The FA Premier League (PL) kicked off on Friday 16 August 2024 with a win by a late goal for Manchester United over London’s Fulham. The fist Premier London Derbies match (PLDs) is on Sunday 18 August when it’s Brentford v Crystal Palace. This has produced 3 draws, one goalless, in the 3 seasons since 2021-22 when The Bees entered the PL. How did they finish last season and what are the prospects for this?
Club PL 2023-24 PLDs 2023-24
Arsenal 89pts/2nd 7W, 3D, 2L 24pts/1st
Chelsea 63pts/6th 7W, 2D, 3L 23pts/2nd
Fulham 47pts/13th 4W, 4D, 4L 16pts/3rd
Tottenham Hotspur 66pts/5th 4W, 3D, 5L 15pts/4th
West Ham United 52pts/9th 4W, 2D, 6L 14pts/5th
Brentford 39pts/16th 3W, 4D, 5L 13pts/6th
Crystal Palace 49pts/10th 2W, 4D, 6L 10pts/7th
Brentford were the lowest placed PLDs Club in 16th with just more than one point per game and 6th in the PLDs mini-league. Crystal Palace had 10 more points (49) in the PL and looked comfortable in 10th, but were bottom PLDs Club. Both will want a good start to their PL season if relegation is not to haunt them after Christmas.
Arsenal were the best performing Club in their PLDs matches and in the PL where they only lost the Title to Manchester City on the last day of the 2023-24 season. Tipped by many pundits to go one better this time somehow Manchester City always find a way unless financial matters come into play. Chelsea were just behind in PLDs maches and finished the PL season with 7 wins in 10 to get 6th place and into the UEFA Europa League. Will new Manager Enzo Mascera drive them further up the PL?
In contrast Tottenham Hotspur finished their PL season badly only taking points from 2 of the relegated Clubs to hang on to 5th place and also the UEFA Europa League. Only 15 of their 66 points came from PLDs matches. Transfers in have been of “attacking midfielders” when everyone knows they can not defend. This could be an unhappy second season for Head Coach Ange Postecoglu.
Fulham had one more PLDs point than Spurs but also faded in the PL finishing 13th with 47 points. Their first match defeat needs a prompt positive riposte. West Ham United went deep into the UEFA Europa League competition last season but it may have cost them a stronger PL finish. New Manager Julen Lopotegui and new Captain Jarrod Bowen will need instant results to improve on David Moyes unpopular pragmatism.
Whatever the season holds enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.