The race for the 2023/24 Premier League title is hotting up, with Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal leading the pack. However, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are also lurking in the shadows. This is a tricky title race to call even for the best betting site for football.
Unlike many seasons gone by, this is not a runaway win for Pep Guardiola's side or a two-team affair. There are more than credible cases to be made for major rivals Liverpool and Arsenal.
What's more, Aston Villa and Spurs, for whom simply qualifying for the UEFA Champions League must be viewed as an amazing achievement, are still technically in with an outside shot.
This article will delve into each team's chances of finishing on top as we enter the final part of this thrilling season.
Manchester City
Manchester City started their campaign as clear favourites to clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title. However, they've faced a tougher battle than expected. After winning nine and losing two of their opening 11 games, Man City dropped points against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham before suffering a defeat to Aston Villa.
Despite these setbacks, Pep Guardiola's side has shown resilience by winning ten and drawing three of their last thirteen matches. They now trail Arsenal and Liverpool by just one point - setting up a crucial title matchup against Arsenal next weekend.
Liverpool
Liverpool entered the final third of the season as leaders of the pack - hoping to give Jurgen Klopp a perfect send-off with another league trophy under his belt. But they now face stiff competition from Man City and an in-form Arsenal side that has pushed themselves back into contention with an impressive run.
Liverpool knows that if they win all remaining games while hoping for an Arsenal slip-up at least once - then another league title could be theirs.
Arsenal
Arsenal was close to ending their long wait for a Premier League trophy during the 2022/23 season but had to settle for second place instead. Despite some critics dismissing last season's performance as a fluke - Mikel Arteta’s men have proven that they're here to stay.
After overcoming recent struggles on form - The Gunners have won eight games in succession including eye-catching victories away from home against West Ham, Burnley, and Sheffield United. Their win over Brentford has put them at the top of the league on goal difference.
Aston Villa
Under Unai Emery's guidance, Aston Villa has been a surprise package this season. However, their title bid took a hit recently as they fell eight points behind leaders Arsenal. The Villans will now focus on securing a top-four finish - which was likely their main aim from the start.
Of course, for Emery's side, the main priority will be to beat Spurs to 4th place and guarantee UEFA Champions League qualification for next season, but there will still be some fans with a sneaky bit of hope that they could do something magical, as their Midlands neighbours Leicester City once did.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham had a disappointing 2022/23 season despite Harry Kane's Golden Boot-worthy performance. After finishing eighth and parting ways with head coach Antonio Conte - there were doubts about how new boss Ange Postecoglou would fare.
The Australian made an impressive start but was soon faced with challenges as Spurs managed just one point from five games despite scoring first in each match. Although they've had some good runs since then - including a win against Aston Villa - consistency remains an issue for them.
While Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are currently leading the race for the Premier League title, it's clear that anything can happen in football. With several matches still to play before we reach the end of this thrilling season, it'll be interesting to see who comes out on top.
