Unlike the previous three seasons when it was Manchester City all the way this year’s Premier League is shaping up to be a more hotly contested affair.
While we won’t see the drama of the 2015-2016 season which truly turned the Premier League odds on their head with the team once at 5000-1 carrying off the title, maybe we should be preparing ourselves for a surprise or two all the same.
Already teams who, back in August of last year, were being touted as top four possibles are well out of the running – step forward Spurs and, to a far lesser extent, Manchester United.
But we can be reasonably confident that any of the eight teams here have a chance of top-four glory with the sunlit uplands of Champions League football to look forward to in 2025-26.
Liverpool
It’s not quite true to say that here’s a team that can’t put a foot wrong. Plymouth Argyle demonstrated that in style in their surprise FA Cup victory. But in his first season trying to fill the massive shoes of Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot is making a pretty good fist of it. In early February the team found themselves firmly established at the top of the table six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand. If Mo Salah goes on being Mo Salah and the rest of the team continues to excel there will be only one champion.
Arsenal
As the Gunners sit on the heels of Liverpool there’s no doubt that Mikel Arteta’s side have it all to play for. The arrival of Declan Rice has truly re-energised the side. Ricardo Calafiori has also shored up the defence. The team made a major statement with their 5-1 demolition of Manchester City, sweet revenge for the victory seized from their grasp by John Stones’s last-minute equaliser earlier in the season. They went into February unbeaten in 14 games. If they can keep this up then it may just be possible for them to clinch the top spot.
Nottingham Forest
Who would have anticipated the renaissance of Nottingham Forest, least of all the unfortunate pub manager Beccy Webster who made a rash promise to her customers before the team’s 7-0 thrashing of Brighton and Hove Albion on February 1st? While it seems unlikely that January and February arrivals Tyler Bindon and Wayne Hennessey will play a major role it is good that they have strengthened the squad. But, as a team that was hovering above the relegation zone last season, this has to go down as a remarkable recovery.
Chelsea
Enzo Maresco certainly seems to have breathed new life into Stamford Bridge and introduced and exciting, free-flowing style of play. Cole Palmer has also risen to meet the opportunity by becoming the team’s major playmaker. As well as doing well domestically, team morale has also been boosted by a strong showing in Europe with an unbeaten six-game run in the league stage of the UEFA Conference League. Very quiet in the January transfer window with just Mathis Amougou in from Saint Étienne and Cesare Casadei off to Torino, here’s hoping the existing squad remains injury-free. Because while the championship does seem out of reach, the Blues are surely eagerly eyeing up their prospects for Champions League football next season.
Manchester City
There have so many words been written already this season about City’s catastrophic implosion that we hardly need to add to them here. Seldom has a manager experienced the fall in fortunes that Pep Guardiola has this season. By early February the gulf between City and leaders Liverpool was 15 points with the latter having a game in hand. However, with just two points between City and Chelsea a top-four finish is surely just in reach. Foden and Haaland will be key in the run-in, as will the numerous signings made in January, including some of the world’s most expensive deals. So if problems can be solved by throwing money at them, it should all be OK in the end.
Newcastle, Bournemouth and Aston Villa
Let’s also spare a mention for these outsiders who still have a chance to surprise us this season.
Despite the upheavals at St James Park, they have seen some very good performances which see them neck and neck with City in the race for a top-four finish.
Bournemouth has also shown that they’re capable of big wins against rivals with their 5-0 demolition of Forest and a similarly dominant display with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
Finally, Unai Emery will be hoping that this could be a good season for Villa, but they will have their work cut out to rise to the challenge.
As to who will finish where, we’ll just have to wait and see. But, whatever happens, it promises to be one of the most hotly contested run-ins for years.
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