Can anyone challenge the English Premier League’s top 6 clubs of Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal? Here are 3 that could!
Leicester City
In recent years, since winning their unprecedented English Premier League crown in the 2014/15 season, Leicester have proven again and again that they are one of the top English Premier League (EPL) teams. This season, they currently sit in 9th place in the EPL table on 6 points. However, with a visit to Brighton and Hove Albion planned tomorrow, a victory for Leicester against the south coast club could possibly propel them right back into the mix with the top clubs.
With players like Jamie Vardy leading the attacking line and midfielders like the talented Belgian Youri Tielemans, they can cope with any team in the Premier League. If you add to that the imposing presence of Kaspar Schmeichel between the sticks and a decent defensive line, you can see why they always seem to be pushing the top 6 in the EPL.
In their last EPL game they suffered a defeat against Manchester City at home at the King Power Stadium. However, as City probably have the best squad in the entire league and the margin of defeat was only 0-1, Leicester won’t be too demoralised by this result.
Expect Brendan Radgers’ Leicester City to be there or thereabouts when we get to the business end of the season!
Everton
At the start of the season, things weren’t looking too stable in the blue half of Liverpool. Their manager Carlo Ancelotti departed suddenly for Real Madrid, despite being supposedly tied down to a deal keeping him at Goodison Park until 2024. That meant that ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez took the reigns at Everton before this season in June 2021. Back in 2008, whilst managing arch-rivals Liverpool, Benitez made inflammatory statements directed at Everton, including calling them a ‘small club’.
This season so far, however, has been better than most Everton fans would have predicted. Currently, they occupy 4th place in the EPL table and level on points after 4 games with Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool!
The last time Everton played in the EPL, they ran out comfortable winners against Burnley, courtesy of goals from defender Michael Keane, talented forward Demarai Gray, as well as a fantastic strike by a rejuvenated Andros Townsend.
This weekend the Toffees take on Aston Villa away. Rafa Benitez will be hoping to maintain their fine start to this campaign and to show that his team can consistently challenge at the summit of the EPL!
West Ham United
West Ham United have been on an upwards trajectory in recent times. At the time of writing, they are 8th in the EPL, 1 point above Leicester City. In fact, during a spell of good results, they handed out a 4-1 thrashing to Leicester in the EPL as well as earning satisfying wins against Newcastle and Brentford. Their last 2 EPL games however have resulted in draws against Crystal Palace and Southampton. These are the kind of games that the Hammers need to be winning if they are going to be challenging the top 6 at the end of the season.
West Ham now have a very talented team that finished 6th in last year’s EPL. In attack, they have the in-form and dangerous Michail Antonio. The forward has so far notched up the most shots on target in the EPL. David Moyes’ team also possess a gifted midfield which includes the attack-minded Saïd Benrahma, as well as England international Declan Rice and Czech international Tomáš Souček.
West Ham face Manchester United this weekend, in a game which could either highlight their potential as challengers to the top 6 or suggest that their strong start to the season was just a fluke.
