How the Football Season Is Shaping Up
Every club goes into the new season full of confidence. As Christmas approaches, however, the league tends to take some shape, and it becomes a little clearer which clubs will be in contention for silverware and which clubs may soon be searching for a new manager and a host of new players.
There are always surprise packages and teams that don’t perform quite as well as people expected, and that’s certainly what we’ve seen this year. With the football season in full swing, we thought it’d be a good idea to look at which clubs can remain hopeful, which players are performing well, and which clubs are clearly facing a relegation battle.
Premier League Glory
It’ll be no surprise to see Manchester City sitting at the top of the Premier League come the end of the campaign. It is, after all, a position that they’ve essentially made their own over the past five years. But there are signs that Guardiola’s team will face a tough challenge if they’re going to add another title to their collection. Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham are all performing well in the Premier League football betting odds, and Liverpool in particular will be of some concern for Manchester City. Klopp’s team seem to have hit their stride and they’ll be quietly confident that they can go all the way.
Tight Race for Top Four
Don’t be surprised if this year sees the tightest battle for the coveted Champions League positions we’ve ever seen. There may only be four spots available, but there are at least eight clubs that can realistically claim to have a chance of ending the season there. We can probably assume that Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal will be there come May. So, what about the final position? Manchester United, Tottenham, and Newcastle will all think it’s theirs for the taking but don’t rule out Aston Villa. The Midlands club have surprised everyone with their performances, and if they can maintain their form throughout the season then they’ll be very much in contention.
Scoring Machines
It’s not just collective team success that’s on the line, either. Individual awards are, too. So, who’s looking good to pick up the Premier League Top Scorer award? It’ll come as a surprise to no one that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is favourite to bang in the most goals. After a monster first season at the Etihad, the Norwegian wonderkid has simply continued where he left off and is currently averaging more than a goal a game.
Can anyone topple Haaland? Mohamed Salah is also having a fantastic season, so if Liverpool hit a grand run of form then there’s every chance that the Egyptian will come out on top.
The Relegation Battle
It’s fun and games at the top of the league, and all misery at the bottom of it. Given the wealth of the Premier League, clubs are more desperate than ever to keep hold of their status as top-flight clubs. Alas, three clubs will have to drop down the Championship. Burnley, Luton Town, and Sheffield United will be the most likely, especially since all three are promoted clubs who are having a hard time adjusting to life in England’s top division. Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, and Fulham will also have concerns unless they can begin scoring goals and winning games soon.
Another Exciting Season
Of course, these are just predictions. English football is always so full of drama, so it’s inevitable that there’ll be twists and turns along the way. The best approach is simply to buckle up, tune in, and just see what happens on this year’s crazy ride.
