The 2024-25 English Premier League season kicked off on August 16 with Manchester United beating Fulham 1-0 at Old Trafford. Almost 48 hours later, reigning champions Manchester City started their title defense away at big-spending Chelsea, and it only took them 18 minutes to get up and running. One game into the new campaign, pundits and soccer fans are already asking if anyone can stop Manchester City from winning a record fifth straight Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola’s Citizens are regarded as the best club in world soccer, and it is easy to see why. They won the treble during the 2022-23 season, clinching the Premier League title, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League. The following season, the boys in sky blue won the Premier League for the fourth consecutive campaign, something no other team in the history of English soccer had achieved.
Unsurprisingly, the best sports betting sites priced Manchester City as the favorite to win an unprecedented fifth straight league title. City are favorites despite the possibility they could face a points deduction for the alleged 115 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules; that fact tells you all you need to know about the likelihood of Guardiola’s men emerging victoriously in May again.
Understrength City Make Light Work of Chelsea
Traveling to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge was not an ideal way for Manchester City to kick off yet another title defense. City was without Rodri, their Spanish talisman, because he had not enjoyed a full preseason, having won the 2024 European Championships with his national side. Guardiola also left Phil Foden, John Stones, and Kyle Walker on the bench after their Euro 2024 exploits with England over the summer.
On the other hand, Chelsea had spent big—again—and had a new manager at the helm. The Stamford Bridge crowd was full of optimism for the upcoming campaign despite facing the decorated champions.
Only 18 minutes into the fixture, Erland Haaland danced around the Chelsea defense and dinked the ball over the advancing Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal. It was Haaland’s 91st goal for City on his 100th appearance for the club since joining from Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea’s players were guilty of being wasteful in front of goal, but City never looked like conceding their lead. Former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, standing in for Rodri, put the game to bed in the 84th minute with a curling shot from outside the penalty area. Including the last season, City has won ten games in a row and are unbeaten in the Premier League in their previous 24 fixtures.
Can Arsenal Finally Win the Premier League Again?
Unless the Premier League docks them points or injuries ravage Guardiola’s squad, it is difficult to see anyone stopping Manchester City from capturing a record fifth straight league title. Arsenal and Liverpool are expected to be City’s closest rivals, with Arsenal finishing two points behind City last season and Liverpool seven points behind the Gunners. Both would-be champions got off to winning starts on the season’s opening weekend, but both squads need some reinforcements.
Arsenal kicked off their campaign with a straightforward 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at home. The home side was far from their best, but they never looked in danger at any stage of the clash. A first-half goal from Kai Havertz put the Gunners ahead, with a Bukayo Saka strike in the 74th minute securing all three points for Arsenal.
Having finished second to Manchester City in the previous two Premier League seasons, Arsenal are the most likely candidates to halt City’s seemingly unstoppable run. However, the London-based giants have needed an out-and-out striker for two or three seasons. Brazilian Gabriel Jesus is injury-prone, and head coach Mikel Arteta does not fancy Eddie Nketiah playing as the number nine.
Liverpool Start With a Win But Need Fresh Faces
Liverpool started life without Jurgen Klopp in charge with a 2-0 win away at newly promoted Ipswich Town, who were playing Premier League soccer for the first time in 22 years. Ipswich matched their more illustrious rivals for the first 45 minutes before Liverpool’s quality shone through.
Whatever new head coach Arne Slot said to his team during the halftime interval worked wonders because the Reds were unplayable at times during the second half. Diogo Jota finished off a free-flowing move on the hour mark, with Egyptian superstar Mo Salah putting the result beyond doubt five minutes later.
Slot has yet to make his first signing for Liverpool, and the club is crying out for reinforcements before the summer transfer window slams shut. Liverpool has a stellar starting XI, but the squad lacks depth, particularly in the midfield areas. Unless Liverpool strengthens, they won’t have enough to halt Manchester City’s charge to the title.
Conclusion
Manchester City supporters must be extremely confident of becoming champions of England for the fifth time in five seasons, if only because little has changed among the personnel of last season’s top three clubs. They have the best goalkeeper and defense, a fit-again Kevin De Bruyne, and the incredible Erling Haaland to call upon.
City has played 380 Premier League games in the past decade, won 268, drawn 57, and lost only 55. They have scored a staggering 909 goals during that period, conceding only 328.
Whoever finishes about City this season will be the champions.
While City fans are fawning over their collection of stars, neutrals, and fans of Arsenal and Liverpool are hoping for a change in the guard. However, neither Arsenal nor Liverpool had enough to stop City last season, and neither side has improved its squad. The transfer window closes for English clubs at 23:00 BST on August 30. Unless the Board of Arsenal or Liverpool are prepared to splash the cash in the next week or so, you will see Manchester City win their fifth consecutive league title and their ninth in 14 seasons.
