With no fans, a new controversial handball rule, and goals galore, we look to already be in for one of the most unique Premier League seasons ever.
Not since the 2015/16 season, and Leicester City’s amazing title win, have we seen a more open league. The big six all look to be frail defensively. Chelsea recruited well but need time for their new additions to bed in, while Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United have all been the victims of ridiculous scorelines. Tottenham Hotspur have been unlucky in part, and while Arsenal are looking good under new management, are they really going to be title contenders?
It’s too early to call, but what is obvious is that Liverpool aren’t going to be able to walk to the title this year. Leeds United and Aston Villa outclassed them at times, with both showing that Liverpool’s high line can be exploited to devastating effect. Despite beating Arsenal and Chelsea, Liverpool have almost looked too confident against the ‘lesser’ teams. The obvious contenders, Manchester City, are having issues of their own. With no recognised striker currently available and a defence that continues to ship goals, they could be in for a hard time until Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus return.
So, could we also be seriously entertaining an Everton side? Or even an Aston Villa team that tore Liverpool apart despite almost being relegated last season? As it stands they are the only sides with 100% records in the league. Everton have been free-scoring since their summer signings and arrived, while Villa have shipped just two goals in three games. An impressive stat for a team that had the second-worst defence in the league last season.
What Has Happened to the Premier League This Season?
The Stats
38 games have been played, with 144 goals scored. That’s a tenth of the 380 games played over the season, meaning that if teams carry on scoring at this rate there will be 1,440 goals scored in total. That’s almost 400 more than the 2018/19 season’s record tally of 1,072.
The most clean sheets so far are held by Aston Villa, Southampton, West Ham United and Wolves. None of the ‘top six’ have recorded more than one clean sheet.
With no fans, the goals have been coming and coming. It’s hard to imagine the effect a home crowd can have, either by putting the opposition off or rallying behind their side when they concede. Home and away suddenly mean very little. An empty stadium is just that, empty. At that point, all that makes the difference is the pitch size and familiar surroundings, which seem to be making no odds to teams like City and United who have both conceded five or more at home already this season.
Who Will Win the League?
It’s certainly difficult to predict and Liverpool’s hiccup at the weekend might be enough to spark them back into life, because they can not be that bad again. Everton should surely run out of steam. We’ve already seen their best 11 start to be ravaged by injuries and the same will have to go for Aston Villa.
City have struggled to replace David Silva and Vincent Kompany so remain something of a rebuilding project, despite spending in excess of £100 million this window.
Chelsea and Arsenal are still works in progress, with young managers who will know that their sides can improve. Frank Lampard won’t be happy with how his team have defended, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal looked unconvincing against Liverpool.
Leicester under Brendan Rodgers seem a strong, yet inconsistent side. Capable of beating City one week and losing to West Ham the next.
Spurs look the only side to have taken lessons from last season and improved. They’ve had a smart window, backing up the full-back options, adding a real sting to the middle of the park and recruiting Gareth Bale to take the pressure off Harry Kane. That late penalty at Newcastle United was cruel, to say the least, and without they would just behind Villa in third.
It will most likely be a fight between Liverpool, City and Spurs to the last day of the season. Liverpool’s results have papered over their defensive frailties until now, but with Jordan Henderson coming back from injury and a Merseyside derby the other side of the international break, they have to improve. Whatever happens, it certainly won’t be a procession to the finish like last year.
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