Is the Premier League still the best division in world football?

Over the last few years, the Premier League has been dominated by Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side picked up their fourth consecutive title last season, thwarting attempts from Arsenal and Liverpool to disrupt the Premier League betting odds after they went on a 23-game unbeaten streak. Victory on the final day against West Ham United ensured the trophy would stay at the Etihad Stadium for another year.

While many believe the Premier League is in little danger of becoming a meritocracy, there are still many reasons why it is the best league in world football. Real Madrid have ruled the roost as far as the Champions League goes, but domestically, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga can’t compete with the all-round package offered by England’s top flight.

In this article, we asses what makes the Premier League so special and while it remains the superior division in world football.

The rivalries

The best part about a Premier League season is when the fixture list is released and you look to see when the big rivals face each other. Unlike the Bundesliga or La Liga, where just a handful of teams face real battles like El Classico or Der Klassiker, the Premier League’s competitive nature has ensured teams from all over the country can become rivals, on top of the inter-city derbies.

The likes of Liverpool and Manchester City battling it out will be all the more interesting with Arne Slot’s appointment, adding a new dynamic to that fixture, while Leicester City’s return to the top flight renews the East Midlands rivalry between the Foxes and Nottingham Forest. Plus, the derbies between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as at the bottom end of the table with Southampton and Bournemouth make for exciting encounters.

The stadiums

England has some of the best football stadia in the world, and some of the grounds are a deciding factor in a player wanting to make the move to the Premier League.

From the modern era of Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium and West Ham’s Olympic Park, to grounds steeped in history like Villa Park, Anfield, and Old Trafford, these hubs for British football all come with their unique charm. Add to this the bellowing atmosphere at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park or St James Park, the home of Newcastle United, and each game comes with its own experience for fans both attending the games and watching from abroad.

International stars

Premier League football is accessible from all over the world due to the league’s wide variety of broadcasters. Often a team will have international supporter’s clubs from across the globe, with several clubs posting the time zones for their biggest fixtures.

That financial incentive also attracts the best foreign talent to English shores, with some of the best footballers in the world plying their trade in the Premier League. From Mohamed Salah in Africa, Heung Min Son in Asia, Alisson Becker in South America, and a plethora of European stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, the league has quality across a variety of sides, some of which will be showcasing their talent at Euro 2024 and the Copa America this summer.

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Overall, the Premier League has become a final destination for players overseas looking to achieve their dreams, much as sides like Real Madrid or Barcelona have been in years gone by. With new owners looking at expanding into the English game, it will be interesting to see which direction the Premier League heads in approaching its 35th anniversary.