I AM massively enjoying this Premier League 20-21 season. Every weekend, we see the top of the table change hands.
It is an indication of the competitiveness of the league while defending champion Liverpool struggles with a multitude of injuries that has befallen nearly the entire first team including some key bench players.
Right before the season began, I saw a survey where fans were speculating which manager would be among the first fired—Manchester United’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Tottenham’s Jose Mourinho.
Well, the Red Devils have fought all the way from 17th in the league (early in the season) to #4 after last Saturday’s matches.
Tottenham is second.
I was also listening to other pundits share their observations and many said it will come down to Liverpool and Manchester City once more (as it has been in the last two seasons). The Citizens have also fought back from a rash of injuries that saw them at 15th spot to now at fifth place; on the outside looking in the top four (that guarantees UEFA Champions League sports for the next season).
The league’s early leaders—Everton and Aston Villa who were both at 4-0 at one point have dropped in the standings.
Everton drew 1-1 with lowly Burnley and are now at ninth. From 4-0 they are now at 5-2-4.
Aston Villa is at 11th with a 5-0-4 slate.
Leeds United impressed with their first four fixtures but have since lost their way. They scored early against Chelsea this weekend but eventually lost, 3-1. Now, they are at 4-2-5.
Everton’s Coach Carlo Ancelotti and Leeds’ Marcelo Bielsa, both the toast of the league early in the season…well, now they aren’t being mentioned much.
The unpredictable season is now looking “normal” as the six squads that have contested these positions are once more back in place—Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Leicester. Arsenal, not being a power in the last few years, is at 14th. The good vibes of its late season success (2019-20) and this year’s Community Shield have been forgotten.
While it is looking like the league is back to normal, I think this so-called new normal isn’t done yet. All the squads are bunched close to each other. A win here, a loss there, sees the standings re-arranged every playdate.
So it is entirely possible that teams like West Ham, Southampton, Wolverhampton, and Everton and Aston Villa can find themselves in the thick of the fight in a matter of a few games and positive results.
Add to that issues such as VAR, the tightly-packed schedules, and the call for five substitutes (and the verbal sparring between some managers), this has been a most exciting and nerve wracking season.
If you look laterally at the Spanish La Liga, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad—yes, Real Sociedad—are both first and second respectively while Real Madrid is third. Cadiz is on the outside at fifth after its huge 2-1 win over struggling Barcelona (seventh with a 4-2-4 slate).
The Italian Serie A and German Bundesliga have their surprises. In Italy Sassuolo is at fourth with a 5-3-1 record. As for the top tier league in Germany, I like the fact that 1. FC Union Berlin is at sixth place. They could make a play for fourth spot.
Crazy times, but definitely interesting.