As the 2024/25 Premier League season progresses, the battles for success at the top end and survival at the bottom end are already heating up. At the summit, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool look set to go head-to-head-to-head in a second straight three-way fight for the crown. Last season, it was the Blues who emerged victorious for the fourth consecutive year, but following a season-ending injury to the talismanic Rodri, their grip on the title may well be loosening.
Towards the basement end of the division, the battle to avoid the drop looks set to be one of the tightest in years. All three newly promoted teams will have their work cut out to stay up, as was the case last season when all three sides suffered immediate relegation. There are, however, several top-flight regulars who will also be fearful of their immediate futures. Here are two teams that should already be concerned about avoiding the Premier League's trapdoor this season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
At the top end of the table, websites allowing one to place an English Premier League bet make Arsenal the surprising 13/10 favourite to claim the title this season. Opposite them, there are no surprises as to who the relegation frontrunners are.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have made a dismal start to the 2024/25 season and currently sit rock bottom of the table with just one point from their first seven games. Under the leadership of Gary O'Neil, the Black Country outfit had high hopes following a promising pre-season. However, instead, the latest Premier League relegation odds make Wolves a 6/4 contender for the drop, the shortest odds of anybody outside of last season's three promoted teams.
After conceding a staggering 21 goals, the highest in the league, the pressure is mounting on O'Neil as Wolves face a daunting fixture list in the coming weeks, with clashes against top-tier teams like the reigning champions and high-flying Brighton looming large. Despite some investment in the squad on promising young talents, the cohesion and defensive stability needed have been lacking.
The fans' growing frustration was evident during their recent 5-3 loss to Brentford, where chants of disapproval echoed their sentiments. If Wolves are to avoid the drop, they must find defensive discipline and start converting opportunities into points swiftly.
Defeat.
— Wolves (@Wolves) October 5, 2024
🐺⏱️ pic.twitter.com/DlIFT1SJZs
Crystal Palace
Many had tipped Crystal Palace as a potential surprise package this season. Following the appointment of Eintracht Frankfurt's Europa League-winning boss Oliver Glasner back in February, the Eagles emerged as the form team in the division. Ebere Eze was causing havoc in attacking areas, while throwback striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was gobbling up his chances left, right, and centre.
Unfortunately for the South London outfit, one-third of their feared attacking trio departed for the bright lights of Bayern Munich, and as of yet, Eze and Mateta have been unable to pick up the slack. They currently find themselves languishing in 18th place, with no victories in their opening seven fixtures and only five goals to their name, a far cry from the backend of last season.
With a relatively tight defence anchored by an England international, Palace's survival hinges on rediscovering their attacking flair. Both Eze and Mateta are capable of the spectacular, and with some winnable fixtures on the horizon against fellow strugglers such as Wolves and Ipswich, finding the back of the net is of paramount importance.
