The 2024-2025 Premier League is not a miracle year like Leicester City won 2016 but has some notable similarities. At that time, Claudio Ranieri's team led the rankings after 22 rounds, taking advantage of the decline of big teams to win the championship with only 81 points.
The story of this year's season is gradually taking shape in a different direction. Premier League mid-level clubs are showing remarkable strength, creating a new balance for the tournament.
The big difference compared to nearly a decade ago is the steady economic growth in the tournament. According to Deloitte, teams such as Aston Villa, Brighton, Fulham and Bournemouth are currently among the 30 richest clubs in the world in terms of revenue. Thanks to strong financial resources, these teams are building forces, investing in tactics and creating surprises for the big guys.
A typical example is Brighton, despite struggling with injuries, they excellently won against Man United at Old Trafford. Bournemouth also beat Newcastle 4-1 despite their fragile squad due to a list of injured players. Andoni Iraola's pressing control style and smart recruitment have turned the Vitality home team into a successful model for clubs that are rated at a fairly average level.
Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Bournemouth are all taking advantage of opportunities in a season when big teams are having a hard time. Liverpool, despite not being perfect, still lead the group with a safe distance. On the contrary, Arsenal have had erratic form when they often dropped points in matches that should have won, such as the matches against Aston Villa or Everton.
Other traditional names such as Man City, Man United and Tottenham have all gone through unstable periods. Chelsea are on a journey to regain their identity and class after spending big. Aston Villa, meanwhile, struggled to balance domestic and European competition.
This opens up opportunities for mid-level teams to show themselves. Bournemouth have impressed not only with their tactical flexibility but also thanks to the sublimation of individuals such as Justin Kluivert - who scored 2 hat-tricks in the season. Brighton continues to affirm its position with a smart investment strategy and the ability to reinvest from record profits.
The rise of mid-level teams could see the Premier League champions no longer need up to 95 points to win the title. Leicester won the championship with 81 points, but since then, no team has won the championship with less than 86 points. However, the current season shows a clear differentiation when mid-level teams not only increase their strength but also bring new attraction to the tournament.
The matches between mid-level teams are now no longer just a relegation battle, it has become a highly competitive confrontation. From Bournemouth with a modern pressing strategy, Brighton with a smart recruitment model to Nottingham Forest with an effective non-ball play, each team brings their own stories, enriching the identity of the Premier League.
This is a good signal not only for fans but also for the future of the tournament, where every team has the opportunity to shine and prove their worth. They are no longer just challengers but are gradually asserting themselves as factors that cannot be underestimated in the overall picture of the most attractive football tournament on the planet.
