After being swept away by Liverpool two years ago – along with everyone else – Manchester City took back the EPL title last season. Many of the big betting sites in Canada had Pep Guardiola’s side as favourites to retain that crown in 2022. But, with the calendar year almost in the books, which stadium will be full of celebrating fans at the end of the campaign?
The EPL looks like being a battle between three clubs now – Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. But who will ultimately come out on top? And will there be any other surprise challengers in 2022?
Can Manchester City Repeat?
Manchester City has won the EPL title in three of the last four seasons and finished runner up in the other campaign. But this year looks like being one of the closest races in quite a long time – and could involve all three clubs currently at the top of the table. Guardiola’s men look to be in pole position as 2021 draws to a close but he may not be too confident of remaining at the summit for the rest of the campaign.
City may be in the best form of the top three at the current time but it did lose at home to Crystal Palace at the end of October and proved that just about any team can beat any other on its day in the English top flight. A favourable run of games over the holidays will benefit City as it goes into next year, before the big test against Chelsea in the middle of January.
Will Tuchel Lead Chelsea to Glory?
Thomas Tuchel has been an absolute revelation since taking over at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea fans are now beginning to get very excited about the prospect of winning the EPL for the first time since 2017. After the tactical problems of the Frank Lampard era, Chelsea now looks like it could take City and Liverpool all the way this season.
The West London club also has a nice looking run of fixtures to see out 2021. But it will be severely tested at the start of next year, with back to back EPL games against Liverpool and Manchester City either side of its FA Cup third round tie against lowly Chesterfield. If Tuchel can mastermind six points against the club’s biggest rivals in the opening weeks of 2022, Chelsea will really start believing that it can lift the trophy in May.
Can Liverpool’s Goals Bring EPL Success?
Liverpool has been one of the most attractive teams to watch in the EPL this season, thanks to its free-scoring attack of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota. Those three have rarely been off the boil, but even when they haven’t enjoyed the most profitable days, the likes of Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino have stepped up to the task.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have scored the most goals in the EPL so far this season, managing three or more in ten of the 15 league games at the time of writing. The one note of caution would be that Liverpool was unable to beat either Manchester City or Chelsea at home in the early months of the season – and the reverse fixtures later in the campaign may well hold the destiny of the Premier League title in 2022.
Will There Be Any EPL Surprises in 2022?
At the moment it seems very unlikely that any other club other than the three profiled will really challenge for the league title this season. West Ham, Spurs, Manchester United and even Arsenal have all looked good in spells this season. But launching a concerted effort to be champions seems to be out of all their reach.
There will undoubtedly be shock results in the Premier League between now and the end of the season, but not enough to really change the course of what has become a three-way battle. This one looks like it will be going right down to the wire.