The English Premier League 2023/24 season is now in full flight, and with August's results in the books, we look ahead to a hectic September schedule.
The EPL is the most-watched club soccer competition on the planet, attracting millions of followers from across the United Kingdom, boosted by fans in the United States, Spain, Australia, Japan, and further afield.
Almost every top-tier team has a global presence and a huge fan base, with Manchester United the best-loved.
The Premier League is the best division with the top players and most famous managers. Games are shown on television and live-streaming apps to billions of soccer lovers annually, with most making predictions at the market-leading gambling websites and smartphone apps.
Fans select a team to win the league or the next live game, wager, and cheer on their predictions. The top apps offer match-winners, both teams to score, first goalscorer, handicap, and more.
Who is your favourite EPL team? When supporters were choosing their champions back in pre-season, Manchester City was the most popular, and that was no surprise. The Cityzens have won the last three Premier League gongs and did the treble last term, adding the FA Cup and Champions League to their Premier League gong.
A trophy cabinet is already at capacity, but the team from the Etihad Stadium is showing no signs of slowing down. They are the favorites, with many pundits picking Man City to bag four titles on the bounce.
A dark horse from London
Man City has dominated English soccer for much of the previous decade, and now they are European champions; there looks to be no stopping them. The champions have a supremely talented squad and a reliable fan base. In Erling Haaland, they have claims on the best scorer in the business. It wouldn't shock anyone if Man City made it four titles in four years, but nothing lasts forever.
Critics suggest Man City could be a victim of their success. Pep Guardiola's men have a hectic season ahead, competing in the Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League, and the World Club Cup.
The champions boast a large squad with strength in depth, and manager Pep Guardiola will use all tools at his disposal. But could City have too many distractions as they target back-to-back European trophies? We've seen the difficulties of dominating domestic and European competitions from Real Madrid.
With question marks over Man City's ability to win on Champions League detail in midweek and Premier League action at the weekend, pundits are seeking a potential dark horse. The team that could upset the experts and win the league.
Most tipsters flagged Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Chelsea as possible challengers to Guardiola's dominance. But the London club Tottenham Hotspur surprised us most with a stunning August and a flying start to September.
Can Spurs go all the way, blazing a trail of glory to the Premier League title? That seems a long way off, but the Londoners are making all the right moves. We saw neighbors Arsenal challenge last season before falling off the pace in the final exchanges. Can Spurs go one better? Keep reading as we update you on their early season results.
Early setback for Ange
Tottenham Hotspur ended their search for a new manager by appointing Ange Postecoglou from Celtic. The former Australian national team boss arrived in Glasgow as a virtual unknown, having worked in Japanese football, finding success in the J-League.
He wasn't without his critics in Glasgow but knew how to silence the doubters. He won a double in his first season, claiming the League Cup and Premiership. And that was just for starters.
In his second season at Parkhead, Ange won the treble, beating Rangers to the Scottish Premiership and League Cup before bagging the Scottish Cup for a full house. Having won everything on the line, bagging five trophies from six in his first two years, it was apparent his time in Scotland would only last a bit longer. Some big-name clubs were showing an interest in the coach with a growing reputation, but the riches of the Premier League and bossing Spurs lured him.
Postecoglou was again written off, with pundits and Spurs fans angered at their club for accepting success in Scotland as a benchmark. But the board saw the bigger picture and handed Ange the keys to the manager's office.
While uncertainty hung heavy in the North London air, Ange faced his first obstacle, trying to keep hold of striker Harry Kane. Despite rumors Kane would hang around, he signed at Bayern Munich and is now playing Bundesliga soccer.
Early season form
With the fans dead against his appointment and lining up without his star player, Postecoglou had a mountain to climb. He didn't do his reputation any favours and failed to win over the fans when his team drew 2-2 away to Brentford in a London derby.
Despite the Bees carrying a sting in their tail, fans weren't in the mood to cut the newbie some slack, and many in the stands believed two points dropped on week one was the start of a forgettable season under an inexperienced manager.
Results since that hard-fought draw at Brentford proved the doubters were miles off the mark. In his first home game as manager, emerging to a packed house at the billion-pound Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ange worked his magic. Man Utd were the opponents, and the Red Devils were expected to pile on the pressure, handing Spurs their first loss of the season.
But Premier League games in North London rarely follow the script, and Spurs landed a win. That game ended 2-0 for the home team with goals from Sarr and Martinez's own goal.
That dramatic and unexpected home victory over Man Utd set a fire under this Spurs squad, and they relished the winning feeling. They beat Bournemouth 2-0 on the South Coast on matchday three, rounding off their league games for August in style. September followed a similar path, with Spurs hammering Burnley 5-2 at Turf Moor.
Four games played, ten points claimed, and eleven goals scored. Who needs Harry Kane? Ange had won over the doubters in weeks, and supporters are joining the Postecoglou fan club in their droves. The team now has momentum; the 10 points meant they finished week four of the season in second, two points behind Man City's perfect record.
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