The on-going Premier League season has taken everyone by surprise – from Jose Mourinho returning to his original self to the underdogs getting under the skin of top six and so on – although the excitement remains the same. Here are the five takeaways from the English top-flight, which continues to be the world’s best league.
Liverpool top the Premier League table
There is no denying that you couldn’t find a club as consistent as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. From ending up short in the Premier League title race in the 19/20 season to lifting the trophy the following season, the Reds are showing no signs of slowing down as they are the current leaders of the Premier League. Despite almost half of the squad being hit with some injuries, Klopp has still led his side to a series of impressive results bar the only humiliating defeat against Aston Villa. No wonder if the Merseyside club goes on to lift the title once again.
Premier League is no longer a two-horse race
Everybody thought it would be a duopoly of Liverpool and Manchester City for years to come. But this is not the case now thanks to the pandemic and the clubs raising their bar. Man City have regressed well over the last two seasons while the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Leicester City, Wolves and Leeds have already shown that they have got the potential to thwart any dominant teams.
Arsenal fighting to avoid relegation
Arsenal have always been the club on the rebuild since Arsene Wenger parted ways with the club. While Mikel Arteta took charge as the manager of the Gunners midway through the last season, replacing Unai Emery, there was a slimmest of hope that the club could return to its heydays. It even proved right later when the Gunners lifted the FA Cup and Community Shield. Enter the 20/21 season. Despite the lightning start, Arteta’s side is back to square one, and the transition is looking even worse as they are currently 15th in the table. The worrying part is that they are winless in the last six games and will next face Everton, who are looking at a completely different side under Carlo Ancelotti.
Harry Kane has evolved into a complete player
It’s time for everyone to consider putting Harry Kane inside the world-class bracket along with the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandowski, Neymar, Mbappe and Karim Benzema. The Tottenham striker truly deserves such recognition as he has evolved into a complete player this season. There will be no surprise if he goes on to win the Ballon d’Or next year since his stats speak so. The 27-year-old has so far racked up a total of 15 goals and ten assists in both Premier League and Europa League, which indicates how complete he has become now under Mourinho.
Increasing demand of five subs in the Premier League
The absence of five-substitutions rule has a knock-on effect in the Premier League this season, with many of the teams suffering injuries than ever before. The teams with literally smaller squad depth have suffered the most, and the congested fixtures due to the pandemic aren’t helping either. With many of the top team’s managers have endorsed the fives-substitutions rule, it is high time for the English top-flight to implement it sooner.
VAR Controversies
VAR has been continuously in the news in the current season, and every person has criticised the assistant referee. The main point of the contest against the VAR has been it takes time and affect the momentum. Some of the time if the decision is controversial or erroneous, it goes further against the concept.
VAR was meant for using technology assistance to help decisions made by referee present in the ground. Perhaps we will see authorities to take proper steps so that decisions in football field can be error-free and football can be enjoyable for those who play as well as for those who watch it.
