Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
It's been a long time since we've had a dull Premier League season. They're all special in their own way, especially for fans of clubs that end up with the title or reach one of the coveted Champions League spots.
Still, even by the lofty standards set by England's top division, the 2023/2024 has been extra special, and there's every indication that it'll go down as an all-time classic. It's not just the competitiveness of the games that have stood out this campaign, but the all-around quality of football, as well as those delightful surprise packages that remind us that football is never a foregone conclusion.
Unai Emery has to be the frontrunner for manager of the season. His side have not only won enough games to be up in one of the leading positions, but they've also won those games playing free-flowing, attacking, exciting football.
The Spanish manager took over last season with the club in 16th position, just above the relegation zone. Fast-forward to today, he's set a club record of 15 successive straight victories that's put Aston Villa within touching distance of the top. It's unlikely that they'll last the distance and win the Premier League, but they're looking good for the Champions League positions. And if they do make it, it'll be more than deserved given the way they've played this campaign.
We've seen title battles in the past few years, but they didn't really feel like true battles. It usually just feels like one team keeping up with Manchester City before they eventually pull away. This season is different. Arsenal and Liverpool have been better than Manchester City in every department so far, and Guardiola's team seem to have lost a little of their mojo.
Of course, you can't write Manchester City off. Even if Liverpool or Arsenal pull away, there will still be free bets available to back City for the title right until it's mathematically impossible for them to win. In any case, it's all good news for Premier League neutrals who want to see a genuine title battle.
There have been shots disallowed due to VAR decisions, but even still, this is a season that's been marked with goals, goals, and more goals. And not just any goals, but plenty that will go down as some of the Premier League's best-ever strikes. This has resulted in some all-time classic games.
Liverpool and Arsenal have contributed mightily to the list, each racking up a series of last-minute winning shots. The Chelsea and Manchester City eight-goal thriller also demonstrated the excitement of the Premier League in all its glory, as did the six-goal draw between Guardiola's team and Tottenham Hotspurs.
Fans of the teams who lose out due to controversial refereeing decisions tend to hate them. But for everyone else? It adds to the drama. There's something exciting about seeing a game twist in one team's favour, only for the decision to be reversed a few moments later. This season has seen more than its fair share of controversial decisions that have provided plenty of talking points.
The most controversial decision occurred in the Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspurs game, where a legitimate goal was incorrectly ruled out due to miscommunication between the VAR officials and the on-field referee. Liverpool ended up losing the game; the responsible referees better hope they don't end up missing out on the title by a single point, or they'll never hear the end of it.
Finally, this season stands out due to the sheer depth of talent in the league. The teams at the bottom of the table are giving the big boys a real game when they match up, and in many cases are getting a result. There aren't many leagues where smaller clubs beat the league leaders, but we're seeing it in the Premier League, and that's what makes it the best in the world.
Taking my son to his first football match was one of the best experiences I've had as a father so far. I've written this article for Alex to read when he gets older.
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