The Premier League has just started, and judging teams based on their performance so early into the season is a little unfair. However, as fans, that is exactly what we do. The start of the season has been fascinating. We’ve seen some teams beat the odds and score unexpected victories over favourites. We’ve seen players emerge as potential future stars. There is a lot to unpack.
While we are only a few games into what will be a long year, much has already transpired. Let’s look at some surprising results that shocked fans and gambling enthusiasts alike from the first portion of the year.
Tottenham Looks Ferocious
Following a departure from Harry Kane right before the season kicked off, many expected Tottenham to take a step back. They did not rank among the top favourites to contend for the Premier League title on sportsbooks like BetVictor.
However, the season is off to a swimming start. Tottenham sits second on the Premier League table at the time of writing. New manager Ange Postecoglou has the team playing an aggressive, exciting brand of football that has yielded high-scoring showings from the team, and their odds of winning the Premier League have skyrocketed.
Chelsea Can’t Seem to Perform
Expectations weren’t massively high for Chelsea this year, despite how much the team has spent in recent years. Chelsea has spent more than $1 billion since the new ownership group took over in 2022; however, that hasn’t translated to results on the pitch.
This year, they look lost. Chelsea sits 12th on the Premier League table with an embarrassing loss to Nottingham Forest and a sound defeat from West Ham. At least fans can take solace in the fact that many of those big investments from ownership were made with an eye toward the future.
Newcastle United Struggling Early
Newcastle United is another club whose ownership has been spending extravagantly. The club has blossomed back into a world-class group, or so it seemed, as their new owners brought in top players from around the world.
Newcastle was expected to compete at the top of the table this year. That hasn’t been the case thus far. Newcastle has had an incredibly tough schedule, playing Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton. Losing all three of those games is tough to swallow. It is especially tough considering that European football is around the corner, and the team will only get stretched further.
Evan Ferguson, a Young Star
Brighton has become a club that is famed for doing great business. They acquire players, build them up into top talent, and sell them for a large fee, allowing the cycle to continue. The latest player who appears to be blossoming in Brighton is Evan Ferguson.
The 18-year-old Irish forward scored six goals in 19 appearances last season, and he has already come close to matching that this year. Ferguson has four goals in four games and has become one to watch on the league’s top goalscorer odds. He has certainly caught the attention of big clubs.
Nottingham Forest Taking a Step Forward
Nottingham Forest’s return to the Premier League has been a phenomenal story. The historic club pulled out a strong run to the end of last season to avoid relegation, and it appears that they are not content to just hang around at the back end of the table.
They have beaten Chelsea and Sheffield United this season and played Manchester United and Arsenal close. A difficult early season schedule has shown that this team has mettle. Nottingham Forest has been more competitive than expected, and there is a real chance that they could be a mid-table team this season instead of fending off relegation.
