ALEX CROOK: Premier League 24/25 Season Review

Following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Star Sports football ambassador Alex Crook has reviewed the main talking points from a rollercoaster campaign and what that might mean for next season…

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LIVERPOOL SHOULD BE FAVOURITES TO KEEP HOLD OF THEIR TITLE

The 24-25 Premier League season did not throw up the most competitive of title fights, but that is taking nothing away from the champions, who were worthy winners of their 20th league title under the expert tutelage of manager Arne Slot.

Not too many people predicted the polite but steely Dutchman would have such an instant impact after being named as successor to club icon Jurgen Klopp last summer.

The way Slot made subtle tweaks without revolutionising the team to turn them into the standard bearers deserves huge plaudits.

There is no doubt in my mind that Golden Boot winner Mo Salah was the league’s standout player, even if his form tailed off after agreeing his new two-year contract.

Ryan Gravenberch is next on my list after making the most of Liverpool’s failure to sign Arsenal-bound Martin Zubimendi to become a key Cog in Slots winning machine.

The Reds are wasting little time in enhancing the squad for a title defence, with a deal for Bayer Leverkusen wing back Jeremie Frimpong already sealed and teammate Florian Wirtz another potential new arrival.

With that in mind, I’m surprised Liverpool are only second favourites behind Manchester City to retain their crown.

City’s FA Cup final defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace was the latest illustration of their fall from grace and despite Pep Guardiola promising next season will be a better one, I think they look a little short at the time of writing.

If you had told Arsenal fans before a ball was kicked? they would finish three points ahead of Pep’s men then they would have been planning a trophy parade on the streets of north London.

While reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League and demolishing the mighty Real Madrid en route should not be downplayed, there is an argument to say they regressed domestically.

Mikel Arteta knows he has to sign a striker this summer to try and finally turn his bridesmaids into the bride, he also knows the pressure is mounting after another trophyless year.

VILLA LAST DAY FAILURE COULD BE COSTLY

The race for the Champions League places was a gripping one right until the final seconds of the season as Aston Villa dramatically and controversially missed out.

While Villa have every right to feel aggrieved at having a legitimate Morgan Rogers goal ruled out, the fact they allow themselves to be outplayed by the worst United team in half a century is the real reason they are not dining at Europe’s top table once more next season.

It means their fans face an anxious summer, the distinct possibility of losing key players like Emi Martinez and Jacob Ramsey to balance the books having missed out on a £100m plus windfall.

They are a less attractive prospect for potential new arrivals than they would have been had they have eked out the point they needed at Old Trafford to seal a top-five finish.

EDDIE HOWE MANAGER OF THE SEASON

Villa’s loss was Newcastle’s gain and Eddie Howe is my shout for manager of the season having ended a seven-decade long wait for a trophy and also brought Champions League football to some James’s Park for the second time in three years.

Alexander Isak narrowly came up short as our selection for Premier League top-scorer, but still delivered the each-way money.

I also tipped Newcastle to finish in the top four, partly as they and the benefit of not playing any European football.

I would not necessarily back them to repeat the fete next season unless Howe is backed in the transfer window as they have a squad that picks up a fair share of injuries.

I spent most of the Season questioning Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and the club’s model of investing in young players.

But the Blues enjoyed a golden end to the campaign, securing a Champions League place and winning the Conference League.

Unless they change their model, I think the Blues will also face an uphill task balancing the Champions League with the Premier League rigours.

Liam Delap looks like he will swap Ipswich for Stamford Bridge and I wouldn’t back against him scoring plenty of goals next season, however I still think Chelsea is a team crying out for experience.

TOTTENHAM SHOULD STILL FIRE ANGE POSTECOGLOU AND PRESSURE ON RUBEN AMORIM

I am still getting over the ordeal of being inside the wonderful San Mames Stadium for last week’s Europa League final.

It was not so much Tottenham against Manchester United as the Red Lion versus the Dog and Duck in terms of quality.

Trophy-starved Spurs fans are right to cherish seeing their team win silverware for the first time in 17 years, but as he ponders what to do next, chairman Daniel Levy should also remember they lost 22 league games – the most of any team in the Premier League era without going down.

Levy sacked Mauricio Pochettino months after guiding Tottenham to the Champions League final, if he wants to build on ending their trophy drought, my advice would be to be ruthless again.

After all, Postecoglou basically admitted he gave up on the Premier League to focus on the cups so is he rally cut out for competing in the Champions League?

Similar questions will be asked of United counterpart Ruben Amorim if the Red Devils start next season badly.

The Portuguese has been given a free pass so far having come in mid-season and inherited a squad not suited to his playing style.

He is already being backed in the market with the signing of Matheus Cunha and there will be plenty more incomings and outgoings. The time for excuses is fading rapidly, especially after being tactically outclassed by Big Ange in Bilbao.

NEWLY PROMOTED TEAMS WILL STRUGGLE AGAIN

There is an argument the Premier League middle order has never been as strong as it is right now.

Palace winning their first ever major trophy was a much-needed victory for all the so-called smaller clubs trying, and often this season succeeding, to give the big guns a bloody nose.

Nottingham Forest agonisingly missed out on a top-five finish on the final day, but that should not denigrate Nuno Espirito Santo’s achievements in bringing European football back to the City Ground for the first time in 30 years.

Brighton, ironically missed out on a Conference League place as a result of arch-rivals Palace winning the FA Cup.

But to finish eighth in Fabian Hurzeler’s first season with a better points-per-game ratio than his predecessor Roberto De Zerbi managed in his maiden campaign is a brilliant return.

Bournemouth also gave their fans plenty of reasons to be cheerful with Andoni Iraola’s men setting a new club record top-flight points tally while supporters of West London neighbours Brentford, and Fulham were also royally entertained.

It is little wonder that Bees boss Thomas Frank features prominently on Tottenham’s list of a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou after recovering from losing star striker Ivan Toney and still prospering.

The fact these teams are so strong even when they have to sell their best players makes it even more difficult for those sides coming up from the Championship

For the second year in a row all three newly promoted teams went straight back down.

You would expect Leeds, in particular, to be more competitive next season, but it is still hard to make a case for any of them, Burnley or play-off victors Sunderland, who may struggle to get as many points as Southampton, bucking what has become an alarming trend.

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