The times-are-a-changing in the Premier League, with Jurgen Klopp’s announced departure from Liverpool at the end of the season making many fans think about what lies ahead for the state of the division.
The ‘traditional top-4’ from a decade back has now changed, and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are edging to carve a place among the top sides in the Premier League.
Spurs, for one, have found new life under Ange Postecoglou. The Australian gaffer has revolutionized things at the club, building a young squad that plays free-flowing, attacking football.
There is belief within the Tottenham fraternity that they will be in the Premier League top-4 race for years to come and finally be able to end their trophy drought soon.
In fact, it seems that Spurs are planning to use the ‘end of an era’ with Klopp’s departure to their advantage.
Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas spoke about the mentality within the team, saying: “In their discussions with players, managers, Sporting Directors or Technical Directors who they brought in. I heard that Spurs were telling potential new signings and staff members that they see a chance to establish themselves as one of if not the top clubs, and that was because they believed the Klopp and Guardiola cycles were coming to an end.”
On the other hand, Newcastle United have been humbled in the first half of the 2023/24 season after realizing how difficult it is to compete on different fronts and have a packed schedule that involves almost two games a week.
Eddie Howe is working hard to get them back into the top-4 race or at least stay alive in the top-6 race, with injuries and inconsistency not at all helping.
In fact, Howe is quite pragmatic about Newcastle’s situation right now and doesn’t believe his side are still that prominent or attractive to attract the major superstars of football.
In a rather honest assessment of his side’s situation, he recently told TNT Sport: “’ I’m not adverse to managing and coaching the elite players and so-called superstars. But I don’t think we are ready for that.
“So when you’re in a relegation battle, they won’t come. Then when you stabilise yourself, you’ve got to realise that every other club is after the best players. So are they going to choose Newcastle against someone else? We’re still not in the position where we’re winning those battles so then your recruitment then has to mirror where you are, in my opinion. It’s about being really clever in your purchases.”
Newcastle are unlikely to be able to strongly compete for trophies or for a Premier League top-4 race unless able to sign world-class players, due to the sheer competitiveness in the division right now.
Spurs, for one, already have some top-quality players like Son Heung-min, James Maddison and Cristian Romero – who are playing a part in spearheading their explosive campaign under Postecoglou.