While Arsenal and Manchester City are battling it out for the Premier League title this season, the plot is already coming along nicely for the 2023/24 campaign in England’s top flight. With the Gunners and City expected to challenge again, the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are showing they and others could be in the mix for the title next season.
Arsenal and Man City The Frontrunners This Year
After years outside of the title picture in England, it has been refreshing to see Arsenal try and break City and Liverpool’s stranglehold on the Premier League. Having finished down in fifth place last season, Arsenal are -120 in the football bets to win the title this year for the first time since 2004.
It certainly won’t be easy for the Gunners, with reigning champions Man City hot on their heels and at +100 in the Premier League winner odds to retain the title this term. City has had some uncharacteristic slip ups in the top flight this season and Arsenal has taken full advantage to hold a five-point lead after the first 26 games of the campaign.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, who worked under City boss Pep Guardiola before taking the job at the Emirates, was under pressure to keep his job after missing out on Champions League football last season. The hierarchy at Arsenal has been justified for keeping the faith in Arteta and the Spaniard has rewarded them with an impressive first half of the season.
Whether Arsenal can finish the job, or whether City catch them remains to be seen, but both teams look like they will be involved in another title scrap next season.
Old Rivals Can Be Back in the Frame
Having missed out on the Premier League title on the final day of last season, Liverpool seemed to have suffered somewhat of a hangover in their pursuit of the title this term. Liverpool was on course for an unprecedented treble at one stage but ended up having to settle for two trophies in the EFL Cup and FA Cup. Coming so close to another Premier League and Champions League title would have hurt the squad at Anfield and it was alway going to be tough for Jürgen Klopp’s side to go again.
However, after a tough first half of the season, Liverpool is working its way back to the top. A 7-0 win over Manchester United was the perfect example of what the Reds can do and why the club should be in the title mix next term.
The Red Devils had a day to forget on Merseyside in that thrashing by Liverpool but overall United has been on the up under Erik ten Hag. With striker Marcus Rashford enjoying his best season in the Premier League, the Old Trafford outfit has been a force to be reckoned with and should be even stronger next term.
Chelsea and Newcastle Can Challenge
With more investment expected at Chelsea and Newcastle United over the summer, both clubs will be hoping they can also be in the title conversation next season. Chelsea splashed the cash last summer and in the January transfer window but it appears to be taking a while for some of their new additions to adapt to the pace of the Premier League. Even if the Blues do miss out on Champions League football for next season, they have already acquired many of the quality players needed to make them title challengers again next season.
Newcastle has been one of the surprise packages of the Premier League this term and are challenging for a top-four finish. Manager Eddie Howe has worked wonders at St James’ Park and almost guided the Magpies to long-awaited silverware this season, only to fall short against Manchester United in the EFL Cup final in February. Further investment to the squad over the summer should put Newcastle in an even stronger position and it will be intriguing to see if the Magpies can put themselves in the mix next term.
With so many teams looking strong and others having positive foundations to strengthen on, the 2023/24 Premier League title race should be a thrilling wide-open contest.
Also read: Taking Stock of The Premier League Managers Who Have Been Sacked So Far This Season
