The reigning champions and treble winners, Manchester City, find themselves at the top of the table. Their smart recruitment in the summer brought in some of Europe’s most coveted talents, including Jeremy Doku from Rennes, a skilled and pacey right winger who adds dynamism to their already potent attack.
They also broke records by signing Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig for a whopping £90 million, making him the most expensive defender of all time. Despite missing the immensely creative Kevin De Bruyne due to injury, City has shown flashes of brilliance. Their dominant 5-1 win over Fulham before the international break suggests more to come from the Cityzens.
They are strong contenders to lift the Premier League title once again.
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal – After coming so close to winning the Premier League title for the first season since 2004 last season, Arsenal disappointingly came up just short, but they look to be the closest challengers to Manchester City’s crown once again, bringing in Declan Rice as their marquee summer signing to add some extra steel to their midfield department for a British record transfer fee of £105million (mind-boggling numbers, we know)! They also brought Kai Havertz from Chelsea, which has proved to be their most controversial transfer of the window, with him yet to fully settle into Arsenal’s fluid possession game.
Scrappy wins over Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace showed a gritty mentality being developed before a statement win over Manchester United, which could define the season to follow for the Gunners. Arsenal promises to be an intriguing team to watch throughout the season.
Ryan Gravenberch adds much-needed flair in midfield
Liverpool – Liverpool came into the new season in desperate need of a midfield rebuild to revitalise their squad after losing key midfield faces in Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the big-spending Saudi Pro League. They seem to have done an excellent job in that aspect by signing Alexis Mac-Allister from
Brighton and German club imports, Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig, Wataru Endo from Stuttgart and Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich.
They have also added needed energy and creativity, which has reflected in their early season form, including a sensational against-the-odds comeback win against Newcastle after going down to 10 men. They look to be adapting well to the club’s recent shift in strategy to a more possession-based approach. The form of talisman Mohammed Salah and the plethora of attacking talent will be vital if they are to sustain their title push at the business end of the season.
TOP FOUR CHALLENGERS
New Spurs signing Brennan Johnson
Tottenham- The narrative around Spurs before the season started was whether Harry Kane would stay or go. Now that the Spurs legend has moved to Bayern Munich for a handsome fee, the narrative is whether Spurs can make a return to the Champions League spots or not. They have started very well with new signing James Maddison making his presence felt already, linking effectively with the club’s new captain Heung Min-Son.
Tottenham’s new manager Ange Postecoglou has wasted no time implementing an interesting tactical setup, which has them still unbeaten after four games. With a more solid defence, they’ll have to maintain this current form to keep pace with the title chasers. Whisper it quietly; they could be dark horses for the Premier League title.
Igor Julio, new Brighton signing
Brighton- Brighton are one of the most exciting teams in the league. They play a very high-tempo brand of football, moving the ball with precision. Very easy on the eye, they should be every neutral’s favourite team to watch.
After a good first season under Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton are playing European football for the first time in the club’s history! The qualified for the Europa League and will be looking to push on again after another summer of smart recruitment, which has become synonymous with the south coast club.
They started the season well, but lost to West Ham, though they had the upper hand in the game. If they tighten up at the back, then they should be among the front runners for the Champions League spots.
Marcus Rashford, United’s Talisman
Manchester United – The circus around Manchester United never seems to stop, does it? The positivity in the fanbase after a trophy-winning debut season for manager Erik Ten Hag seems to have quickly evaporated, with performances on the pitch needing a fair bit of work. They were lucky to get victories over the line against Wolves and Nottingham Forest.
Two poor away defeats to rivals Tottenham and Arsenal just before the break show there is a need for a rethink on the pitch, likewise, off the pitch with a lot of United forwards being involved in some controversy inside and out of the club.
Manchester United have a talented squad, but a lot of work needs to be done to fully cement a top four place.
