Premier League: Liverpool on the run for their 20th title, Europe a puzzle

London 31 December 2024 - The 2024 English football season concluded on the last football weekend and it is now difficult not to consider the title race a lonely escape. Liverpool ends the year continuing her impressive list of results, which sees her not only top of the English championship with a game in hand, but in full flight for victory. With just one defeat to her name, Salah and his companions have digested the handover from Klopp a Slot and have only accumulated one defeat in their season, obtained against their closest pursuer. The Egyptian is playing at an unprecedented level, capable of lighting up on command and winning games with plays of immense quality. A blessing for the Reds who currently seem to be their only rivals for the title.

In the sequence of results behind Liverpool, however, an unexpected protagonist emerged and it is called Nottingham Forest. Under the guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo, the red and whites seem to have returned to being that giant capable of rising to the top of European football under the guidance of Brian Clough. As previously written: the only team capable so far of coming away with three points from a challenge with the Reds, the Portuguese coach has translated the management's great investments in recent years into a top-level team that now dreams with full awareness of the facts of a return to Europe after many dark years in the Championship (25 years from 1997 to 2022).

The order that Espirito Santo he managed to bring home Forest is similar to what Maresca gave to his ChelseaStrong choices that helped the coach to get the Blues out of the mid-table where they had been sucked in, just as he did before him Mikel Arteta all 'Arsenal. Now the two London teams are travelling arm in arm in third and fourth place, with the Gunners ahead and with a game in hand. Their place in the sun, currently, would be worth the Champions League, but the competition is very fierce. The Newcastle seems to have got into gear and with 4 consecutive victories he has returned heavily into the race, while the Manchester City remains the reigning champion team and despite the enormous difficulties it is experiencing Guardiola, remains the team to beat. Not only that, the Citizens are slowly starting to recover all their injured players and it is very likely that they will sound the charge in the race for the Champions League.

However, it is difficult to stop at the blue team from Manchester when it comes to Champions League. Between the third place of theArsenal and the tenth of the Brighton there are only 9 points. A large group of teams all of the highest level, with the two surprises Bournemouth of the former Serie A Huijsen e Justin Kluivert and the third team in London at the moment in Fulham; together with theAston VillaAll the teams that from week to week, depending on the results, exchange positions, making the fight for the noble zones very lively in this edition of Premier League.

The gap between the left and right sides of the table is quite clear, due to a relegation battle that has been heating up in recent weeks, even scaring some of the giants of English football. On paper, teams like Tottenham, Brentford, West Ham e Manchester United they seem to have a comfortable margin on the red zone, but be careful not to underestimate the situation. The change on the bench for the Wolverhampton has given a major boost to the team, while Everton in January will be able to count on American funds from the new presidents, the same ones Friedkin owners of the Rome. If these are added Ipswich Town e Leicester City, here is a salvation that is still to be conquered. He has not yet managed to change direction since his arrival on the bench Ivan Juric, new coach of the bottom team Southampton.

The Premier League table

This is the ranking of Premier League after nineteen days:

Liverpool 45 (*)

NottinghamForest 37

Arsenal 36 (*)

Chelsea 35

Newcastle 32

Manchester City 31

Bournemouth 30

Fulham 29

Aston Villa 29

Birghton 27

Tottenham 24

Brentford 24 (*)

West Ham 2

Manchester United 22

Crystal Palace 20

Everton 17

Wolverhampton 16

Leicester City 14

Southampton 6

* One game less played