A tournament-less European summer for the men has us eager for the 2023/24 EPL season to kick off. We assess the title race, Top 4 battle, relegation scrap and top goalscorer hopes.
Title race
No club in the English top-flight has ever won the title in four consecutive years. But you’d be hard pressed to bet Manchester City ($1.72 title favourites with Palmerbet) won’t rewrite the record books this season. Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning outfit won everything that was worth winning last campaign. Maintaining motivation is perhaps the biggest challenge yet for the world’s premier manager. Hot on their heels, as they were in 2022/23, is Arsenal ($6.00). While few expected the Gunners to challenge for the EPL title last season, which they started as $34 outsiders, they took City deep. And while it was overall a successful campaign, the late stumble (or ‘bottle’ depending on how harsh a marker you might be) will undoubtedly have hurt. They’ve spent big, and adjusted their expectations upwards on the back of it.
Perhaps the biggest unknown is Liverpool ($7.00), and how they will deal with six senior players leaving in the summer. The incomings have been light-on at Anfield, which has seen an increasingly tetchy fan base. There’s a huge question mark over whether Jurgen Klopp can steer the club back into EPL title contention. Rounding out the favourites is Manchester United ($9.50) who, like Arsenal, have spent big in the summer. A new keeper (Andre Onana), number nine (Rasmus Hojlund) and creative midfielder (Mason Mount) strengthens Erik ten Hag’s squad. The Dutchman has the club on an upward trajectory, but overtaking their noisy neighbours and Arsenal is a monumental task in the upcoming campaign.
Bet Now EPL Outright Winner 23/24Five Premier League clubs have spent more money than Man City this summer 😮
Can any of them beat Pep Guardiola's team to the league title this season? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/rgPkI7AhYM
— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) August 8, 2023
Top 4 battle
The above four clubs lead the Top 4 betting for 2023/24, with City ($1.05) almost unbackable and Arsenal ($1.40), Liverpool ($1.57) and Man United ($1.72) all better-than-evens to grab the Champions League spots. But it’s next-best Chelsea ($2.25) who are perhaps the biggest unknowns heading into the 2023/24 EPL campaign. After a shambolic first season under the ownership of American Todd Boehly (which saw them employ four different match day managers), the Blues have started afresh under Mauricio Pochettino. Given they boast a squad still brimming with talent, it’s entirely possible to see Chelsea back in the Champions League spots this campaign. Newcastle ($2.60) are another interesting case. Back in the UCL for the first time since 2002/03, how Eddie Howe’s men juggle the European challenge with domestic duties will be one to watch.
For Aussie EPL fans, though — even those supporting other clubs — the focus is firmly on Tottenham ($4.20) under the tutelage of Australia’s own Ange Postecoglou. One of Australia’s greatest sporting stories in decades, Ange’s rise through the ranks — including the Greek third tier, A-League, J-League and most recently the Scottish Premiership — is a tale of determination and belief. The Melburnian will play a high-press, even against the likes of City and Arsenal. Because that’s the way he succeeds. Whether it pays off is another thing, but guaranteed it is appointment viewing.
Bet Now EPL Top 4 Finish 23/24"A lot of the success I've had has been unexpected"
Ange Postecoglou says he does not like setting goals or targets ❌ pic.twitter.com/nFQGtb2uiK
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 8, 2023
Relegation scrap
There’s two clear candidates to drop down to the Championship this EPL season. And it’s two clubs that’ve just come up in Luton ($1.36) and Sheffield United ($1.67). Luton are the clear romantics’ choice this campaign. And while many pundits have predicted them to finish 20th, most are hoping they give a good account of themselves. Their tiny home at Kenilworth Road is already providing significant intrigue, but once the novelty wears off they’ll be judged as harsh as any other promoted side. Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades are less fancied than fellow automatic Championship-promoted Burnley ($4.33 to be relegated) to remain up, and Bramall Lane will again need to be an EPL fortress (of sorts) if they’re to survive.
Bet Now EPL Relegation 23/24📍Kenilworth Road. A special stadium. pic.twitter.com/R9AjJoc6km
— COPA90 (@Copa90) February 10, 2022
Top goalscorer
To think that, exactly 12 months ago, some questioned Erling Haaland’s performance in the 2022 Community Shield final and asked whether the Norwegian could cut it in England. He answered that, and then some, with an EPL-record 36 goals in his inaugural campaign. And he starts the 2023/24 season as $1.67 chance to win back-to-back top goalscorer awards. Tottenham’s Harry Kane ($8.50) is the only other striker in single-figures, with Liverpool’s Mo Salah ($10) just behind and teammates Darwin Nunez way back at $17.
Thankfully, Palmerbet have created a ‘Without Haaland’ top goalscorer market, which may entice punters fearful the City ace will again hoover up the goals again this season. Kane ($5.35) and Salah ($6.90) lead that market, but some might find value in Man United star Marcus Rashford ($11.50) on the back of a solid 2022/23 campaign.
Bet Now EPL Top Goalscorer 23/24Erling Haaland is pure box office 😂 pic.twitter.com/kE7pWcgzUK
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 13, 2023