When it comes to sports betting, the English Premier League is one of the most exciting leagues in the world. There are just so many good teams, and it is hard to predict who will be going to win the whole thing. Yes, in recent years there have been clear-cut favorites but once the season gets underway that means very little.
The two biggest favorites when the year started were Liverpool and Manchester City. In the past, it was always between Manchester United and Arsenal. With the rise of Roman Abramovich, Chelsea became the main player.
In recent times, things have changed. Only a few years ago Leicester City managed to win a title. Yes, the Ranieri men were the biggest surprise in football equaling Greece’s 2004 Euro win, but they showed the world that wonders are possible. The Premier League is no exception.
Before the 2022/23 season, Man City was the squad to bet on due to their financial circumstances, the best coach, and they added Haaland to the team. Right behind them, there were guys from Liverpool carried by the eccentric Klopp and Mo Salah.
But as the year progressed, we have seen that other teams have something to offer. If you look at the table now, none of these teams is sitting comfortably first. Liverpool is fighting for their lives to secure Champions League football next season.
Man City are sitting in place No.2, and they are trailing Arsenal. That’s right, the London Gunners are sitting at the top. Being the first in January in past years meant that the title is going their way. It was never easy to predict the outcome of the league title race in 2022. It isn’t easy now either. So, let’s see, who are the favorites now?
Arsenal
That’s right! It’s hard to believe, but right now Arsenal is the favorite to win it all. You can follow their exploits at Unogoal and the conclusion will be the same. Mikel Arteta’s men are not only sitting comfortably in the first place but they are also playing some amazing football. Arteta is a disciple of both Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola. This translates excellently onto the field. Strong at the back and creative at the front Arsenal have played perfect football the whole year. They have five points more than Man City with a game in hand. It is believed that they can close out the season the right way.
This would mean a title for the first time since 2003/2004. If you remember, they won the league that year without losing a match. That feat won’t be possible this year because they already have one defeat, but that shouldn’t worry anyone. Carried by the likes of Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Ramsdale, Jesus, Martinelli, Saka, and Xhaka, they can lift the trophy come the season’s end.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola knows how to make a championship squad. He did it in the years past with Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona. At City, he has unlimited resources, and his squad shows it. With the likes of Cancelo, Ederson, Dias, Mahrez, Grealish, Foden, Haaland, and Silva it was expected that City would walk towards the title. But a slight drop in form by their main playmaker Kevin de Bruyne saw them trialing Arsenal in a crucial part of the season.
Yes, many people expect them to rally as they did yesterday against the Spurs coming back from 2:0 to close out the game at 4:2. There are still many games to be played but, Arsenal sits clear with five points more and a game in hand over Man City. While they still have a chance, we still believe that Arsenal is the favorite to win it all.
Manchester United
In what would be seen as an overstatement when the season began Man UTD is one of the favorites in January. They were unfortunate to drop points at Palace a few days ago, but in recent weeks they have been amazing on the field. Their squad is full of new faces and it took them time to gel. At the moment they look promising. Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer with the squad and the team is finally starting to gel which was demonstrated by their win over town rivals. Marcus Rashford is finally playing as the superstar he was dubbed to be.
Yes, this team still has many flaws but ETH is finally starting to put the dots together. With the likes of Martinez, Anthony, and Casemiro now at UTD, as players he insisted on, Man UTD has a future to look forward to. If they manage to play out the rest of the year at the level they’ve been playing post-World Cup they can seriously challenge Arsenal and City for the trophy.
Newcastle
Yes, we have come a long way since the days of Alan Shearer and Newcastle is once again battling for the top spot in England. They have genuine chances at Champions League football, and the Premiership race is not far out of the reach. Newcastle has become one of those state-owned teams, and they have received an investment from Saudi Arabia, and after years of struggle, they finally have new owners.
At the moment they are still not making splashes in the transfer market like PSG or Man City but are more reliant on good coaching and defensive football. Eddie Howe has done wonders in his first full year at Newcastle and the results are there for the showing.
The man has done wonders with Bournemouth, and this is just a testimony of his managerial qualities. With the likes of Pope, Trippier, Burn, and Botman at the back Newcastle have the best defense in the league. The tempo is controlled by Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, and Willock.
At the front, the goals are in the hands of Wood, Wilson, and Isak. We shouldn’t also forget Almiron who is having a season of his life. If their form continues, they will not only secure a top 4 finish but also be serious title contenders. Either way, if they finish in the CL spots this year, in the future we can see them as the league’s behemoth.