The Lay of the Land in the 2022/23 English Football Season

The 2022/23 English football season is now reaching its business end and there are plenty of stories unfolding. In the Premier League, we have a title fight for the ages and one that looks as though it will go down to the wire. Arsenal and Manchester City are the main protagonists and it's the Gunners who currently hold a slender two-point lead over the reigning champions. Despite that, however, odds checker, which compares Premier League odds and free offers, currently makes Pep Guardiola's Blues the favourites for the crown. And their city rivals Manchester United can't be ruled out just yet, they are just three points further back. 

Premier League 

But it isn't just the title race that looks set to be going down to the wire. There is plenty to be resolved throughout the rest of the Premier League. The race for the top four is a topsy-turvy affair. With Chelsea languishing in mid-table, the race for Europe is wide open. Barely a month ago, Newcastle were in third place and looked like a shoo-in for the top four. Fast forward a week, and they are now in fifth place after four games without a win. Spurs have climbed into the top four at their expense, while Liverpool, as well as underdogs Fulham, Brentford and Brighton, are all breathing down their necks. 

At the foot of the table, a number of sides are in trouble as they look to avoid relegation to the second tier. The bottom eight teams are currently separated by just eight points and with two of the current bottom three lacking a manager - namely Leeds United and Southampton - the final three months of the season promise to be a nail-biting affair for all involved. As it stands, Leeds and Southampton, as well as West Ham United, currently occupy the drop zone. However, Bournemouth and Everton are both levels on 21 points in 16th and 17th, just one point more than the Hammers in 18th place. 

The Championship 

Two weeks ago, the automatic promotion spots and a direct ticket to the Premier League seemed to be wrapped up. Burnley and Sheffield United were a country mile clear of their nearest competitors, and it seemed like the chasing pack would have to settle for a spot in the playoffs. What a difference a fortnight can make.

While Vincent Kompany's Clarets are still miles clear - 15 points clear of third to be exact - Paul Heckingbottom's Blades have lost their last two games. As such, they have seen the gap between themselves and third place drop to just four points. The side from Bramall Lane will still remain overwhelming favourites to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking, however, they can't afford too many more slip-ups. 

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The race for the playoffs is as tight as ever. Currently, fourth place right the way down to eleventh are separated by just five points, while fourth to eighth are separated by one point. It's anyone's guess who will secure their spot in the postseason lottery, but the race for the top six promises to be as intense as ever. 

At the other end of the table, all three occupants of the relegation zone are currently level on 31 points. And, to make matters worse for those directly above them, they all picked up points at the weekend. Iconic manager Neil Warnock has come out of retirement in an attempt to save former club Huddersfield Town from relegation, and he may do that at the expense of another one of his former clubs, Rotherham United. While Warnock picked up his first victory at the weekend, the Millers are in freefall, and they look set for a fourth consecutive Championship relegation campaign. 

League One

In League One, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle are the runaway leaders. They are both level on 68 points and any race for promotion looks like a formality. The Owls have won eight of their last nine games and haven't lost since October 4th. The Pilgrims aren't on quite as impressive form. However, the only team to beat them since the start of December are the aforementioned Wednesday. 

The third-tier playoffs look all but secure already, with Ipswich Town, Bolton Wanderers, Derby County, and Barnsley currently occupying third to sixth in the table. Wycombe Wanderers are in seventh, three places behind the Tykes. Shrewsbury Town are a further five points back and looks out of the race already. 

At the other end of the table, Forest Green Rovers are in dire trouble. The 2022/23 season is their first-ever campaign in the third tier of the English football league. They are currently at rock bottom of the table and eight points adrift of safety. Rovers will be hoping their new manager, Everton legend Duncan Ferguson, will be able to work a miracle. The four teams directly above Rovers are separated by just one point, and all will be hoping that they can do enough to keep their heads above water come May. 

League Two 

Finally, we make our way to the English Football League's basement division, League Two. Leyton Orient are the current runaway league leaders. They are a mammoth thirteen points clear of second place and a further five points clear of fourth, meaning they are all but assured promotion already. Stevenage and Carlisle United currently occupy the second and third automatic promotion spots, with Northampton three points adrift of United in fourth. 

Both Mansfield Town and Stockport County will be eyeing up the top three. Both sides are unbeaten in their last five games and both have picked up four wins in the process. If those directly above them begin to falter, they will be aiming to capitalise. 

The races for the playoffs promises to be close. Salford City in seventh and Barrow in twelfth are separated by just five points. 

At the foot of the table, Rochdale will require a miracle if they are to avoid the drop. They are currently six points adrift of safety. The second relegation spot will be decided between Crawley Town, Hartlepool United, Harrogate Town, and Gillingham, all of whom are separated by just four points.