Ian Darke’s 2024-25 Premier League team-by-team grades
Arne Slot achieved an impressive debut season by winning the Premier League with Liverpool, spearheaded by a talented Mohamed Salah, who undoubtedly became the best player in the league.
The Reds finished with high marks, but what about the other 19 teams this season? Well, it’s report card time for the Premier League. Did your club fly or flop? Was their season a success or a shocker? Here are my grades considering what teams actually achieved based on their expectations from last August.
It would have been an A+, had it not been for defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final. Other than that, Liverpool were stylish and unexpected champions in what was supposed to be a transition year for new coach Arne Slot.
Slot barely put a foot wrong as his side cruised to a 20th title, aided by a record 47 goal involvements for Premier League Player of the Season Mohamed Salah. New deals for him and captain Virgil van Dijk, with the promise of significant summer signings, will mean Liverpool start as favorites to retain their crown. The only sour note was the booing of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who looks to be on his way to Real Madrid.
After two runner-up finishes, many felt this would be the Gunners’ year, so it was easy to dismiss them as “nearly men.” But another second-place spot and a thrilling run to the semifinals of the Champions League — which included a comprehensive defeat of Real Madrid — is hardly a failure. The reticence to sign a quality striker in January came back to bite them hard, while 14 draws told a story of the Gunners’ failure to put teams to the sword.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
After four successive titles, nobody saw City’s implosion coming. Pep Guardiola’s team ended without a major trophy when every expectation was that they would seize more silverware. Why did it happen? The absence of key man Rodri, the loss of form of several players — including Phil Foden — injuries to others, and a definite loss of appetite. That said, City did well to recover to grab third place and stay in the Champions League. Guardiola later admitted: “We are not what we were, but we will be again.”
Enzo Maresca’s patient possession game was not to everyone’s taste at Stamford Bridge, but he had the league’s youngest team in title contention until Christmas. Form fell away until a late revival secured the Champions League return, which was the minimum requirement at a club with lofty ambitions. Chelsea look likely to add the UEFA Europa Conference League crown to their portfolio this week when they start as favorites in a final against Real Betis.
