CAN Manchester City be stopped from winning a fifth successive Premier League title? Let’s take a look. On paper and on the ground, Manchester City looks unstoppable; who can dethrone the champions in the premier league?
Their record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title, and sixth in seven years, gives the impression of a monopoly at the top; of an immovable force that simply cannot be beaten. You can see predictions on the banger casino app.
Unlike monopolies in other leagues around Europe, Man City have only twice won the league at a canter. Liverpool and Arsenal have run them close in four of their six triumphs under Pep Guardiola. Looking back on the last few seasons, there was always hope, the margins often razor thin. City were beatable then – and they are beatable now.
In fact, ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Man City are arguably in a more vulnerable position than at any other point in the Guardiola era.
Confident Arsenal have plugged the gaps
Arsenal won 40 points in the first half of last season and 49 in the second, reflecting the damage to their morale last autumn after their 2022/23 title bid collapsed spectacularly. But Mikel Arteta’s side lasted right to the end in 2023/24, proving they are an elite team capable of sustaining a title challenge, even if they ultimately finished second.
That alone should shield them from a similar wobble in the first half of 2024/25, although more important still is the signing of Riccardo Calafiori. Calafiori is a powerful defender most likely to play at left-back, mimicking the new trend of centre-backs fielded at full-back. It is a defensive patch-up Arsenal needed.
In the 2023/24 season, Arsenal carelessly dropped points in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham United. Oleksandr Zinchenko made a poor error leading to the opener; in the 2-2 draw with Fulham, a last-minute equaliser was conceded after Zinchenko was needlessly dispossessed in his own half; and in the 2-1 defeat at Fulham, Jakub Kiwior was too easily beaten at the back post for Raul Jimenez’s opener.
The arrival of Calafiori, a better left-back could stamp out these careless dropped points, making up the gap to Man City. Arsenal also added Sterling on the deadline day to increase depth on the left wing so that they can close the gap on Manchester City.
Liverpool can be less chaotic under Slot
It would be pretty extraordinary if Arne Slot won the Premier League title in his first season in English football – not even Guardiola managed that – but he takes charge of a Liverpool side left in a very strong position by his predecessor.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were clear at the top of the table in early April, only for some chaotic performances to finally catch up with them.
In 2023/24 they conceded the opening goal a remarkable 17 times, reflecting the unwieldy nature of Klopp’s football while an entirely new central midfield bedded in.
In many ways, Slot will continue Klopp’s legacy. His Feyenoord side were very hard pressers and often played “crazy, sexy football” in the words of Dutch football journalist, Marcel van der Kraan.
But unlike Klopp, the new head coach craves order, with greater detail on positional instructions designed to prevent the sort of end-to-end looseness we saw in so many Liverpool matches last season.
In fact, Slot’s new ideas favour some fringe players over regulars, meaning the team has been refreshed, even without new signings.
Harvey Elliott, for example, has excelled as a No 10 in Slot’s 4-2-3-1 formation during pre-season, while Ryan Gravenberch – who made his name at Ajax while Slot was coaching in the Netherlands – is the sort of ball-recycling, press-resistant midfielder who could flourish in the new system.
Then there’s Cody Gakpo, another compatriot of Slot’s who hit nine goals and 12 assists in just 14 matches for Feyenoord’s rivals PSV Eindhoven in the first half of 2022/23.
He finally found his feet towards the end of last season at Liverpool and looks like the perfect false nine for a more possession-centric approach.
So although winning the title is a tall order for Slot in year one, it isn’t out of the question.
Liverpool, who need to make up a nine-point gap to Man City, won 48 points at home last season – more than anyone else in the Premier League – but won 10 fewer than Man City on their travels.
If the players continue their Anfield form, and if Slot’s emphasis on control limits the chaos in away matches, Liverpool could instantly build on the Klopp legacy.
Looking at it from that perspective, with Liverpool rejuvenated and Arsenal coming back stronger yet again, it is Man City who should be most worried about the season ahead.
Chelsea may be more clinical under Enzo Maresca
Chelsea have had a very busy transfer window – signing 11 players including Wolves forward Pedro Neto, for £54m. They have the biggest squad so far in the premier league. Enzo Maresca have a great challenge to make Chelsea tick as quickly as possible.