5 minutes Last season’s treble winners, Manchester City are once again the bookies’ favourites to win the Premier League title, but odds of 8/11 indicate a fourth successive title is not a foregone conclusion.
We are now less than one week from the start of the new Premier League season and the 2023/24 campaign is gearing up to be one of the most exciting in years. Manchester City are aiming to become the first side to win the English top-flight in four successive seasons, whilst the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea will undoubtedly be stronger than they were last season. Here at betting.bet we will offer insights into the Premier League title race, offering free bets and odds from our partners at William Hill.
Manchester City Still the Team to Beat!
Last season’s treble winners, Manchester City are once again the bookies’ favourites to win the Premier League title, but odds of 8/11 indicate a fourth successive title is not a foregone conclusion. Manchester City have been relatively quiet in the transfer market with just two players arriving at the Etihad Stadium. However, their two acquisitions are significant additions to the reigning champions’ squad. Josko Gvardiol became the world’s most expensive defender as he switched RB Leipzig for Manchester City whilst Mateo Kovacic has been drafted in from Chelsea.
Club captain, Ilkay Gundogan departed Manchester City for Barcelona during the summer whilst Riyad Mahrez, Benjamin Mendy and Yangel Herrera have also left the club.
2023/24 could prove a breakthrough season for the likes of Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and Maximo Perrone. City’s hopes of another league title could hinge on the form of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian enjoyed a record-breaking first season in England and is once again a strong favourite to claim the league’s Golden Boot award.
Arsenal Aim to Go One Better
Arsenal fans will still be hurting after falling agonisingly short in last season’s title race. The Gunners, without a Premier League trophy since 2004, led throughout most of the 2022/23 season before eventually succumbing to the pressure put on them by Manchester City. Nonetheless, a second-placed finish was a great achievement for a club expected to struggle to make the top four.
As Arsenal aim to kick on and put in another strong title challenge, Mikel Arteta’s side have spent in excess of £200m to strengthen their squad. Declan Rice moved from West Ham United in a club-record £105m whilst Kai Havertz and David Raya switched West for North London as they arrived from Chelsea and Brentford respectively. Jurrien Timber joined Arsenal from Ajax and will provide cover right across The Gunners’ defensive line.
Arsenal have been handed an injury blow ahead of the new season as first choice centre forward, Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out for several weeks. Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah are all in contention to replace the Brazilian.
Liverpool and Chelsea to Bounce Back
Last season Liverpool finished outside of the top four for the first time since 2015/16 and as Jurgen Klopp oversees a squad rebuild, there’s a feeling that The Reds could be about to bounce back in some style. Liverpool posses arguably the strongest forward line in the league with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo all at Klopp’s disposal.
Central midfield was a problematic area for Liverpool last season with many players proving to be either a year too old, too injury prone or simply not good enough to serve up a title challenge. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left the club whilst Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have arrived at Anfield. Romeo Lavia could soon join them from Southampton whilst the prospect of Trent Alexander-Arnold being deployed as a midfielder is an exciting one.
Virgil van Dijk has replaced Saudi Arabia-bound Jordan Henderson as the new Liverpool captain and if the 2019 PFA Player of the Year can rediscover his best form, Liverpool could be a real force once more.
Chelsea are also in the midst of a squad rebuild after enduring a season to forget in 2022/23. The Blues finished twelfth; their lowest position since 1993/94 and have been busy both on and off the field during the summer. Former Southampton and Spurs boss, Mauricio Pochettino is the new man in charge at Stamford Bridge.
On the pitch, The Blues have snapped up the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Robert Sanchez, Axel Disasi and Lesley Ugochukwu. If the rumours are to be believed, Chelsea aren’t yet finished splashing the cash as the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Neymar continue to be linked to the Londoners. The desire for another attacking player has been intensified by a long-term injury to summer signing, Nkunku.
The Ten Hag Revolution
Manchester United finished third in the Premier League last season and at one stage looked like they could be in a title race. Therefore, this summer’s recruitment was always going to be critical for the Red Devils. Erik ten Hag finally has the ‘sweeper keeper’ he’s coveted after replacing long-term number one, David de Gea with former Ajax and Inter Milan stopper, Andre Onana.
Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund have bolstered the Manchester United squad having joined from Chelsea and Atalanta respectively. For now, it seems that’s it as far as incomings are concerned however, if Manchester United can successfully offload the likes of Harry Maguire, Fred and Scott McTominay, we could see at least one more big name arrive at Old Trafford before the end of the window.
Premier League Champions Odds
- 8/11: Manchester City
- 9/2: Arsenal
- 15/2: Liverpool
- 10/1: Manchester United
- 14/1: Chelsea
- 16/1: Newcastle United
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