We’re seven games into the 2019/20 Premier League season and there is plenty to ponder on for most clubs.

Manchester City’s defensive frailties have been well-documented while the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have been inconsistent.

There have been a few standout teams: Liverpool have been perfect with seven wins from seven matches while Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth are occupying European places. It has been an enthralling start to the campaign with some of the big boys struggling.

Here, we look at some of the biggest things to take from the opening seven weeks, starting with Liverpool’s remarkable start to the season.

The Reds are now 23/20 to secure their first Premier League title and that looks a huge price given their incredible run of form...

 

No Sign Of Relentless Liverpool Letting Up

Liverpool fell agonisingly short in their pursuit of Premier League glory last season but the Reds look determined to avoid a similar fate this time around.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are five points clear at the summit and backing against Liverpool would be foolish on current form.

With the joint-best defensive record in England’s top flight, the Reds are primed to go close again in the title race.

With Manchester City plagued by injuries in the early stages of the campaign, Liverpool could build a commanding lead ahead of the busy festive period.

A run of fixtures against Leicester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will tell us more about their title credentials…

Newcastle Destined For Drop Under Steve Bruce?

Watford might be bottom of the table but the signs are already ominous for Newcastle – and it is hard to envision their fortunes changing for the better.

There were question marks over Steve Bruce’s appointment and it would be fair to say that he is yet to endear himself to the St James’ Park faithful.

Newcastle have scored just four goals in seven Premier League games and that might be their downfall come the end of the campaign.

The Magpies are 9/10 in 888sport’s relegation odds to drop down to the Championship and the writing may already be on the wall for Newcastle.

That 5-0 defeat to Leicester City in their most recent Premier League fixture wasn’t good enough and a response is expected.

 

Rodgers Leading Leicester Towards Europe

Speaking of Leicester, they’re doing rather well aren’t they? At the time of writing, Leicester are third in the table and European football is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Brendan Rodgers has done a fantastic job since arriving at the King Power Stadium, with the Foxes picking up 31 Premier League points.

Only Liverpool and Manchester City have acquired more points during the period – which is testament to Leicester’s remarkable run of form under Rodgers.

Youri Tielemans and James Maddison have been wreaking havoc in recent weeks and those two men are key to the Foxes and their top six aspirations.

Leicester fans will be dreaming of a top four finish and a return to the Champions League, and why shouldn’t they? After 2015/16, it would be foolish to write them off.

Carrow Road Crucial To Norwich's Survival Hopes

Norwich are going to need to make the most of their home games this season and the Canaries have made a fantastic start to life in the top flight.

Teemu Pukki has notched six Premier League goals for Norwich, with five of those coming at Carrow Road. He has taken to England’s top flight like a duck to water.

The Canaries have won two of their three home matches this campaign, including a 3-2 win over Manchester City.

Daniel Farke is one of the best in the business at preparing his side for the big stage and we should expect Norwich to challenge the Premier League’s bigger boys at home this season.

Norwich are languishing just outside the relegation zone but that won’t matter to the Carrow Road regulars. Avoiding the drop, even by the skin of their teeth, is all that matters.

 

What Next For Solskjaer's Manchester United?

For now, Solskjaer’s position looks safe but that could change if United’s struggles continue for much longer. The Red Devils have failed to inspire confidence for most of 2019/20…

As of September 30^th, United are 10^th in the table. That just isn’t good enough after spending over £140 million to sign Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James.

Solskjaer’s status as a club legend is not under threat just yet but there is a danger that his legacy will be damaged with younger United fans.

The Red Devils are 5/2 to finish in the top four this campaign but it is hard to see United turning things around at this moment in time.

The next few months will be crucial – it is time to see whether Solskjaer’s young guns can sink or swim. Something HAS to change or else United risk missing out on Europe again.

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Rui Vieira / AP Photo*

Football’s worldwide popularity, and the fact there are only a finite number of seats in the stadia, means that getting your hands on tickets can be challenging.

The Premier League is the most popular sports league on the planet. The downside to that for fans can be that seeing matches in the flesh is about as easy as scaling Everest or even swimming the English Channel.

Getting a seat on the halfway line at Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford isn’t as simple as rocking up on the day and heading to the ticket office.

It takes weeks, sometimes longer, of planning and a willingness to spend a significant sum of money. Here are a few ways to get those precious tickets…

Season Tickets

Not applicable to every fan, of course, but season tickets are the best – perhaps, only – way of guaranteeing a spot in the stadium for your team’s biggest matches.

They don’t come cheap, however. Season tickets at teams like Arsenal and Chelsea can easily go into the four-figure range, and that doesn’t usually include domestic cup and European matches.

If you live a distance from your club, as many fans do, season tickets are likely not your best option.

Having a season ticket is a commitment that runs through from August to May, and if giving up 19 weekend days over a season isn’t your sort of thing, or the cost is too steep, there are, of course, plenty of other ways to get hold of tickets.

Club Membership

Signing up to your club’s membership programme is a means of getting early access to match tickets. There are plenty of other benefits on offer, too.

Chelsea, for instance, have five different tiers of club membership. All enable priority ticket access. Certain events are also put on for club members, along with special discounts and competitions.

Even if you’re a club member, fans still need to move quickly to secure the tickets for matches they want. Unfortunately, a lot of the ‘best’ seats will be taken by season ticket holders, but this is certainly a good option for those who cannot go all-in with a season ticket.

As a member, fans can attend as many matches as they like. Even if it’s only a couple per season, who knows, you might just see one of the biggest wins in Premier League history.

 

Wait For General Sale

If club membership and season tickets don’t appeal to you, there’s always the option to wait for general sale. While we might not be getting England's highest attendances often in the 21st century this is still a challenging method to pick up tickets.

With a high percentage of tickets going to season ticket holders and club members hoovering up plenty more after that, there will often be very few available by the time it reaches general sale.

The other downside is that because this is at the end of the ticket-selling process, it will sometimes not give you much notice to plan your trip.

 

Holiday Packages

Such is the demand for football tickets, there’s a whole sector of businesses who offer package deals. Whether it’s a hospitality experience you’re looking for or hoping to pick up a pre-arranged hotel/ticket bundle, there are options aplenty.

For fans looking to travel abroad, there are even pre-planned trips and football tours available.

Spent years checking the football odds to back Borussia Dortmund, and always wanted to visit the Yellow Wall? It’s not as challenging as it might seem to get to a match if you’re flexible with the dates of travel.

Signal Iduna Park is one of the most popular football venues for tourists and will form part of many European football tours.

Premier League Prices

Despite initiatives such as ‘Twenty’s Plenty’, Premier League ticket prices are still a hot topic of discussion. If you look at a site like Ticket Compare, tickets available for under £50 are still very much the exception rather than the rule.

Premier League ticket prices, as shown in this article by Goal, were very varied during the 2018/19 campaign.

Arsenal – renowned for their costly matchday experience – once again had the most expensive seat at £97. No ticket was cheaper than £27 for a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium.

Manchester United’s prices are comparatively low for a big six club, but it is only possible to purchase tickets if you have paid a £20 annual fee.

Liverpool had the cheapest ticket in 2018/19 at £9 in their Main Stand – though there’s a very limited supply and the next cheapest ticket is £37.

Although they are now in the Championship, it’s worth acknowledging Huddersfield Town’s policy of charging £30 for any ticket regardless of their opponent. Burnley and Wolves are the closest to The Terriers when it comes to ticket prices.

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Dave Thompson / AP Photo*