The English Premier League is the most followed football league in the world, with an estimated TV audience of 4.7 billion people. It is also by far the most lucrative league among the top 5 European leagues featuring Italy, Germany, Spain, and France, in no particular order. A total of 20 clubs participate in a league format that takes place between the months of August and may, with the top 4 teams qualifying for top European assignments, and the bottom three relegated to the English second tier, known as the Championship.
The Usual Suspects
Since the formation of the competition in 1992, six English Premier League clubs, namely Chelsea, Everton, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur have contested every season, with a total of 49 clubs taking part so far. Out of the 49, only 6 clubs have managed to lift the crown, with Manchester United leading the rest of the park with 13 titles. Chelsea have managed 5, defending champions Manchester City have won it 4 times, Arsenal have been three times lucky, while Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City have secured tasted victory once each.
The Top Six
For the last ten years or so, 6 teams have been considered title favorites every new season. Holders Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Manchester have finished consistently among the top six, save for a few seasons where surprise teams have emerged to spoil the party. It is a competitive league that has caused inflated prices for players, but at the same time it has seen immense sponsorship deals from different companies around the globe.
The 2018/2019 season was by far the most competitive season, with the title going down to the final day, where Manchester City pipped a charging Liverpool by a solitary point. Interestingly, it was the first time in history where a club managed 97 points and still could not win the title. Chelsea finished a distant third with 72 points, 25 points behind Liverpool.
The 2019/20 season
The 2019/20 season is underway, and from the look of things, we could witness a repeat of last season. After 5 league matches, favorites Liverpool have already created a 5-point gap between them and second placed Manchester City. It is still too early to make any calls, but bookmakers are tipping the two teams to give us another roller-coaster.
After slow starts, both Tottenham and Chelsea are seemingly steadying their ship. Manchester United and Arsenal are doing what we’ve become all too familiar with; performing as inconsistently as ever. Leicester look strong even after looking their dependable defender Harry Maguire to Manchester United, and it won’t be any surprise if they pop in the top 6 party.
The other side of the table
Newcomers Norwich, Sheffield United, and Aston Villa have given us mixed performances so far, but it would be unfair to call them relegation candidates just yet. Watford, last season’s surprise package Wolves, Southampton, Newcastle, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Burnley will all struggle, but again, it is too early to make that call. What we can do at this point is watch and enjoy the fun as we bet on English Premier League games with Betway. By December we will have a clearer picture of what to expect come end of May.
