It is the first week in 2025 and, like we always have it, the top five leagues in Europe are either halfway through the season, or a game or two away. With the English Premier League in focus, all teams – except two – have played 19 games as at the time of writing. The only fixture to give the league table a proper mid-season look is the Merseyside derby – between Liverpool and Everton. So far, so good, we have witnessed many highs, mids, and lows, surprises from managers seeming to fit in almost perfectly in their first season. We have seen the mighty stagger and the perennial challenger continue to stay within reach of glory. We have even seen clubs try to stay in the thick of the action as we move into the second half of the season.
Enzo Maresca and Arne Slot have both enjoyed a successful campaign so far in their first Premier league year for the Blues and Reds, respectively. Pep Guardiola has shown nothing but frustration with the Cityzens recent results. He attributed some of it to the absence of the current Ballon D’or holder as they slip to 6th, an unfamiliar position. Talk about staying humble. Nuno Espirito has also led Forest on a revival, coaching them to five successive victories very recently.
While questions may be asked about whether Liverpool’s brilliance is down to Slot’s tactics or the foundation that his predecessor built, they have been great as a team and even better with surge of Salah smashing record after record in just half of the season. Chelsea’s manager, players and even fans continue to refuse to admit being in the title race even after their billion project. ‘Title race? I don’t even know what that is.’ Arsenal continues to remain in familiar terrain just like in previous years after being at the end of harsh penalties for delaying restarts and injuries most recently to their starboy, Saka.
Tottenham and Manchester United have a questionable identity, talking about the ‘Big 6’. Conversations surround Tottenham’s naivety especially in defense as they continue to play Ange-ball ‘highline forever’ under Ange Postecoglou. Many believe there were some defeats they could have avoided if they were more adaptable. Manchester United have suffered heavily even after firing Erik Ten Hag and appointing Ruben Amorim even after the latter enjoyed great success at his previous club. Some believe that, at least, there’s now an identity of some sort to the club which should take a while before it can be fully implemented.
Speaking to UItes who are fanboys of these clubs, we sought their opinions and expectations on the current Premier League standings.
Akinboye Oluwatimilehin, a Cityzen in 100-level MBBS, said, ‘It’s been a very hectic ride that has taken us too far out of our comfort zone. Imagine celebrating yesterday’s three points against Leicester City like we won the World Cup. Since I started supporting this club, I don’t know what Europa or Conference league feels like, and I hope it remains that way. Watch out for us in this transfer window’. On the title race, ‘Liverpool can and will take it. It is theirs to lose now’. While many people share the same sentiment as Oluwatimilehin, a certain group of people still believe Pep can clinch the silverware. ‘I think we are strong contenders for the title barring any late resurgence from Man City and slip ups from us’, said Eze Arinzechukwu, a medical student and Liverpool supporter in his sophomore year. On the chances of fellow ‘Big 6’ teams who are literally in the top 6 right now, ‘Overall our chances are looking super bright and I’m excited. I hear people mention Chelsea and Arsenal and I laugh, having watched us lose it to Man City despite leading with significant point gaps early on. Arsenal and Chelsea lack the right depth to go all the way. The chances of rejuvenation for Man City are quite slim though’.
Ajiboye Gbolahan is a Manchester United supporter in 500-level Agricultural Extension. For him, he is all about enjoying the thrill of supporting a club with such rich history. In his words, ‘I’m just enjoying the moment as a supporter to be very honest. There needs to be an overhaul of players because the manager is the right one and has the right mentality’. Gbolahan believes Amorim has done a decent job in painting an identity. ‘There is an identity now and he seems to know what he’s doing. All he has to do is remove the bad eggs that don’t fit in’. Talking on the title race, ‘If Liverpool don’t suffer any setback especially with injuries, they are favourites to win the Premier League. I can’t talk for the others in the top four as they seem shaky’.
Afolabi Ayomitide, a Chelsea fan in 100-level MBBS, had this to say on how the season has been. ‘Surprisingly, I didn’t expect us to be this good and I’m really happy with what Maresca has done’. When asked about the title race, ‘To be honest I don’t see us winning the league. I know a lot of people think we’re playing mind games but our squad is inexperienced. Our priority now is qualifying for the champions league then next year we can compete’. It seems Ayomitide is part of the bandwagon that believes that the Blues are not in the title race. Bade, a 200-level Human Kinetics student who is another Chelsea fan shares the same sentiments with Ayo. For him, ‘The season has been very good. The performance has surpassed my expectations’. Bade is unsure about the title race, but acknowledges Liverpool has the team with the highest advantage right now.
Emmanuel Abang, a 3rd-year medical student and Arsenal fan, thinks his boys have put in a solid performance so far but there’s still more to be done. On the race to lifting the league title, he said ‘Unlike Chelsea fans, I think we are very well in the title race’, while laughing. Odunlami Tofunmi, another Arsenal fan in 200 level shares an opinion quite different from Emmanuel’s. ‘It hasn’t been easy with the roller-coaster moments in the season. We started good at the beginning then started falling apart subsequently then started coming back. It’s been nerve racking but I believe we will emerge as winners this season after many years of no trophy. Gunners for life’. On the title race in general, ‘It’s a little twisted but I can see Liverpool dropping by some points enough for us to catch up with them’.
Adisa Wasiu, another Manchester United fanboy in 100-level Psychology expressed his regrets, ‘I wish they had retained Ruud Van Nistelrooy at the time. Perhaps they weren’t just interested in continuing with an interim manager at the time. Especially with the fact that interim managers always seem to prove themselves until they get hired’. On the title race, Adisa believes Liverpool all the way. Another Liverpool fan in 300-level Pharmacy, Jerome Bazuaye, has been impressed so far. ‘I had low expectations at the beginning of the season but as it progressed, I began to look forward to us winning every single game’. He further shared his opinion between the title race. ‘We should win the league except something incredible happens. Arsenal don’t have a great attack. Chelsea’s defence isn’t good enough and City seem far behind already’. Amenaghawon Fortune Osamudiamen, a 200-level Law student and Liverpool fanboy had this to say, ‘Man City is paying the consequences for their stolen Ballon d’or. It’s been lonely at the top. It’s only God that can stop us from winning the title this year’.
Everyone knows the league title is never won in December but the table toppers aren’t looking like they’re slacking anytime soon with their attacking firepower. You also never know what the transfer window brings and how clubs will cope with the fitness of their players and varying squad depths. Will Liverpool be able to maintain their run of form till May? Will Arsenal bolster their squad enough to finally earn them a trophy? Will Man City get back on those crazy title-grabbing runs that they’ve been known for in recent years? With the existence of domestic competitions that contribute to the wearing out of these players, we can only wait and let time be the judge. Priorities would definitely differ for teams, judging from which trophies they stand a better chance at winning.
Muhammad Oluwatimilehin.
