The Premier League's 32nd season started on the 11th of August. This season started with excitement in the air as Manchester City moved to be the first in the top-division history to claim the title for four consecutive seasons. However, while Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, and Liverpool all aim to take the crown from the three-time champion, what are the actual Premier League odds this season?
Season Preview
Let's start with the season preview to see how the 2023/24 season started and then look at where it's going.
How Clubs Managed Their Flaws
Last season, Arsenal failed in their title challenge, and many believe it's due to the back injury William Saliba sustained that removed him from the final 11 games. This lack of squad depth was a critical flaw in their last season, but this season, they aim to fill that gap. Jurrien Timber joined Arsenal, allowing for more versatile play with the current members.
Liverpool's disappointing finish outside the top four for the first time in seven full campaigns resulted in the team revamping their players. A change had to happen, and Henderson, Fabinho, Milner, Keita, and Oxlade-Chamberlain all exited the club this season. Instead, £115 million was spent to secure Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
Manchester United needs to work on their away form if they want to secure the title this season, as can be seen with their club-record 0-7 Liverpool defeat. Meanwhile, Newcastle, despite breaking into the scene in the 2022/23 season and securing a spot in the top four, will have to manage their team this season finely.
It'll be the first season since 2012/13 that they juggle European and domestic football. They will participate in their third Champions League Campaign and the first one in the last 20 years.
Manchester City for the Win
Manchester City is on a roll. They're aiming to get their fifth title in six years and their fourth consecutive one, which will make them England's first top-division club to do so. They spent £100 million on Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, trying to create an unbeatable team.
While Erling Haaland was unable to play some games last season, the team nevertheless pulled through last season. However, he had scored more than four times any of his time mates had, so it's not far-fetched to say that a lot of the success this season depends on him.
Top Three Transfers in the Premier League
Before any matches begin, the competition is already high to secure some of the best transfers. One of the most notable transfers is Declan Rice transferring from West Ham United to Arsenal for almost $130 million (£105.73 million).
The second significant transfer might not be one of the top four contenders, but it's a much-needed one. James Maddison transferred from Leicester City to Tottenham Hotspur, becoming the pure midfielder this club desperately needs. He was signed for $51 million (£41.48 million) and has definitely made a difference in the club's standing, currently second to Man City.
The third transfer we look at is Andre Onana from Inter Milan to Manchester United, as United moved quickly to fill the goalkeeper gap after David de Gea left. He should slot in easily with the team, having shown his talent in the final of last season's UEFA Champions League.
Return of the Mid-Season Player Break
Another thing this season will do is return the mid-season player break for the first time since it was introduced in the 2019/20 season. It's a two-week break that the Premier League, the FA, and the EFL agreed upon to promote player welfare and combat the already congested schedule.
Current Season Standings
The latest standings show the top six positions as follows:
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Unexpectedly, Newcastle and Manchester United are sitting relatively low at numbers 12 and 13. The seeming top contenders in the season preview only won two of their five matches and have six points each. Further, both Newcastle and Man United have lost against at least two of the clubs in the top four positions.
Betting on the Premier League
Betting on the Premier League has been a longstanding hobby of many UK punters. This season promises to have many excellent matches, with more on the stake than ever before. Whether you're a punter or not, knowing the odds on the upcoming matches gives you a good idea of what bookmakers and the community believe the outcome will be of the games.
Outright Premier League Odds
The outrights for the 2023/224 season show that Man City is the clear favourite to win, with 4/11 odds. Arsenal and Liverpool are neck to neck with 6/1 odds, while Tottenham has 20/1 odds. Newcastle is sitting at 40/1 odds, while Man United is at 50/1 odds.
To understand fractional odds, you must know how to read them. Luckily, it's pretty easy, as the figure on the right is how much you must bet to win the figure on the left of the slash mark. Favourites to win will have lower win figures with higher bet figures.
Besides the top four in for the win, Brighton is next in line at 33/1 odds. The teams least likely to win, with 1,000/1 odds, are Everton, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Burnley, Bournemouth, Luton Town, and Sheffield United.
This Season's Expectations
Having looked into the various factors of this season revealed so far, it's looking to be a showdown between Man City, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Tottenham Hotspur, while in second place currently, remains an underdog club. Still, they have a better chance of winning than most, especially if they continue playing like they did their first five matches.
Yet, no one seems able to stop Man City, even though most of their wins weren't by a significant point difference. We'll keep an eye on the deciding matches, with the Arsenal one playing off on the 8th of October, the Brighton one on the 21st of October, and the Liverpool match on the 25th of November.