With matchday 23 commencing in the coming days, many clubs will vie to improve their position in the Premier League table. With each club having 19 matches left in the season, there is still certainly an opportunity for things to shake up. However, for some clubs, their fates may already be sealed.
Battle at the Top of the Table
In what’s been an exciting campaign so far, the Premier League juggernauts have fought fiercely in the race for the title. By all means, the title race is still wide open, but one club seems to stand above the rest.
After suffering a string of disappointing campaigns, Arsenal has seemingly turned things around and enjoyed the season of a lifetime under the helm of manager Mikel Arteta. Arsenal currently sits five points clear, with a match less played, over Manchester City at the top of the table.
They’ve suffered only two draws and two losses this season and have been 5-0-1 in matches against their fellow “Big 6” clubs, which include Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool. If they can continue their terrific form, and I expect they will, Arsenal will surely lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.
However, if Arsenal somehow does suffer in form, there are two clubs in Manchester that could certainly rewrite the script for the remainder of the campaign. City and United have displayed that their squads have the quality to be crowned champions, but they both surely have work to do.
Down three points to Arsenal, Manchester City have their most important match of the season upcoming as they face the current table leaders. The match takes place on Wednesday, February 15, and could be a key match in deciding the title. However, Manchester City will need to improve their play quickly as they have not been in the best form as of late, losing two of their last four Premier League matches.
Manchester United currently sits seven points behind Arsenal but certainly has the team capable of getting back into the title conversation. United have enjoyed spectacular recent form, as they have enjoyed a 7-1-1 run across their last nine matches. Marcus Rashford, United’s star forward, has particularly enjoyed his football, as he has eight goal contributions across that span, with seven goals and an assist.
United doesn’t have City or Arsenal on their schedule for the remainder of the campaign, but the squad will certainly be tested over their many remaining fixtures. They remain in contention for the title in four different competitions, and their number of matches will continue to pile up.
United hopes their squad will be able to handle the accelerated workload and continue the Premier League title challenge.
Surprising Mid-Table Occupants
Some of the most surprising headlines from the 2022-2023 Premier League season have revolved around the clubs that currently occupy the 9th and 10th spots on the table. Premier League Titans Chelsea and Liverpool have suffered an extreme fall from grace as both squads sit ten points out of the top four and a Champions League spot.
It would be extremely surprising if neither team could finish with a Champions League spot, as Liverpool was the finalist in the 2022 Champions League Final, and Chelsea was the 2021 Champions League victor. Neither team’s fate is set in stone, but each squad will need to make changes quickly if they want to reclimb the table.
Fight to Avoid the Championship League
The bottom of the Premier League table isn’t really anything to be too unexpected. The three relegation spots are filled by recently promoted Bournemouth, Southampton, who finished 15th in the previous campaign, and Everton, who finished 16th in the 2021-2022 Premier League season.
In addition to these clubs, Leeds, Wolverhampton, West Ham, and Leicester City still sit in striking distance of the relegation zone. Each of these clubs will try to improve their form for the remainder of the season, but things aren’t going to happen overnight.
Southampton, Bournemouth, and Everton have proven that they don’t have the quality to compete in the Premier League, and I don’t think they’ll be in the table this time next year.
BEST JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW SIGNINGS
