With just over half the season played, the 2023/24 English Premier League campaign has been one of the most competitive and unpredictable in recent history. With multiple league leaders, newly-promoted sides, and points deductions, the season has been a roller coaster for every club involved. After Matchweek 20, the table looks nothing like it did just a few months ago.
Current league leaders Liverpool have been phenomenal so far. Manager Jurgen Klopp has done a brilliant job utilizing new signings Wataru Endo, Dominic Szboszlai, and Alexis McCallister to completely reinvent the midfield. Right back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been given an attacking role, and he has excelled, scoring multiple crucial goals to keep title hopes alive and strong.
Behind Liverpool are last year’s runner-up and champion, Arsenal and Manchester City. Manager Mikel Arteta guided the Gunners to first place and held the spot for quite some time, but recent defeats to West Ham and Fulham have dropped them to fourth. City started out slowly, but renowned manager Pep Guardiola has brought them back within striking distance of Liverpool – third place with a game in hand and much of the season left to play. The absence of key attackers Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku has kept City from reaching their full potential, but they will be healthy and ready to close out the title charge.
In second place, manager Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa into a Premier League powerhouse. The mid-table club sacked Steven Gerrard last year, and the appointing of Emery has been the best decision the club could have made. He has done well to get the most out of the players he has, such as Leon Bailey, Emi Martinez, and attacker Ollie Watkins, who leads the league in assists.
On the other end, recently-promoted clubs Burnley and Sheffield United look to be on their way back down into the Championship. However, one hope remains: Luton Town. Under Rob Edwards, the Hatters have been fighting valiantly to escape the relegation zone, and they are capable. They have shown incredible heart against the biggest clubs, including narrow losses to Arsenal and City and a draw against Liverpool. Luton’s small stadium, Kenilworth Road, has proved a difficult environment to compete for even the most elite players.
With 18 matchweeks left, it cannot be said how the 20 clubs will stack up at the very end. Liverpool, Villa, City, and Arsenal all look capable of winning the league, but only one can come out on top. Luton will battle relegation while the rest of the nation watches on, but only they can decide their fate. For now, the Premier League has been great to watch, and it will only continue to get more entertaining.