From August to May, fans from around the world tune in to Europe’s biggest league. The Premier League, since its inception in 1992, has captivated the hearts of fans globally, and this year is no different. The league is full of surprises, with teams once predicted to be relegated now competing for the title, and others that were title contenders fighting to avoid relegation. Students share their thoughts on this year’s Premier League surprises.
The Premier League has long been known for its surprises. From Leicester City’s shocking 2015/16 title win to Aston Villa securing a Champions League spot for the first time, the league never fails to deliver unexpected twists. This season, one of the biggest shocks has been Nottingham Forest. Predicted to be relegated, they are currently second in the league and challenging for the title.
“I feel like the biggest surprise is Nottingham Forest being second this season because I thought they were kind of trash, but now they’re running a title charge,” said junior Sailendra Bhandaru.
Another major surprise has been the struggles of the Manchester clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United. Manchester City, once on track for a fifth consecutive Premier League title, is now sitting sixth in the table. Their star player, Rodri, who recently won the Ballon d’Or, has been out for the season, leaving the team struggling to find form. City was on a four-week winless streak, with only winning a game recently.
“The biggest surprise has to be Manchester City’s poor performance without Rodri. I don’t think they’ll recover from this,” said junior Yaser Abdullah.
Manchester United, fresh off a FA Cup win and a host of new signings, had high hopes for the season. However, a poor run of form led to the firing of manager Erik Ten Hag, with Ruben Amorim brought in as his replacement. Despite the managerial change, United have continued to underperform and currently sit in 14th place, dangerously close to relegation.
“I thought Manchester United would be better this season, but they’ve been a huge disappointment,” said freshman Muran Elnadi.
On the flip side, one player who has been a standout this season is Mohamed Salah of Liverpool. With 18 goals and 13 assists in 20 games, Salah is one of the highest-scoring players in the league. His performances have helped Liverpool climb to the top of the Premier League table, putting them on track for a potential title win.
“Mohamed Salah is the best player right now. He’s always working at the highest level, and I think he’s going to win the Prem this season,” said freshman Muran Elnadi.
In addition to the surprising results on the pitch, there have been several managerial changes across the league. As mentioned, Manchester United replaced Erik Ten Hag with Ruben Amorim, and Leicester City’s Steve Cooper and Southampton’s Russell Martin were also let go. Other notable changes included Gary O’Neil at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sean Dyche at Everton, and Julen Lopetegui at West Ham United. While some of these changes have brought positive results, others have led to further struggles for their respective teams.
One of the most significant changes has been at Liverpool, where Jurgen Klopp retired at the end of last season. His successor, Arne Slot, has done a remarkable job guiding the team to the top of the table in his first season.
“Some teams are doing better with changes like Liverpool, but some are doing worse,” said freshman Beckett Harley.
The Premier League never fails to deliver surprises, and this season is no exception. From Nottingham Forest’s rise to the fall of Manchester’s giants, and the standout performances of players like Mohamed Salah, the league has proven once again that anything can happen. Fans eagerly await the next twist in this thrilling season.