EPL Season Conclusions

Now that the Premier League 2023-24 season has ended, we can take a breath and have a look at what the most important talking points are.

We know who was crowned champion, which teams got relegated, (mostly) who will be playing European football next season, and everything in between. But what does it all mean?

Manchester City Have 4 in a Row

After a genuinely captivating title race, Pep Guardiola’s team have managed what no other English team has ever achieved before: 4 Premier League/First Division titles in a row.

The quest for the EPL crown involved 3 teams all the way until May – though we could argue that Liverpool dropped out of the race in March, with City and Arsenal going shoulder-to-shoulder into matchday 38.

It is a fantastic achievement for the Sky Blues, who will now look to keep extending this record next season, despite the 115 charges for Profit and Sustainability Rules breaches hanging like a dark cloud over the club right now.

Arsenal Fall Short but Can Come Back Stronger

“I’m so proud of the progress we’re making from when I first came here all the way to today, it’s such a big difference. We’ve changed the club and I think you all believe in us now. To be honest I can’t wait to come back after the break and make you guys even more happy, that’s the goal.

“We’re on a good wave, we’re closer than last year but now we have to use the break and come back even stronger and even more hungry, and push to win everything.”

This is what Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard had to say to the Emirates crowd once the full-time whistle had blown on their 2023-24 campaign. The feeling around the club will definitely be a mix of regret and excitement, as they will begin summer preparations for another campaign in which the goal will be the EPL title.

After 2 seasons of coming up short against City, next season already feels like make-or-break for this talented and young Arsenal team.

Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton/Leeds Will Need to Step Up

The 2023-24 season saw all 3 newly promoted teams go straight back down to the Championship. Luton were the best of the bunch, showing plenty of fight over the course of the campaign, while Sheffield were atrocious and Burnley not too much better.

Only once before since the Premier League was established had all 3 promoted teams gone down: in 1997-98, when Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Crystal Palace only enjoyed EPL football for one season.

This coming Sunday we will learn the identity of the promotion play-off winners, as Southampton and Leeds United lock horns at Wembley. Leicester have already won the Championship title, while Ipswich finished 2nd to secure a return to the top division for the first time in 22 years.

All 3 teams will need to be much better prepared than Sheffield, Burnley and Luton were this season if they would like to extend their EPL adventure past May 2025.

Due to Leicester being in this group, we do not believe that a repeat of this season’s relegation situation will happen, but football can certainly be surprising.

European Places Still Not Fully Decided

Due to the FA Cup final only taking place this coming Saturday, we do not yet know which teams will be representing England in next season’s UEFA competitions. A total of 7 sides from the EPL will take to the field in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League in autumn.

The Champions League places are certain: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa will be playing in the top UEFA competition. Also, Tottenham Hotspur will be playing UEL football thanks to the 5th place finish they secured by beating Sheffield United on Sunday.

But further down the table things get a little complicated. 2 more spots are up for grabs: 1 for UEL and 1 for UECL. Chelsea will claim one of them, as they finished 6th in the table, but only after the FA Cup final will they know which one.

Newcastle, after finishing 7th, will be rooting for Manchester City in this final, as only an FA Cup triumph for the Cityzens will send Isak & Co. into next season’s Europa Conference League.

The winners of the FA Cup are rewarded with a Europa League place. Manchester City have already qualified for the UCL, so if they win it, Chelsea play in the UEL and Newcastle in the UECL next season.

However, if Manchester United win the FA Cup, they gain automatic entry to the UEL despite finishing 8th in the Premier League table. That would mean UECL football for Chelsea and no European games for Newcastle in 2024-25.

If that is the case, we can safely assume the Red Devils will not be received too kindly at Stamford Bridge or St. James’ Park next season.

Important Farewells

On Sunday, we saw 3 important Premier League coaches lead their teams out for the last time.

Jürgen Klopp stepped away from Liverpool after a spell of almost 9 years. During this time, the Reds won every competition they have participated in, with the exception of the Europa League.

David Moyes also bid farewell to West Ham after securing their first trophy in over 40 years. He was the mastermind behind the 2022-23 Europa Conference League win, and leaves East London after a 4-and-a-half year reign.

Roberto De Zerbi is leaving Brighton after a spell which lasted almost 2 seasons. His biggest achievements were securing UEL football for the Seagulls at the end of 2022-23, and leading them to the Round of 16 of the competition this season. This was the first time in Brighton’s history that they participated in continental football.

We already know that Feyenoord Rotterdam coach Arne Slot will be taking Klopp’s place in the Liverpool dugout, while Julen Lopetegui is very close to being confirmed as West Ham United manager.

However, the 3 departing coaches will certainly be missed, having brought undoubted quality to a league already very rich in managerial talent. We hope that their successors will rise to the challenge and keep things interesting in the EPL.

Who Stood Out?

In terms of teams, it was not exactly surprising that Manchester City and Arsenal went toe-to-toe for the title right until the end. And when it came to players, we already knew about the quality of players like Phil Foden, Rodri, Bukayo Saka or Martin Ødegaard.

But we would not love the Premier League as much as we do if it did not have the power to surprise us.

Aston Villa securing a Champions League spot was a great achievement. We expected a bit more from Burnley after winning the Championship at a canter last season. Cole Palmer practically dragging Chelsea to the European spots was outrageous.

And we have more things that impressed us. But it will be the subject of another article, so stay tuned with EPLNews.org.