Moussa Diaby already proving his worth
Aston Villa- Aston Villa finished last season in scintillating form under Unai Emery, which led to Conference League qualification, a competition that, considering coach Unai Emery’s superb European record, they have an excellent chance at winning. Their summer business was among the best in the league, bringing in Youri Teilemans, one of the few bright lights of Leicester City’s relegation campaign, an excellent defender in Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby, who is already proving to be one of the signings of the season. They have started the season poorly with a heavy defeat against Newcastle but recovered quickly with back-to-back wins over Everton and Burnley before an expected loss away to Liverpool. They need to find some consistency to fully stake their claim to a top four place at the end of the season.
RELEGATION CANDIDATES
New signing Beto. Can he keep Everton up this season?
Everton- Everton seem to be circling the drain of relegation every season, and sooner or later, they will get sucked in. An uninspiring transfer window has left many holes in the squad, particularly in midfield, where they lack creativity. This raises questions on where the chances for goals will come, although the late signing of striker Beto from Udinese gives some hope in attack.
They started the season poorly, losing and failing to score in their first three games of the season before stopping that trend with a much-needed 2-2 draw against newly promoted Sheffield United. They will need three worse teams to emerge during the season to preserve their status in the league.
Cameron Archer, Sheffield United beacon of hope!
Sheffield United – Sheffield is one of three newly promoted teams into the league this season, and as with all newly promoted teams, they are widely tipped to return to the championship. Curiously they sold their best players from the previous season in Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and Sander Berge to relegation rivals Burnley.
Although they have started the season poorly, they were involved in three very tight games, including one against the reigning champions Manchester City. That narrow defeat and the signing of forward Cameron Archer should give them a beacon of hope to get some results along the way. They may regroup well after the international break, but it will still be a tough season ahead.
Vincent Kompany. Will he stick to his style?
Burnley- Burnley needed a season in the championship. Their previous season in the Premier League was a huge disappointment; their style of play sometimes became desperate and uninspiring. Promoted this season, they played some of the best football by any club in the championship under manager and former Manchester City player Vincent Kompany. Implementing that same style against better opponents in this league was always going to be a monumental task, and it has not started well at all. Although they have had a difficult start in terms of fixtures, playing against Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham in their first three games, they have looked too open defensively. They have recruited well, bringing in a lot of talented young players from across Europe, which will help them bounce back if they were to go down.
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu has been on an incredible journey with the hatters
Luton- Lastly, we have Luton Town. It’s almost a miracle that Luton Town are even in the Premier League. Their stadium had to be renovated to meet Premier League standards. The club is operated on a shoestring budget, but it’s a great testament to how well the shoestrings are managed and the club runs to reach the promised land of the Premier League. One of their players, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, has been at the club all through their rise from the dregs of non-league football to the highest level of the English game. It’s a truly remarkable story!
This was always going to be a struggle for the Hatters, who have lost all three of their opening games. They will be hoping not to replicate the worst season of all time, Derby County’s laughable 11 points in 2007/08.
In conclusion, the Premier League’s early season narrative is a captivating tale of ambition, rivalry, and the ever-present drama that defines English football.
Manchester City stands tall as the reigning champions, armed with record-breaking defensive reinforcements and a hunger for continued success. Arsenal,
Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester United are all vying for their place among the league’s elite, each with unique storylines and challenges.
Brighton and Aston Villa promise to be exciting contenders, seeking to disrupt the established hierarchy, while Everton’s struggles raise questions about their survival in the top flight. Sheffield United and Burnley face their own battles, hoping to prove their worth in the Premier League once more.
Lastly, the remarkable journey of Luton Town serves as a testament to the unpredictable and awe-inspiring nature of football. As the season unfolds, we can expect twists, turns, and moments of brilliance that will shape the destiny of these clubs.
The Premier League’s landscape is ever-evolving, and while some teams have made their intentions clear, others are still finding their footing. With each matchday, the story continues to unfold, and fans around the world can only eagerly anticipate what the future holds for this extraordinary league.
