Manchester United is in a slump and giants are competing for the Premier League
The 2023/24 Premier League season is drawing to a close, with traditional giants such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal catching performances. In stark contrast to the fierce competition between Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the race for the title, Manchester United have had a poor season, suffering multiple heavy defeats and manager Erik ten Hag's managerial career is in jeopardy.
Manchester United's record defeat Ten Hag is in jeopardy
Manchester United's Premier League form has been on a downward spiral this season, with a 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in the round of 36 to set a number of humiliating records. This is the first time in Manchester United's history that they have lost to Crystal Palace in the Premier League twice in a single season, and it is also the first time that they have been "doubled" by Crystal Palace in a single season of league home and away. The defeat saw United drop to eighth in the table, further widening the gap between the top four and narrowing their chances of qualifying for next season's European competition.
The defeat also brought United's tally of defeats this season to 13, the most in a single season in team history. In his post-match press conference, manager Ten Hag tried to exonerate himself, arguing that there were not many defeats, but he seemed to have forgotten the fact that he had fallen to eighth in the league table. Ten Hag's comments undoubtedly exacerbated the frustration with him, with many fans and pundits calling for the club to sack him and end his managerial career at Manchester United.
Manchester City is fighting for four consecutive titles, and Liverpool is in danger of losing the title on both fronts
In stark contrast to Manchester United's poor performances, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have excellent results in the Premier League this season. Leaders Manchester City are currently four points clear of Arsenal in the table and are in excellent form after being unbeaten in their last 18 league games. If Manchester City can maintain this momentum, they will have a good chance of successfully defending their Premier League title this season and achieving a fourth consecutive title.
Liverpool and Arsenal have not given up on their title dreams either. Liverpool are currently competing in both the Premier League and the Champions League, and the two-front battle has undoubtedly increased the pressure on them. If they make it all the way to the final in the Champions League, their performance in the Premier League is likely to suffer. With excellent overall strength, Liverpool remain one of the most promising teams on the road to winning the title on both fronts.
As for Arsenal, they extended their lead to four points after a 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea in the 29th round. This young squad is full of energy and has been impressive this season under manager Mikel Arteta. Whether Arsenal can finally lift the trophy will need to go all out in the remaining rounds of the league.
Other important events
In addition to the excellent performances of the aforementioned giants, there have been a number of other noteworthy events in the Premier League this season.
Injuries to Manchester United's players. Manchester United have suffered serious injuries this season due to poor squad building. Their main striker, Casemiro, had twice his goal disallowed and was a big disappointment in their 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Key goal statistics for home and away teams. In the Premier League this season, there has been a clear gap between the number of goals scored by the home and away teams. Home teams tend to have the upper hand at home, while away teams struggle to get out on the road. This also reflects the brutal competition in the Premier League.
Post-match comments from the manager and players. In addition to Ten Hag's self-justifying remarks, Crystal Palace's Olise was also a bit of a pity for his goal, believing he could have scored more, and praised team-mate Eze for his excellent performance. These post-match comments undoubtedly added to the drama of the game.