Last season’s Premier League title race went right to the wire, with Manchester City ultimately prevailing to break records in English football with their fourth consecutive league championship.
While Liverpool and Arsenal sustained a challenge for most of the season, Pep Guardiola’s side are near unbeatable at the business end and demonstrated experience and quality to lift the title on the final day at home to West Ham United.
Despite rumours that this is Guardiola’s last season at City, they still command a favourable status within the Premier League winner odds and if they can avoid the slow starts that have almost proved costly in recent years, it’s likely they will retain the title once more.
Arsenal are the closest challengers to City this season, with odds of 7/4, while Liverpool will be in transition under Arne Slot. However, the Premier League is known for its unpredictability, and since its inception there have been several unlikely title contenders.
In this article, we run through three sides that could well serve as dark horses in England’s top flight this season.
Whether it be their exciting summer transfer business, passionate fans, or tactically astute managers, here are the sides we think have gone under the radar ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Manchester United
It’s been 11 years since Manchester United won the Premier League. Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013 with an ageing squad that has been through several transitional periods. Erik ten Hag is now the man tasked with ending that drought in the league, having won two trophies in two seasons so far at Old Trafford.
Last season was United’s worst-placed position in a Premier League season, finishing eighth, but their ability to beat City and take points from Liverpool, coupled with the exciting additions of Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee could be encouraging for the Stretford End faithful. While a title push is ambitious, this could be their best finish to a season since coming second in 2017/18.
Tottenham Hotspur
Last season was a mixed bag for Ange Postecoglou in his maiden year with Tottenham Hotspur. The Australian hit the ground running in England, with Spurs leading the pack until October, until they suffered several key injuries including new signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven.
Postecoglou’s gung-ho approach is fantastic for neutrals, with a bet on Premier League matches involving Spurs likely to have goals at both ends. It’s refreshing to see at a time where a lot teams take cautious approaches.
If the squad can stay injury free at the big moments of the season, expect them to challenge for a place in the top four, and, potentially the title if they can find a winning mentality that has been lacking since 2008.
Newcastle United
Another team whose season was interrupted by injuries was Newcastle United. Eddie Howe ensured Champions League football returned to St James’ Park for the first time since 2003 last term, and while the Magpies showed special moments, beating Paris Saint-Germain and earning a draw at the San Siro, it was a step too far as a dip in form over Christmas cost them a place in Europe this time around.
However, that break from European football could allow Howe’s side to focus on domestic responsibilities. They have a potentially world-class striker in Alexander Isak, with a supporting cast of Antony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães to potentially mount a title charge in Tyneside.
The squad lack experience but the passionate fans in the Gallowgate will ensure a bearpit atmosphere for visiting sides, with the likes of PSG, City and Arsenal falling victim to its vociferous noise throughout the last few years.
Only time will tell if Newcastle have what it takes to restore their Champions League status, as well as compete with the other title contenders.
