Premier League analysis: Five things we have learned from the first five games

The 2024/25 Premier League campaign is in full swing now as every team has played five games so far this season.

Clubs have surprised us, whether pleasant or unpleasant, while others have started as expected.

Nevertheless, the Premier League is at its best with terrific goals, games, and teams.

As we look ahead to Gameweek Six, Sports News Blitz’s Jon Shea discusses what we have learned from the first five Gameweeks.

Promoted three to struggle again

For the first time since the 1997/98 Premier League campaign, all three promoted sides were relegated last season.

Sheffield United, Luton Town and Burnley all struggled to cope with the league's demands and were sent straight back down.

Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton are the newly-promoted teams this time round and already they are finding it challenging.

For any promoted team, it is always a tough ask to compete in the Premier League, particularly when the club has spent a lengthy spell out of the top league which is evident in Ipswich’s case.

They are yet to win a game but they have done well to grab a couple of good results, especially with the draw away to Brighton in MD4.

In fairness, they were handed the short straw with their opening fixtures as they had to face the current top two, Manchester City and Liverpool in their opening two fixtures, in which they were swept aside comfortably.

They have back-to-back draws in the league and hopefully, for the fans, they can turn a couple of the draws into three points in the coming weeks.

Leicester City, who only had one year out of the Premier League before returning to the top division, have found it very difficult as they are yet to secure their first victory.

The 2016 Premier League champions have only lost two of the first five - but like Ipswich are struggling to turn their draws into wins.

Their main man, Jamie Vardy, has over 130 Premier League goals to his name and they have vast amounts of Premier League experience throughout their squad with players like Harry Winks and Wilfried Ndidi.

They have incredible talent in Stephy Mavididi, who has proven to have an eye for goal with two goals in his last two league games.

Off the pitch, they managed to get a huge win in their PSR (Profit and Sustainablity Rules) case after winning it against the Premier League.

Southampton were seconds away from their first league win in MD5 but a last-minute strike from Ipswich’s Sam Morsy denied the Saints their first three points.

Like Leicester, they only spent a season outside the Premier League but are struggling to get back up to the speed and quality of the league.

They have recruited well, particularly in goal, with Aaron Ramsdale making himself a mainstay in the Saints goal.

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The top-four battles are as open as ever

The top-four battle is expected to be as tantalizing as ever, with Aston Villa and Newcastle United posing a strong threat already this season.

Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea are all looking to retain some consistency in the league and secure Champions League football next season.

Chelsea and Manchester United have five European Cups between them but fell short of the top-four chase last season.

Manchester United seem to be short in a number of areas and fans feel that it is more hope than optimism.

Chelsea have shown themselves to be a better outfit, as they have a very talented young squad with the likes of Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer shining in the early part of the season.

Enzo Maresca is still trying to apply his philosophy to the team and the games involving his side seem to be very open.

Newcastle and Aston Villa look like they are on their way to another decent season challenging at the top end of the season, Villa being the most recent of the two to break into the top four.

Newcastle have some firepower up top with the likes of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak that could get the Magpies in amongst it.

Villa are improving year after year and Unai Emery’s genius just seems to go from strength to strength with the team.

They do have Champions League football to contend with this season but with Emery at the helm and the European experience he brings, you never know what this side could achieve in Europe.

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur have had an indifferent start to the season, with questions surrounding their ruthlessness in front of goal.

They do have quality players within their ranks and the experience to get back into the top four.

Title race open

Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal are the three that look like they are going to make a real challenge for the title.

Manchester City have won the last four Premier League titles and are probably still the favourites for the title.

However, a man who has been ever-present in their midfield, Rodri, is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The Spaniard has suffered knee ligament damage, which is a huge blow as they have not lost a game with him playing since February 2023.

He is a huge miss, however the team is full of Premier League experience which could help cover his absence.

Arsenal held City to a draw at the Etihad for the second season running, coming agonizingly close to victory before John Stones’ scrappy goal saved the blue half of Manchester.

They have improved year after year under Mikel Arteta - in the last two seasons they have fallen just short from winning the title in the latter stages of the season.

They may learn from their experiences of heartbreak and turn it in their favour, to go a step further and claim their first title in 21 years.

Liverpool are seen as slight outsiders to win the league, largely because it is rare for a manager to come into the Premier League and win the title in his first season.

Only Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Manuel Pellegrini have won the league in their first season as a Premier League manager.

Apart from a surprise loss to Nottingham Forest, the Reds have looked on fire under Arne Slot, as the change of system looks to be working well.

They have a great defence, conceding just one goal, and they have players in the team who are already title winners such as Mohammed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Allison.

They can pass on their experiences to the rest of the Liverpool squad, but will it be enough for them to claim their 20th title? We shall see - but they will certainly be in the mix.

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Yellow/red cards could be at an all-time high

Every year the tolerance from referees declines, and this season it is more evident than ever.

The rule changes state that any player who delays the restart of a match by kicking the ball away or any other way will be booked.

Arsenal have been the most affected after having two players sent off this season for delaying the restart of a match (Declan Rice vs Brighton and Leandro Trossard vs Manchester City).

Now the ‘dark arts’ which have made the headlines a lot in the last week, have been in football for what seems like forever, but the punishment is severe.

The Bournemouth vs Chelsea match in September saw referee Anthony Taylor dish out 14 yellow cards, the most in any Premier League game.

Evidence shows we are on course for the most yellow and red cards in a Premier League season, as 17 of the 20 teams have already hit double figures when it comes to bookings with Chelsea topping that table with 18 already.

Managers under pressure

There are a few managers who are already under some pressure to turn their results around.

Last season we had the least managerial changes with four, but there may be a few more this season as patience may run out for certain managers.

Sean Dyche at Everton is under huge pressure as the Toffees are yet to win a league match this season.

Their only point came against Leicester in their last outing and with the proposed takeover from the Friedkin Group currently ongoing, they may have their own ideas about who should manage the club.

Dyche must start turning around results and fast if he wants to be around for the new era at Everton.

Julen Lopetegui is finding it tough at West Ham United early in the season, winning just one of their first five league games.

They have lost their first three home games in a season for the first time in their history.

I don’t believe the Spaniard will be under any pressure yet, but he does need to turn results around at home.

Not for the first time there are many eyes on Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag as the Red Devils looked unconvincing in the first part of this season as the old problems do look to be resurfacing.

Many suggest he was lucky to survive last season, as he managed United to their lowest-ever Premier League position, but the FA Cup victory over their local rivals Man City ultimately saved his job.

With the new ownership now going through wholesale changes on and off the pitch, Ten Hag needs to turn the team’s fortunes around as they cannot afford another season of mediocrity as the Dutchman’s job security could come under threat again.

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