The Premier League is one of the most competitive football leagues on the planet. Each season, three teams are relegated and three teams are brought up from the Championship. For the newly promoted teams, survival is the name of the game. However, sometimes teams do far better than expected. Below, we discuss the likelihood that the newly promoted teams in the Premier League could win.
Leicester City
The truth is that it is unlikely a team will come up from the Championship and win the league outright. This usually has to do with money, as there is a huge gap between a club’s income in the second flight of English football to the top. Clubs like Newcastle United and Manchester City have almost infinite resources, meaning they can add top-class players and depth to a squad.
Leicester City were relegated and then promoted back to the league within one season by coming first in the Championship. The Premier League betting odds have them at around 500/1 to win, with some operators even going further as of 22/7/24. Yet if history has taught us anything, it is that Leicester City is a team the defies odds.
This is due to their legendary 2015-2016 season, which many have down as one of the greatest sporting stories of all time. It was their second consecutive season in the league, and they were down as 5000-1 outsiders to win with many tipping them for relegation. They managed to become winners with two games left to play in the campaign, meaning it was the first time the team had won in its history.
This was down to a series of fantastic events, not least Claudio Ranieri who was tactically brilliant, as were several key players at the time. If they can repeat this feat remains to be seen. However, spectators will be using live betting sites to keep an eye on them during games and make bets as games are in play, knowing the team’s ability to turn things around quickly is one of their greatest assets.
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town has been on a roller coaster. They are the fifth team to have achieved back-to-back promotions, moving up to the Championship and then the Premier League within two seasons. This has been down to the managerial style of Kieran Mckenna, who has ended a 22-year absence from the top tier.
They start the season at the deep end, with games against Manchester City and Liverpool. More time in the Championship may have allowed them to build much needed depth, but the team has the mindset to at least stay in the top flight.
Southampton
Of all the newly promoted teams, Southampton are the squad that may struggle the most despite odds suggesting otherwise. They won the playoffs, beating Leeds United for promotion. A quality manager, who knows the team, also exists in Russell Martin.
Most bookmakers have them at around 7/4 to be relegated. This is mainly down to a lack of depth, not just on the bench but with players in the starting squad. It is hard to see how they will compete with some of the greatest players in the world.
Teams that do manage to stay afloat often fare much better in the second season, often due to increased reputation and revenue. Even Leicester City’s famous win took a season in the top flight to prepare for. Unfortunately, it looks unlikely that any of these teams will win outright, but it is not impossible.