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English Football Talking Points

Football Wednesday February 19, 2025 By: Duncan Hughes

With plenty of action to be excited for in 2025, who could forget about the English Football Season? With the Premier League, Carabao League Cup and the FA Cup all in full swing, there are plenty of teams in pursuit of silverware this Spring. Here at Engage we take a look at each domestic competition and who could emerge with a trophy.

Premier League

The Premier League has had its fair share of thrills this season with a rather unusual campaign panning out. Liverpool are in control at the moment, currently 7 points clear at the top. Arne Slot was the successor of the Reds’ German hero, Jurgen Klopp, with questions around whether the Dutchman could deliver in the same way. However, he has certainly proved people wrong with his exciting football earning the Reds 18 wins so far this season.

Slot’s side haven’t had it all their own way though and last week’s game away at Everton proved that their weaknesses can be exposed. A fiery 2-2 draw made tensions spill over as a last minute equaliser saw the Gladys Street End result in chaos, before a brawl at full time resulted in three red cards including one for manager, Slot. What better way to give Goodison Park one last derby send off?

Liverpool don’t have the easiest run of fixtures coming up with Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle United in succession. It will be a true test of the Reds’ grit and a pivotal period in the title battle.

In second place, Arsenal, without a recognised striker, are certainly not going to let Liverpool run away with it. Unbeaten in their last 15 league games, Mikel Arteta’s North London men are in good form in the hunt for their first league title since 2003.

In the battle for Champions League, there are some unusual suspects emerging as Nottingham Forest sit in 3rd place, Manchester City in 4th and AFC Bournemouth rounding up the top 5. Before the season, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side would expect to be fighting for their 5th consecutive title, however, poor form throughout the season makes that achievement seem an unlikely feat at this stage, especially considering a famous 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal 2 weeks ago.

Further down the table, after a good start to the season, Chelsea have slipped into some difficult form with a 3-0 drubbing away at Brighton, the most recent defeat. Only two wins from their last nine league games makes for pretty bleak reading and their form will have to pick up if they are to secure a Champions League spot this season.

Meanwhile, a torrid season for an injury-struck Tottenham Hotspur see Ange Postecoglou’s side in 12th place, far from the levels we usually see from the North London side. They are, however, in a better position than Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United. Defeat to Spurs on Sunday courtesy of a James Maddison strike sent the Red Devils into 15th place, their 6th league loss in 9 games. If both sides are to secure Europe again this season, a big run of form is required in the last 13 games!

FA Cup

It was Plymouth Argyle who pulled off the FA Cup upset of round four as they beat Liverpool at home. Argyle won 1-0 as they welcomed a high-flying Liverpool team to Home Park. Their victory was rewarded by an away tie at Manchester City, in the hope that they can pull off yet another mammoth upset in the 5th round.

With Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all out of the competition, there is no reason why we won’t see a new name on the FA Cup trophy in 2025. Holders Manchester United are still in the cup and they will certainly be keen to defend the trophy in Ruben Amorim’s first season in charge despite their disappointing league form. With finalists having the opportunity to visit Wembley Stadium on two occasions (the semi-final as well), who do you think will make the trip to the capital for England’s most iconic trophy?

Carabao Cup

February saw the outcome of the semi-finals of the Carabao League Cup with two teams all set to face each other at Wembley Stadium on the 16th March. After a shock 2-0 win in the first leg of the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, Newcastle United repeated that feat at St James’ Park as they thumped Arsenal 4-0 on aggregate to be the first team to make a final this season. Eddie Howe’s side return to Wembley after a two year absence where they finished as runners-up in 2023 to Manchester United. Having beaten a dejected-looking Mikel Arteta, comfortably at the beginning of the month, Howe will be eager to quench the Geordies’ long-awaited hunt for silverware.

The second team to announce themselves in the League Cup final were Arne Slot’s Liverpool. Facing Tottenham Hotspur and a 1 goal deficit after the first leg, the Reds had to be on top form if they were to win the tie. However, a professional Liverpool team were dominant as they blew over a Spurs side decimated by injuries, winning the semi-final 4-1 on aggregate at Anfield.

For the first opportunity of domestic silverware this season, holders Liverpool will play Newcastle in what is an eagerly anticipated affair. With both sides in good form, it’s very difficult to call which way it will go. With no FA Cup now for Liverpool, they will be more determined than ever to make amends for their slip up against Plymouth, however, Newcastle will be hungry, with no trophy at St James’ Park since 1955. Make sure you save the date for the 16th March because it is going to be a cracker!

Having just passed the halfway mark of the season, there are still three trophies to be won in England in 2025, who do you think will take the glory this year? Watch all of the football in the Premier League 2024/25 season, FA Cup and League Cup with Engage Hospitality!

Enjoy the thrilling finale of two of England’s biggest competitions live from the best seats in the house at Wembley Stadium or perhaps visit one of the iconic Premier League grounds to watch your favourite teams in action!

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