The presenter analyses the second half of the Premier League season
OPINION
It’s the start of a new year, so what will 2024 have in store for the rest of the Premier League campaign? At just over the halfway point, we’re starting to get a good idea of who’s in the title race and which teams are fighting to stay up. Back in August, when the sun was still shining and we were going to games full of optimism, who would have thought that Aston Villa would be spoken of as being in the title race at Christmas?
Fast-forward to hat and gloves weather, Unai Emery’s team have been this season’s surprise package and their challenge for the top prize has been even more impressive, coping with a busy schedule competing in the Europa Conference League.
Statement wins against Manchester City and Arsenal in December cemented them as top-four challengers at the least, even if it proves beyond them to ‘do a Leicester’.
In the first half of the campaign, though, City looked as vulnerable as they’ve been for a while. It was always going to be a huge ask to repeat last season’s achievements, but they weren’t as consistent or convincing in killing games off. Having said that, the fact they haven’t hit their peak yet is a worry for other clubs. Kevin De Bruyne pledged to return from injury as ‘the best player in the world’, sparking fear into any opponent.
There’s still an expectation that they will go on another of their incredible unbeaten runs and become the first team in English football history to win four successive league titles, but Liverpool and Arsenal will have taken confidence from their pre-Christmas blip and will look to push Pep Guardiola’s team all the way. You can almost sense that this one will go right down to the wire.
After a dream start for Tottenham, they stumbled when injuries hit them hard, but under Ange Postecoglou and his entertaining football, you’d expect them to be up there. European football should be back on their fixture list next season. Newcastle’s valiant Champions League exit was deflating, but after being slapped with injuries, Eddie Howe will hope that the worst is out the way and their focus will now be on battling for the top four.
Just like Howe, Erik ten Hag has also had to deal with a long injury list and an early exit from the Champions League. His Manchester United side have struggled to convince many that they’ll finish in the top four for a s
