Premier League Standings
Manchester City Win Third Straight EPL Title
Decisive Matchday 38 Upcoming
With Arsenal’s loss to Nottingham Forest on Matchday 36, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City won the Premier League for a third year running. City capped off an excellent week, in which they advanced to the Champions League final and won the EPL title, with a 1-0 win over Chelsea. While we know Man City will finish first, Arsenal will finish second and Southampton will go down to the EFL Championship, there is still a lot to be determined in the Premier League standings. We’ll look at some of the most prominent storylines from the last week of the EPL season.
The Champions
Bettors who took Manchester City at -175 preseason EPL odds to win the title were handsomely rewarded. Arsenal put up a fight, but City proved too strong for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners in the end. Man City completed a season sweep of second-placed Arsenal en route to yet another Premier League title. The Cityzens won their fifth EPL trophy in the last six seasons and are in a position to contend again next season.
Erling Haaland proved to be an excellent addition to the squad. The Norwegian striker, formerly of Borussia Dortmund, broke the single-season scoring record in the Premier League. He could add to his 36-goal tally with games vs. Brighton and Brentford left. While Haaland was instrumental to City’s title run, Kevin de Bruyne will almost certainly finish as the league leader in assists. City’s defense has also conceded fewer than a goal per game. Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake have been standouts along the backline.
Champions League Picture
With Monday’s 0-0 draw vs. Leicester City, Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League standings. The Magpies were in last place in the Premier League for parts of the 2021-22 season, but Eddie Howe has orchestrated an incredible turnaround. Newcastle will not finish below fourth in the Premier League standings this season.
Meanwhile, if Manchester United gain a single point during their last two matches, they’ll also seal qualification to the Champions League. United take on Chelsea on Thursday and close the season with Fulham at home. Liverpool have slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, but it’ll take a win vs. Southampton and two Man United losses.
European Qualification
The seven top Premier League teams will participate in European tournaments next season. We’ve already established Man City, Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester United, and Liverpool will be among the five. Roberto de Zerbi’s Brighton are also guaranteed to finish in the top seven and will make their first appearance in a major UEFA competition in 2023-23.
The fifth and sixth-placed teams will participate in next season’s Europa League. Meanwhile, seventh place advances to the UEFA Europa Conference League. Additionally, should West Ham win this season’s Conference League Final over Fiorentina, they’ll participate in the 2023-24 Europa League. Because the Hammers are guaranteed to finish outside the top seven, it would mean eight English teams are in Europe next season.
Brighton, on 61 points heading into Wednesday’s match vs. Man City, will almost certainly finish in sixth. They’ve got a game in hand and a +16 goal difference advantage over seventh-placed Aston Villa. Villa are three points behind Brighton, and the two teams meet on Sunday’s EPL schedule. Villa are +130 home favorites and will clinch at least seventh place with a win. Meanwhile, eighth-placed Tottenham and ninth-placed Brentford are still in the running for seventh. A Tottenham draw or win over Leeds and Aston Villa loss will mean Spurs finish in seventh. Brentford need a win over champions Man City and both Aston Villa and Tottenham to either draw or lose on Sunday.
Relegation Update
Southampton are the first confirmed relegated team and will finish dead last in the Premier League standings. Next season, the Saints will play in the EFL Championship for the first time since 2012. Leeds United enter Sunday’s decisive final Matchday in 19th place and need a win to have any hope of staying in the Premier League. Leeds are +175 underdogs on Sunday vs. Tottenham.
Leicester City are level on points with Leeds but have a superior goal difference. After Monday’s scoreless draw vs. Newcastle, the Foxes also need to win on Sunday to have a chance to stay up. They are +110 home favorites vs. a West Ham side with nothing to play for on the final Matchday. Should Everton win on Sunday vs. Bournemouth, Leicester and Leeds will go to the EFL Championship. The Toffees are -210 favorites and are the only team in the relegation picture with a win in their last five matches. An Everton draw or loss and Leicester win will mean Leicester stays up.
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