PREMIER LEAGUE WINNER
City @ 5/4
Arsenal @ 19/10
Liverpool @ 7/1
Chelsea @ 20/1
Man United @ 22/1
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No team had ever done it before; not two sides inspired by the legendary Herbert Chapman, Huddersfield Town in the 1920s and Arsenal a decade later; nor the brilliant Liverpool team of the early 80s of Dalglish, Souness and Rush and neither of Sir Alex Ferguson’s electrifying sides who did the triple twice either side of the Millennium – no one had ever won four league titles in a row in England until May 19 2024.
If you genuinely believe Manchester City’s triumphs are all down to money and nothing else then I suggest you’re not a close follower of football. Pep Guardiola is a genius. I have been around outstanding ex international footballers long enough now, and heard them talk over tea and biscuits, and beer and biryani, to know that is the word they use about the Manchester City manager. So what’s to stop City making it a nap hand?
The truth is the same reservations we all held this time last year when we were contemplating whether anyone could possibly win four in a row for the first time. Will there be just the smallest drop off – even a subconscious one- in terms of focus, desire or application? What will they do if one of the key men is injured for a period of time? And, surely, at least one of their nearest rivals will improve significantly?
‘The sense of inevitability in the end about their title win was more acute than ever.’
City answered all those questions last season and, arguably, the sense of inevitability in the end about their title win was more acute than ever. Their timing of coming to the boil is just exquisite (Pep, anyone?), they’re don’t appear overly concerned where they are in the autumn, they overcame a lengthy injury to Kevin de Bruyne and a not insignificant one to Erling Haaland and if they was any drop off during the season it only really manifested itself in the very last game, the FA Cup Final.
Arsenal improved, undoubtedly. They finished with 89 points, their second highest tally ever. They had the best defence and in 2024 dropped just four points. They were one win away from the title. They were almost perfect. But ‘almost’ and ‘nearly’ doesn’t beat Manchester City. Just ask Liverpool fans for whom neither 97 points nor 92 points was enough to wrestle the crown from City in 2019 and 2022 respectively.
Manchester City are a modern-day behemoth and I just can’t see past them. The heavy cloud of 115 charges hanging over them is a terrible look for them and the Premier League but on the field they respond to every challenge laid down – either by their opponents or their manager.
Arsenal will come again but their lack of a prolific goalscorer remains a worry for me. I backed Kai Havertz at 33/1 to win the Golden Boot at the Euros because the odds were so enticing, and he finished a goal shy having missed two glorious chances in the quarter-final defeat to Spain, somewhat underlining that he’s not a natural goal scorer and nor is the fit-again Gabriel Jesus.
I wonder as well about the base of their midfield given that Declan Rice was pushed further forward as the season went on. Getting that balance right will be critical; every little counts when it comes to trying to haul in City. After two near-misses, we are getting into now or never territory for Mikel Arteta’s team. They have to prove they can deal with the enormous pressure – whether that’s emanating from their own manager’s office, from across the league or the longing within The Emirates itself.
‘After two near-misses, we are getting into now or never territory for Mikel Arteta’s team.’
Liverpool have looked good in pre-season but a wise man once told me that form means nothing once the real stuff begins. Darwin Nunez needed this summer to learn to go ice-cold in front of goal (as Denis Bergkamp insisted strikers must) and there’s plenty to like about new man Arne Slot’s team but not enough evidence today to think they’ll finish top.
Tottenham and Aston Villa look a couple of strides ahead of Manchester United in the race for fourth. Ange Postceoglu was great company in Germany at the Euros but it’s not libellous to say they’ll need to develop an alternative way of playing when the situation demands and Unai Emery is showing just what a talented coach he is.
Fourth again for Villa is a realistic target ahead of Tottenham and as for United and Chelsea – the shrugging shoulder emoji would suffice. United played superbly in the Cup Final but need to translate that to a weekly occurrence and Chelsea are still throwing darts. Christopher Nkunku being fit from the start is at least a good start.
At the other end, one feels like the bore in the back row in church at a wedding who says it will never last but just like last season, the three promoted teams look most in danger although Nottingham Forest will need to begin well.
Time to forget’s England’s pain in Berlin. Time to go again!
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