New Year, New Surprises: The Unpredictable Premier League at Halfway

The Premier League is a stage where certainty is a rare commodity, and the 2024/25 season has once again proven this. If anything has become clear in the first half of this campaign, it’s that predicting outcomes in English football is almost a fool’s errand.

As we reach the halfway point of the 2024/25 Premier League season, the league continues to live up to its reputation for delivering the unexpected. With shocking struggles from some of the usual giants and impressive runs from unlikely contenders, this campaign is already shaping up as one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.

From Liverpool’s dominance to Nottingham Forest’s astonishing ascent, and the chaos unfolding at both Manchester clubs, let’s dive into the key stories dominating the Premier League.

Salah Leading Liverpool to the Top of the Pile

Liverpool have reasserted themselves as the team to beat this season, sitting confidently atop the Premier League table. At the heart of their success is Mohamed Salah, whose incredible form has driven the Reds back to their best.

Salah has already racked up 17 goals and 13 assists this season, a testament to his ability to both score and create with remarkable consistency. Beyond the statistics, his leadership on the pitch has been crucial in helping Liverpool reclaim their dominance. Whether slotting home decisive goals or orchestrating attacks with precision, Salah is proving why he remains one of the world’s best players at the age of 32.

One obvious dark cloud looming over Liverpool is the growing concern surrounding the contract situation of Salah, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also join him in the same predicament for Liverpool's board. Despite their crucial roles in the team’s success, there’s been little progress on contract renewals, leaving the club with an increasingly pressing task. Real Madrid’s rejected enquiry for Alexander-Arnold on New Year's Eve only adds to the urgency, with the possibility of losing such influential players becoming a real concern. If Liverpool is to maintain their momentum and continue to build for the future, securing long-term deals for these stars should be top priority as they aim to finish the season strong and enter the next campaign and potential title defence with their core intact.

Despite these contract problems, the Liverpool squad are firing on all cylinders under Arne Slot, Liverpool look poised to go the distance as they aim for their first Premier League title since 2020.

Nottingham Forest’s Remarkable Rise

Nottingham Forest have emerged as the season’s biggest surprise, currently sitting 2nd in the table. Many expected Forest to struggle after such a disappointing end to last season that saw them narrowly escape relegation. Under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest have transformed into a disciplined, well-drilled side capable of competing with and beating the best.

Key to their success has been Chris Wood, whose contributions up front have been vital. The New Zealand international’s 11 goals paired with their solid defence have turned Forest into genuine contenders for European football. Their blend of tactical organisation and resilience has silenced doubters and inspired fans, making them one of the most compelling stories of the season so far.

Promoted Teams Struggling to Adjust

As Forest thrive, the same cannot be said for the league’s newly promoted sides. Southampton, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town have found life in the Premier League difficult, each struggling to make an impact.

Southampton sit at the bottom of the table with just six points, including a solitary win. Their lack of attacking threat is a huge cause of this and looks to have left them looking destined for relegation. One rather ironic victory Saints fans can take is that they finally managed to score a goal in a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace.

Leicester City have also struggled, who alongside Southampton parted ways with their managers in an effort to turn their fortunes around. Despite flashes of promise, inconsistency still plagues both teams.

Ipswich will be hoping to build on their December performances, which saw them shock Chelsea 2-0 and beat fellow relegation contenders Wolves. Pulling in 6 points within a month may not sound like much, but it saw them climb to within a point of leaving the relegation zone and it serves as something to build on after such a poor start to the season.

Unless all 3 of these clubs can rally in the second half of the season, their time in the topflight could be short-lived.

Surprise Packages in the Top Half

While the promoted teams have struggled, clubs like Bournemouth and Fulham have exceeded expectations so far.

Both teams ended last season in 12th and 13th respectively and never broke into the top half after week 1 of the season. As 2025 begins, they find themselves neighbours once again, however this time, they have made their break into the top half of the table stick, in 7th and 8th.

There are many who would believe that a good handful of teams who sit below have better squads on paper than both Fulham and Bournemouth, as well as more resource to spend in January, which will likely result in both sides feeling the pressure in the next few weeks, but for now, both sides have shown why they deserve to sit in such a place.

Troubling Times for London Rivals

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Tottenham and West Ham have endured disappointing campaigns.

Tottenham and West Ham have both been plagued by inconsistency this season, but their struggles manifest in different ways. Tottenham, despite their potential, have suffered disappointing draws and losses to several lower-ranked teams, leaving them stuck in the bottom half of the table. Their inability to secure points against weaker opponents has highlighted the team’s vulnerability and raised questions about their mentality.

On the other hand, West Ham’s issues have largely stemmed from defensive frailties, with the fourth-worst goal difference overall. Their lack of solidity at the back has contributed to their poor form and has eroded any potential path up the table. As much as their issues at the back are their standout problem, it can't be said that their forwards are propping them up either. Club Captain Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio both have indefinite injury layoffs and Niclas Füllkrug is not far removed from a lengthy spell on the injury list and certainly hasn't settled into form since his arrival. It remains to be seen if Julen Lopetegui will dip into the transfer market for reinforcements, that's if he holds onto his job much longer, as the shouts for his removal get louder from fans.

Both clubs face pivotal months ahead if they are to salvage their seasons and prevent them from being complete failures.

Manchester United’s Nightmare Continues

For Manchester United, the 2024/25 campaign has been a disaster. Despite spending heavily in the summer and then replacing Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim, the club remains mired in 14th place, only 7 points away from the bottom 3. It doesn't take an expert to see that this is by a country mile their worst position at this stage of the season in decades.

Marcus Rashford's situation at Manchester United has become a particular talking point in amongst the torrid results, as the forward has been virtually exiled from the squad for the last four games. This comes despite a promising start under new manager Rúben Amorim, where he scored three goals in the first two matches. Concerns over Rashford’s off-the-pitch conduct have grown, particularly after he was spotted attending an NBA game in New York at the end of November during the international break, instead of focusing on his form in Manchester. Speculation is mounting about whether Rashford could still play a pivotal role in turning United’s disastrous season around—or if his apparent lack of focus could lead to his departure from the club. With United in desperate need of a resurgence, the clock is ticking for both player and club.

The team in itself have issues that run deep too: defensive lapses, a lack of cohesion, and poor morale have left them floundering. The gap between their ambitions and their performances is stark, and unless drastic changes are made, this season could go down as one of the worst in their history.

Manchester City Stumble in Rare Slump

Manchester City, perennial title contenders and serial winners, have hit an unprecedented slump. Unbeaten after the first 9 matches and sitting top of the league, City were maintaining their status as title favourites. But a pair of wins in their last ten games then followed which leaves Pep Guardiola’s side enduring their worst Premier League run in years, and Guardiola himself experiencing the worst of his managerial career.

The absence of Rodri, their midfield linchpin, has been particularly damaging. Without him, City have looked vulnerable defensively and disjointed in attack. Their uncharacteristic struggles have seen them drop to 6th place, 14 points adrift of Liverpool at the top. Leaving Guardiola admitting in a recent interview that City have "no chance" of winning the title this season.

A Season Like No Other

At the halfway mark, the 2024/25 Premier League season has already delivered more surprises than most campaigns manage in their entirety. From Liverpool’s dominance to Nottingham Forest’s rise, from United’s collapse to City’s rare struggles, this season reminds us why the Premier League is the world’s most exciting league.

As we head into the New Year and the second half of the season, one thing is clear: the twists and turns are far from over.