The 2023-2024 Premier League is witnessing the most unusual and unpredictable season in the past decade. Unbelievable results such as Tottenham losing at home to Ipswich Town but beating Man City 4-0 away have created a big surprise. The instability is not only happening at Tottenham but also spreading across the league, making this season more unpredictable and attractive than ever.
By the end of round 15, there had been only 39 consecutive wins for teams, the lowest number in recent seasons. Compared to the same period last season, there had been 47 consecutive wins for teams, and in previous seasons, the number ranged from 43 to 59. Currently, there are 7 teams that have never won consecutively, the most notable of which is Man United.
Notably, the longest winning streak this season is only 5 matches, significantly lower than previous seasons, when this number usually reached 6 to 9 matches. Even big teams like Arsenal or Man City cannot maintain stable performance, only winning a maximum of 3 consecutive matches. So what is the cause of this instability?
Firstly, the gap in class between Premier League teams is narrowing. This season, the Premier League has fierce competition in the middle of the table. Clubs like Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Aston Villa are all capable of beating the big guys. For example, Nottingham beat Liverpool, Brighton defeated Man City and Bournemouth shocked by beating Arsenal.
This balance can be explained by the strong financial resources of the clubs. Thanks to TV revenue and other sources of income, even small clubs like Bournemouth can spend up to £40 million on players from top European clubs. Brighton spent around £200 million on reinforcements this summer, more than many big clubs on the old continent.
Mid-table teams that have achieved good results also have a big impact on their coaches. Many Premier League clubs now use an aggressive attacking style of play rather than a defensive one. Brighton, Bournemouth and even Tottenham are typical examples of all-in play, accepting mistakes to create breakthroughs.
Next, the Premier League is also heavily affected by the tight schedule and the significant increase in injuries. The summer of 2024 sees major events such as EURO, Copa America and even the Paris Olympics, which overloads many players without adequate rest.
Notably, Brighton have lost 17 players due to injury since the start of the season, Aston Villa and Ipswich Town are not doing much better with 15 and 17 injuries respectively. These losses make it difficult for teams to maintain stable performance.
The most typical example of instability, many people will surely name Tottenham. Ange Postecoglou's team has had brilliant performances against Man City, Man United and Aston Villa but also easily collapsed against opponents rated lower.
In 2024, Spurs played 34 games, won 15 and lost 14. At the end of last season, Tottenham had a forgettable streak when they lost 4 consecutive matches in the Premier League. Such an unstable performance led to many times when captain Ange Postecoglou was questioned about his suitability for the London team.
The widespread instability has made the race for the Top 4 more intense than ever. Currently, apart from the two leading teams Liverpool and Chelsea, positions from 3rd to 13th can have many changes after just 1 round. Notably, the top half of the rankings includes many teams that have played in the Championship in the past decade.
This competition makes the Premier League more attractive to neutral viewers. However, for the title contenders, this becomes a big challenge. The big teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or Man City are unlikely to maintain the winning streak needed to reach 90 points, a figure often seen by previous champions.
