The 2024-25 Premier League season has reached its midway point, and oh, how the mighty have fallen. As we reevaluate the landscape with our updated power rankings, it’s striking to see just how much has changed since November—and how much has, somehow, stayed exactly the same.
Liverpool Reign Supreme as City Slip
Let’s start at the very top, where Liverpool’s steadfast brilliance sees them maintain an iron grip on the No. 1 spot. Not even the challengers’ best efforts have shaken their lead. Arsenal remain locked in second, while Chelsea climb to third. But the real drama lies with the blue half of Manchester, as Pep Guardiola’s City slip to a shocking fourth in our rankings.
Guardiola insists his side are “back” after demolishing Ipswich Town, but one has to wonder: does trouncing the league’s worst team really prove anything? City’s desperation is palpable, with a flurry of January signings aimed at injecting much-needed pace. Only time will tell if this transfusion of new blood can revive their fading title hopes.
Surprise Risers: Bournemouth & Nottingham Forest
Perhaps the biggest shocks come from the league’s overachievers. Nottingham Forest, preseason favorites for the drop, now boast a stunning 62% chance of gatecrashing the top 5. Their mastery of eking out wins in nail-biters has propelled them up the ranks—and made them the neutrals’ darlings.
Not to be outdone, Bournemouth’s fairytale under Andoni Iraola continues. The Cherries, hailing from a tiny coastal town, have taken 22 of 30 points and are on course for a top-7 finish. Their secret? Relentless running, lightning counters, and a knack for winning penalties. With a squad bursting with hungry youngsters, Bournemouth are a feel-good story we should all be talking about more.
Tottenham & Man United: Giants in Free Fall
On the flip side, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are enduring precipitous falls from grace. Spurs, ravaged by injuries, languish in 15th—though their underlying numbers suggest they’ve been unluckier than their dismal league position implies.
If there are behind-the-scenes issues with training techniques and you think you can hire a similar coach who won’t run the risk of running his players into the ground, then sure, maybe you move on. But if you’re judging Postecoglou based purely on the team’s performance this season, that would be foolish.
As for United, not even new manager Ruben Amorim’s tactical wizardry has lifted them from mid-table obscurity. Growing pains were expected with the shift to an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 shape, but United’s wild inconsistency—taking points off title contenders while losing to also-rans—is alarming. Amorim may need a full preseason (and a few transfer windows) to mold this side in his image.
The More Things Change…
For all the upheaval in the middle of the pack, some things remain constant. Wolves, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton bring up the rear, still favorites for the drop. Liverpool’s ruthless machine rolls on, fueled by Mo Salah’s goals and the Anfield crowd’s roars.
But if this season has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. The Premier League script is being furiously rewritten with each passing week—and we can’t wait to see what plot twists lie in store. Will Man City’s new signings gel in time to reignite their title charge? Can Forest and Bournemouth keep defying the odds? Will Spurs and United awaken from their slumber? Only one thing’s for certain: the tale of the 2024-25 season is far from over.
