Premier League Slow Starters – Can They Bounce Back?
2022/2023 Premier League Slow Starters
With the September international break now upon us. It provides the perfect opportunity to take stock of the Premier League season so far. The focus is usually placed on the teams at the top, but we are going to look at those at the bottom.
Not necessarily the outfits who we believe will be relegation candidates, more those who have been slow out of the blocks and with some unlikely names already struggling, their fortunes are going to have to change rather quickly.
This means we are now going to analyse the chances of those who find themselves off the pace and see if they can find a much-needed spark to their campaign – while should they not, some difficult decisions may need to be made.
LEICESTER CITY
Where else can we start than at the bottom of the Premier League table and with Leicester currently propping up the other 19 teams in the division, all is not well under the stewardship of manager Brendan Rodgers.
While the reason for all of Leicester’s recent woes, is due to their incredibly generous defence. The Foxes having shipped an average of three goals per game. That is the kind of return that eventually equals relegation.
On paper there is no doubt that Leicester’s squad is talented enough to avoid the drop. However, those chances are likely to be increased if there is a change of manager.
Brendan Rodgers’ reign as Leicester boss has been largely successful. With success that can be measured by winning both the FA Cup and Community Shield. However, his failure can also be measured by two late season collapses out of the top four.
Which means the Ulsterman’s credit account at the King Power is now entering its overdraft. With six successive league defeats at the time of writing, now might be the time to hand the managerial baton to somebody else.
Should this be the case, then a highly talented squad quickly becomes a rejuvenated one. With the new manager bounce that is likely to also follow, the Foxes will soon rediscover their bite in the English top flight.
WEST HAM UNITED
All does not seem well at West Ham. Following on from two previous league campaigns that have delivered European football in the. The prospect of a third successive trip to the continent looks unlikely at present.
With the first international hiatus of the season now underway. The Hammers find themselves in the relegation zone and although you should not give the table too much credence at this stage, it will still be of concern to manager David Moyes.
His side were outmuscled and outfought by his former employers Everton. With the Toffees now seemingly out of their own sticky situation, it means another Premier League outfit is in strife.
Whether this is because West Ham’s squad has been stretched too much and their European exploits are actually having an adverse effect, is something that can be argued and although their supporters will claim this is not the case, outsiders will suggest that it is.
Like Leicester, West Ham certainly have the quality to claw their way up the table. Unlike Leicester it is not going to take a change of manager to turbocharge their fortunes. However, the Hammers are going to need some joy in front of goal.
With just three goals scored across the first seven league outings of the season. There is no doubt that the East London outfit have been shy in the opposition’s box. If they can solve this conundrum, then progress will follow soon after.
LIVERPOOL
Of all the clubs that are card carrying member of the big six, it is Liverpool who are struggling the most. With Jurgen Klopp approaching his seven-season itch, many are wondering if the German has hit the end of the Anfield road.
With September’s international break now well underway. The Reds find themselves nine points off the top of the table. Although they have a game in hand over current league leaders Arsenal, it already looks like an insurmountable margin.
Not only have the Merseyside men said goodbye to Sadio Mane, but in doing so they have seemingly undercut Mohamed Salah at the same time and with the Egyptian king morphing into a creator, their key source of goals has dried up.
Add a Darwin Nunez who has only scored one Premier League goal since his arrival and the pieces of the Liverpool jigsaw are seemingly misaligned at present. However, such an issue should be rather easy to fix.
Especially when other key personnel return from injury and with Liverpool not quite being afforded the luxury of having a full-strength side being available, we are yet to see all their cylinders operating together.
Which means when they are at their strongest, they should be in a position to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. a genuine title tilt is likely to elude them, qualification for the Champions League will not.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
When looking at the current Premier League table, Crystal Palace supporters may be concerned. Patrick Vieria has assembled a rather exciting squad, however that excitement has not been covered to points on the board.
When you consider the uncertainty over Wilfried Zaha’s future at the end of the season. The South London outfit might go from last season’s surprise act to this season’s surprise relegation candidate. While this is also something that Aston Villa will need to be wary of.
Admittedly earning four points from the last six on offer, is something that has bought Steven Gerrard some time. However, time is an incredibly precious commodity in the Premier League, and it can evaporate rather quickly.
With the Villa board not being short when it comes to ambition. It now needs to be met by both manager and players alike. Although they are starting to turn things around, they are by no means out of the woods yet.
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