It is no news whatsoever that the 2023/2024 English Premier League season is underway and with just six game weeks gone, there have already been a lot of twists and turns. Before the start of the season, a lot of football fans expressed their eagerness to see a very competitive season, one so competitive that it would see the reigning champions dethroned. It is only fair that they thought that way because having been declared the best league in Europe, it would be unpleasant to have a constant winner season in, season out. This desire and eagerness in the hearts of the fans led them to draft their various lists of title contenders for the upcoming season. As usual, just six games into the season, most of those lists have been revisited to make some necessary changes. In this article, we will examine some of the teams most likely to challenge for the title.
1. Manchester City
Popularly known as the Citizens or the Boys in Blue, this team has been dominant in the Premier League over the past six years. They have won 5 out of the previous six available titles.
During the summer, they lost key players like Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona, Riyad Mahrez to Al Ahli, Joao Cancelo on loan to Barcelona and fast-rising star Cole Palmer to Chelsea but in typical Guardiola fashion, no player is indispensable. He went out in the summer and acquired the likes of Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes.
So far, despite the injury crisis on their hands with key players like Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne unavailable, they remain the only team in the league to have won all their matches and are currently sitting top of the table with Phil Foden and Kyle Walker hitting a great run of form and Erling Haaland scoring goals for fun as usual. Despite not playing at their peak, they seem primed for another Premier League title.
2. Liverpool
Despite having a very poor season last time out, by their standards, they seem to be rejuvenated and ready to go this season. During the summer, they made very astute signings as they acquired the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig, Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Hove Albion, Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, and Wataru Endo from Stuttgart. The signings so far have proven to be wonderful additions and coupled with impressive performances from the likes of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, this team looks hungry for titles. They currently sit 2nd on the league table, two points shy of The Champions as they have won 5 and drawn 1 out of their 6 games played.
3. Arsenal
In the eyes of many, most especially Arsenal fans’, last season was a very heartbreaking one. For 95% of the season, it looked like they were set for the title, having last won it in the 2003/04 season, which is obviously quite a while ago. However, the positive from last season was a Champions League qualification which had eluded the Gunners for quite a while now.
Over the course of the summer, they made signings such as Declan Rice from West Ham, Kai Havertz from Chelsea, Jurien Timber from Ajax and David Raya on loan from Brentford. So far, the only signings that have proven profitable have been Declan Rice and David Raya, with Jurrien Timber going down injured in Arsenal’s opening game of the season, after showing so much promise in the pre-season and the Community Shield, and Kai Havertz being the furthest thing from impressive. He has looked slow, sluggish and lacklustre.
They currently sit 5th on the Premier League table, having recorded 4 wins and 2 draws so far. Given their run of form last season, it is only fair to say that they will push for the title this season with everything they’ve got.
Aside from these three names, the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and possibly, Manchester United will be challenging for a spot in the top 4. The season is still very young and a lot could happen between now and match day 38 but for the time being, we will all sit back, relax and enjoy what the Premier League has in store for us this season.
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