Top Contenders: Who Will Challenge for the Premier League Title in 2024/25?
Manchester City enters as the defending champions. Their triumph last season marked their fourth consecutive title. Now, they aim for a fifth straight crown. Can they create history? Will we see another winner? Our guide previews the top contenders and potential dark horses. For expert predictions and betting insights about the Premier League, head over to Eagle Predict.
Manchester City
Since Pep Guardiola's arrival, Manchester City has become a global football powerhouse. Their dominance is built upon a consistent ability to peak at crucial moments. While recent Premier League titles have been hard-fought, City's superiority is evident. They claimed the title last season by remaining unbeaten during the second half of the league campaign.
Guardiola is now entering his ninth season in Manchester. This tenure has surpassed his combined stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Pep's relentless pursuit of success has been the key to City's sustained dominance.
Spanish midfielder Rodri has been vital to City's victories. The Spaniard has been crucial in securing their recent titles. City's first team also features stars like Haaland, De Bruyne, and Foden. All of these players will be central to City's title defense.
Despite City's supremacy, questions about their ability to maintain this level linger. Regarding areas of weakness, Pep's team is short on attack. Julian Alvarez has left for Atletico Madrid, and Oscar Bobb is out injured for an extended period. Although Savinho is now part of the team, the Cityzens are expected to make more attacking signings.
Arsenal
Arsenal came agonizingly close to winning their first EPL title in two decades last season. The Gunners could not close the two-point gap to secure the league title. They were the most impressive team throughout the campaign. However, Arteta's team fell short in the final stretch. Arsenal's hopes of finally securing a top-flight title hinge mainly on their ability to surpass City. They need to perform flawlessly in the EPL to achieve this goal.
Under Arteta, Arsenal have made significant progress. They have moved from back-to-back eighth-place finishes to serious title contenders. Last season, the Gunners set a club record with 28 wins and 91 goals in a single Premier League campaign. Their strong finish, winning 16 of their last 18 games, highlighted their potential. Despite that record, they needed one more victory to clinch the title.
Arsenal's performance against the Premier League's top teams has also improved. During the last campaign, they collected 22 points from 10 games against the big six. That record marks a significant turnaround from the 2021-22 season when they struggled in crucial matchups.
In the transfer market, Arsenal has strengthened its squad by acquiring Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. Mikel Merino is also expected to join from Real Sociedad. They may also purchase an additional attacker before the window closes. With consistent improvement under Arteta, Arsenal's trajectory positions them as strong contenders for the EPL title.
Liverpool
The 2023-24 season was a whirlwind for Liverpool. They bounced back from a lackluster previous campaign to contend for the league title. However, they could not keep up in the campaign's final month. Arsenal and Manchester City's performances were more outstanding. The season was further marked by the departure of Jürgen Klopp after nine years at the club.
Overall, Liverpool enjoyed a solid season, finishing third in the league. Their performance saw them return to the UEFA Champions League. Their achievements last season provide a strong foundation for the new manager to build upon.
In a surprising move, Liverpool appointed Feyenoord boss Arne Slot as Klopp's successor. Slot's pre-season efforts have shown promise, but the real test begins now. Liverpool chose Slot because his playing style is similar to Klopp's. The Dutch coach focuses on a high-pressing, four-at-the-back formation. He is also known for his aggressive tactics and strong attacking tactics.
One area requiring improvement under Slot is Liverpool's defensive solidity. Last season, they had the league's third-best expected goals against (xG) (46.2). Yet, they allowed 80 big chances, more than Newcastle's 79 and Nottingham Forest's 74.
Offensively, Liverpool was intense, leading the Premier League in xG (89.3). Slot's Feyenoord also excelled in this area with 95.2 xG in the Eredivisie. With these strengths, Slot has the tools to restore Liverpool to the top. However, following in Klopp's footsteps will be no easy task.
Dark Horses
Thanks to their ongoing rebuild and substantial transfer budget, Chelsea might be a dark horse in the title race. Another season brings another manager and a fresh wave of new faces at Stamford Bridge.
The ownership will be eager to see positive results from these changes. Chelsea has turned to Enzo Maresca to lead the team. Maresca successfully guided Leicester City back to the Premier League as Championship winners. Now, he will aim to apply his experience to a young Chelsea squad. How they will perform after undergoing massive changes on and off the pitch remains to be seen.
Tottenham is another team to watch this season. One year into Ange Postecoglou's leadership, they have secured a return to European competition. Spurs will be keen to end their long trophy drought. Last season showed signs of progress, and they will hope to build on that.
Manchester United remains a team that can never be discounted. They enter this contest on the back of their FA Cup success last season. Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group's takeover of football operations marks the start of a new era at Old Trafford.
However, questions remain about how long it will take to see results and how much time current manager Erik ten Hag will be given to move the club forward.