The English Premier League is often described as the most competitive and best league in the world. But events during the 2023-24 season, both home and abroad, have left those boasts open to question.
Will City Make History Again?
If Manchester City win a fourth consecutive Premier League title they will create history. They will become the first club in English top-flight history to win four League titles in a row. Something the great Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal sides never achieved.
Not a Level Playing Field
At the bottom of the English Premier League, the three promoted sides, Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United will all be making an immediate return. Despite Nottingham Forest and Everton suffering points deductions regarding breaches of financial fair play.
The Premier League: A Developing Gulf
The gulf between the top and bottom of the English Premier League seems to be getting ever wider, and the ease with which City and Arsenal have swept aside so many teams this season suggests that the gulf between them and the majority of Premier League clubs is also growing. So is the Premier League still the most competitive league in the world?
Failings in Europe
In Germany, there has been the remarkable story of Bayer Leverkusen, who set a new European record for unbeaten games of 49 in all competitions after drawing 2-2 with Roma in their Europa League semi-final. In addition, Leverkusen also easily broke Bayern Munich’s domination of the Bundesliga. The English Premier League, by contrast, has been predictable.
European Finals Will Feature No English Teams
Leverkusen will play Italian side Atalanta in the Europa League final. Borussia Dortmund will play Real Madrid in the Champions League final. While Fiorentina will play Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League final.
Despite all its riches, there will be no Premier League representation at any European finals this season. This could be just a blip, but, for this season anyway, claims that the Premier League is the best in the world rings a bit hollow. If it is the best League in the world what are the criteria?
Premier League Problems
With the shambolic financial fair play saga and the continuing problems with VAR, 2023-24 hasn’t been a happy season for the English Premier League. Hopefully, it will be a time for reappraisal for matters both on and off the field. The massive worldwide TV audience for Premier League football is well-known.
But fans will surely begin to lose interest if Manchester City continue to regularly hammer more hapless underdogs, as they romp towards another title. Sport always needs to have an unpredictable quality, as not many neutrals will be keen to continually watch matches that are foregone conclusions.
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