The Premier League is one of the most competitive and unpredictable football leagues in the world, making it an exciting place to bet. The 2022-23 Premier League season has reached its halfway point and we have evaluated some of the top players and teams of the current campaign.
Arsenal, who sit at the top of the league standings with 50 points from 19 games, have several young standouts in the league.
The Premier league always had a history of being one of the best leagues in the world and this aspect is due to the fact that it is made up of teams like Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and of course Manchester City.
In the last World Cup in Qatar, we saw that the Premier League had a high percentage of players playing in this event. These aspects among others are what make the Premier League one of the best English football leagues in 2023.
Title Contenders and Favorites:
Midway through the 2022-23 season, Arsenal and Manchester City are clear frontrunners, though Newcastle and Manchester United are making noise as well.
The title challenge for Arsenal will be tough with Erling Haaland's impressive goal-scoring record in the Premier League helping Manchester City look like potential champions.
Let’s take a stab at a top 5 power rankings. Let us know your thoughts.
- Arsenal: An excellent season so far from Arsenal. With 16 victories, 2 ties and only 1 defeat, Arsenal is the favorites with odds 8/11 to win the Premier League. One of the key moments of the season for Arsenal was Eddie Nketiah scoring a last-minute goal to secure a win for Arsenal against Manchester United in an exciting match at the Emirates Stadium. The win allowed Arsenal to retain their lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with a game less played. The title race between Arsenal and Manchester City might only get more competitive as the weeks progress, but it will make for some amazing viewing. The Gunners host Man City on February 15th, so make sure to mark your calendar for that one.
- Manchester City: Currently, in the standings, Man City is in second with 45 points. Man City have not lost by more than 1 goal this entire Premier League season. Man City odds are 6/4 to win the title. Man City under Pep Guardiola, a, employs a playing style characterized by holding the ball in high-risk areas for as long as possible, which is uncommon as most teams prefer to control the ball in safer areas. This requires Guardiola's players to maintain composure in confined spaces. This aggressive approach and style of playing high up the field can expose the team to quick counter-attacks by speedy opponents. This vulnerability might present an opportunity for fast paced teams to capitalize on any Manchester City's mistakes during transitions. Man City knows they’ll have to be close to perfect from here on out to overhaul Arsenal’s lead. But with the talent they have, bets are piling in on Man City.
- Manchester United: 50/1 odds to win makes Manchester United a fun long shot for bettors. Manchester United aims to improve their chances of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League when they host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday. The teams are currently separated by a 15-point gap and eight positions in the league table, with Manchester United occupying fourth place and Crystal Palace in 12th place. Manchester United regardless of their position has been staying in the news as a recent report has claimed that Manchester United is one of the many teams still involved in the European Super League rumors. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
- Newcastle: Now 100/1 to win the Premiere League title. The departures of players like Jonjo Shelvey, Chris Wood, and Karl Darlow have created more opportunities for flexibility and interesting lineup construction. This is particularly notable with the recent additions of Harrison Ashby and Anthony Gordon, who are classed as Under 21 players. Up until this point, Arsenal and Newcastle have made the fewest starting XI changes in the Premier League this season.
- Liverpool: 500/1, you might have better chances at purchasing a lottery ticket. The future of Liverpool and its owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), has been the subject of much speculation and rumors since it was announced in November that they were considering selling the club. Since taking over Liverpool in 2010, FSG has brought significant changes to the football club, including investing in its infrastructure through the construction of a new training ground and the redevelopment of the Main Stand and Anfield Road End. They have also capitalized on the remarkable success achieved under Jurgen Klopp, including a Champions League win in 2019 and a Premier League title in 2020, to establish Liverpool as a global powerhouse generating annual revenues of nearly £600m and growing its fan base worldwide. However, with Liverpool's poor performance on the pitch this season, which has not been addressed through transfers, there is growing discontent among some parts of the Liverpool fan base about what is next for the club.
Relegation Candidates:
Everton, Bournemouth, and Southampton currently sit in the relegation spots. Leicester, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, and Leeds are not far behind, with just a few points separating them from the bottom three after an inconsistent start.
Standout Players
- Aaron Ramsdale: The big-money transfer from Sheffield United to Arsenal has proven successful for Ramsdale, who has conceded just 16 goals in 19 games and played a crucial role in the team's success this season.
- Kieran Trippier: After lifting the La Liga title with Atlético Madrid, Trippier made the move to Newcastle and has been exceptional both defensively and offensively. The England international credits his improvement to head coach Diego Simeone.
- William Saliba: The young French defender has been a key player for Arsenal, appearing in every league game and contributing two goals and an assist. Saliba has helped solidify the team's backline after returning from loan spells in France.
- Sven Botman: The center-back joined Newcastle from Lille for a fee of €37 million and has partnered with Fabian Schär to bolster the club's backline. He has made 18 appearances in the Premier League so far.
- Oleksandr Zinchenko: Zinchenko was instrumental in Arsenal's recent 3-2 win against Manchester United. Operating as an inverted left-back, he played a crucial role in securing the victory with a cross that led to the winning goal. Moving from Manchester to London with head coach Mikel Arteta may prove to be a wise decision.
- Bukayo Saka: At just 21 years old, Saka has already made a significant impact for Arsenal. He has featured in every league game, contributing seven goals and seven assists for a total of 14 goal contributions. Roy Keane predicts that Saka has the potential to reach the very top, even playing for Real Madrid.
- Casemiro: The Brazilian midfielder has been a catalyst for Manchester United's success this season. He brings balance, experience, and quality to the club's midfield, allowing forward players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford to shine.
- Martin Ødegaard: The captain of Arsenal's impressive first half of the season, Ødegaard has been a significant part of the team's title charge with his exceptional left foot. He is one of the leaders under Arteta and makes Arsenal a more cohesive unit.
Regardless of what happened already, the second half of the Premiere League is going to be a lot of fun to watch!