The Premier League has returned and if there is anything that I am sure you already know, it is the fact that this will be an exciting ride.
Fans, pundits, and players are already looking forward to it and there are discussions now about fixtures, teams that are in form, and those who are going to be on top at the end of the day.
The Big Six which includes Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester United are going to be interested in showing their dominance.
But then, the big question is which of these teams are going to have the best start to the reason? And what team is going to be on top when it is Boxing Day?
Manchester City
Manchester City are the reigning champions of the Premier League. It is interesting to note that they do not have too many difficult matches to play as they start their title defence.
Their first matches are against newly promoted sides and mid-table teams and you can expect to take advantage of this golden opportunity and get quick points very early in the league.
The City squad has depth and even if they do not spend so much money this summer, they will still fare well. Let us not forget that they have an exceptional coach. Pep Guardiola has too many tactics and we all expect City to dominate the league from the first game of the day.
Manchester City’s first matches are against teams like Ipswich Town, West Ham United, and Brentford. On paper, these are easy games for Manchester City to win. However, let us not forget that the Premier League is really unpredictable and even if it is possible for Manchester City to win their first set of matches, some of these small teams can surprise them.
Liverpool
We expect Liverpool to want to push for the trophy too after their title push last season even when they had very inconsistent performances. They should be able to do that but then there is the issue of this being their first season after Jurgen Klopp resigned.
The new coach, Arne Slot has mixed bags but should find enough opportunities to establish Liverpool as an early contender. Their first games are against teams like Brentford and Nott’m Forest and one can expect this to be an opportunity for the Reds to build momentum.
Basically, Liverpool’s challenge will be about overcoming the away games that are early in the league for them. One such example is Manchester United. If they can secure a win or at least avoid defeat in this crucial encounter, they will set themselves up nicely for a strong run towards Christmas.
Slot is reckoned to play high-octane football and the Anfield atmosphere could help Liverpool make their way to the top of the table.
Chelsea
Chelsea, under new management with Enzo Maresca, is another team to watch out for. When the league starts for them, they are going to have a balanced start with both hard and easy fixtures.
They will first play against teams like Everton and Fulham and we expect that it will be a challenege that will let them know where they stand in the grand scheme of things.
Chelsea has become a meme this summer. They have spent so much money already and no one knows what team to expect from Maresca for the games they are playing. This means that fans and pundits are going to anticipate the games that will be played without any certainty what will happen.
If you are interested in betting, you can bet on the Premier League (EPL) here and check the probabilities of results, goalscorers, scores, etc., for any in-game event. Bookmakers have a good, mathematically-based method for finding out what the potential outcomes could be and this is something for fans to find out who may be the preferred central striker for a specific game versus another.
What Maresca will be hoping to do is to make the players fully understand his philosophy and how he can bring the best out of the current squad that he has. The key for Chelsea will be consistency.
They have to find a way to avoid dropping points in games that they are billed to win and they could be in a strong position when Boxing Day arrives. The fixtures against their Big Six rivals early in the season will determine their standing as well.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur has Ange Postecoglou in charge and they are going to face an interesting start to the season. The first set of games that Spurs have are games that could have them flying high or struggling in the league.
The way Postecoglou had Tottenham attacking was something we enjoyed seeing last season. Sadly, their struggle with injuries in defence brought an end to what looked to be a solid debut season. This is where the questions lie. If Tottenham can hit the ground running and keep key players fit, they could surprise many and find themselves in the top spots early on.
However, the North London derby against Arsenal early in the season will significantly indicate their credentials. A good run of form leading up to Boxing Day could see Spurs challenging for the top.
Arsenal
The Gunners have some fixtures that could be a solid start for them. They have got matches against Aston Villa and Brighton which are chances for them to get points and build their confidence as they hope to make the most out of this season.
The young squad that Arteta has will be trying their best to maintain their focus and avoid the lapses that cost them last season. They will need to be consistent and this will be something they should look forward to especially in their away fixtures.
Arsenal has one of the best defenses in the league and an attack that is not entirely subpar. Their summer transfers have been the addition of more defensive players and it is expected that before the end of the window, they could add a new striker which can increase their goal threat.
If Arsenal does well against the early challenges they have to face, they could be well-positioned to be at the top or near the top of Boxing Day. Arsenal fans will be hoping their team starts well and they do not just finish as second best again.
Manchester United
Manchester United are actually a team that is experiecing transition but they have a potential. For their start to the season, they are going to play against Brighton and Southampton and with these fixtures they can get an early opportunity to establsih themselves.
This is Ten Hag’s third season in charge and we are still looking to see what his ‘style of play’ is. It is good to be pragmatic but having an identity is also important. Manchester United could be perfect contenders if they can be consistent and find solution to their defensive issues.
A plus is the fact that their squad has a blend of youth and experience and the signings they make will be needful. The Red Devils have to make the most of their fixtures which are easy for them to be on top soon.
Conclusion
And that does it on our prediction of which of the Big Six will be top of the league by Boxing Day. you can see that each team has its strengths and potential pitfalls.
But then, let us not forget that the League can be unpredictable sometimes. It means anything can happen. Injuries, form, and the way the league is very competitive can add to reasons why you should be wary of predicting.
One thing that is sure though is that we are in for an exciting season and the race to the top by Boxing Day is going to be a great one to watch.