How to Pick a Premier League Team to Back
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 19 September 2024
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
How to Pick a Premier League Team
The English Premier League (EPL) is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world for good reason. Showcasing the best soccer talent in the world and century-old rivalries, the EPL regular season will soon recommence for another thrilling year. However, with many of our US readers new to the sport, you may be wondering how to pick a Premier League team to support. In this guide, we’ve highlighted the top teams and their attributes to help you decide.
Overview on How to Choose a Premier League Team
Before we guide you on how to pick a Premier League team to support this season, we’ve shared some helpful information about the history of the league and its top teams. From there, we have provided brief descriptions of the most iconic teams and why they’re so popular.
Some newcomers may want to consider the top current players before settling on a team, so the following section highlights this top talent. To round out the guide, we’ve provided some final advice on what to consider when choosing a team, from the club culture to a team’s success rate.
How the English Premier League Works
The English Premier League (EPL), or simply the Premier League, is the top tier of professional soccer in England. If you have watched Welcome to Wrexham, you will be aware that English soccer works with a relegation and promotion system. This sees the three teams with the fewest points at the season’s end relegated to the second-tier Championship league (EFL).
Conversely, the top three teams in the EFL are promoted to the Premier League. The league was established in 1992, replacing the First Division. Regular season games take place between August and May each year, with 20 teams competing from across England. Each team plays 38 matches a season.
Points are awarded to teams based on their match results, with three awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. The Premier League champion is the team with the most points at the season’s end. This makes it different from sports such as the NFL, with winners determined in a single finals game such as the Super Bowl.
This is especially important to keep in mind when placing your wagers with betting sites with Premier League soccer markets. Another important detail is that the top four Premier League teams compete in the European UEFA Champions League.
The Iconic Teams: What Premier League Team Should I Support?
If you’re completely lost on how to choose a Premier League team, you may want to start by backing one of the most iconic teams. While many of these are favored due to their immense historical success, others are beloved for their communities and cultures. In this upcoming section, we’ve showcased six of the iconic EPL teams.
Manchester United
Based in the Northern city of Manchester, the United is one of the world’s most successful and popular sports teams in the world. With 13 Premier League wins and 13 runner-up titles, the team has the most championships in the league. The team’s home ground is at Old Trafford, with key current players including Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
Liverpool
Playing at their home ground of Anfield in Liverpool, this iconic team is over 130 years old. The team has only won the EPL championship once, yet its fervent fan base remains as passionate as ever. The current lineup includes key players such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk and is known for its pressing attack style.
Manchester City
After consistently lagging behind United for years, Manchester City has emerged as the most successful EPL team in the league in recent years, having won the last four championship titles. The team is managed by Pep Guardiola and plays at the Etihad Stadium. International players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are considered key talents.
Chelsea
Based in London, Chelsea has been a mainstay in the league for decades and is the third most successful EPL team when considering season wins. Its home stadium is Stamford Bridge, with players such as Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling calling the team home. Chelsea hasn’t won the championship since the 2016-2017 season, but it has a reputation for consistency and ambition.
Arsenal
Arsenal is another popular team that is based in London, and when considering won titles for all English and European leagues, is the third most successful team in England. The team has earned a large domestic and international following for its rich history and attacking style of gameplay. Its home ground is Etihad Stadium, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus as two top players.
Tottenham Hotspur
If you’re wondering what your Premier League team says about you, being a Tottenham Hotspur supporter says that you’re a dedicated backer of the underdog. This is because the team hasn’t won a top-division title in decades. Despite this, the London-based team is competitive, with star players including Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
Popular Current Players
If you’re still struggling with how to pick a Premier League team to back, it may be easier to decide based on its top talent. This is because while soccer isn’t as popular in the USA, you may be familiar with some of the talent from international competitions.
The most well-known is Kevin de Bruyne, the Belgian midfielder for Manchester City and captain of the Belgian national team. He has been instrumental in earning the team six Premier League titles and is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. He is supported by the team by captain Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese midfielder known for his sharpshooting ability.
If you were to look at the most recent 2024 rankings, you’d find other teammates for Manchester City at the top of the list including Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Rodri. While this would indicate that it’s wise to support Manchester City, you may be interested to know that the teams of Fulham and Nottingham Forrest both have two US-born players in their lineups.
Tips on Choosing a Team to Support
Are you still struggling to decide what Premier League team should I support? Perhaps the teams and players we have highlighted aren’t enough for you to make your decision. In this upcoming section, we’ve looked at some helpful details to consider that could help you determine what your team is.
Personal Connection
Do you have British heritage or friends that hail from a specific local team? Perhaps someone close to you has been a huge supporter of a particular team. Sometimes, backing a team that has some connection to a loved one can help you to connect on an emotional level, and may even make watching the games more enjoyable.
Team Playing Style
One way you can determine how to pick a Premier League team is to assess the playing styles of each. For example, teams such as Manchester City are known for their strong attack, while Chelsea is known for its defense. Back the team that plays in a way that captivates and excites you.
Club Culture and History
The question of how to choose a Premier League team to back may also be answered when it comes to the question of what you want to be affiliated with. For example, teams such as Arsenal are revered for nurturing young talent and investing in the future of the game. If this philosophy aligns with yours, this may be your team.
Success and Promise
Some fans simply want to back a team because it consistently wins, while others may want to root for an underdog for the thrill of a long-fought-for win. Take a look at the teams’ success rates if these factors are important to you and choose from there.
Community Culture
The EPL’s fan culture is famous for its passionate fan bases for both good and bad reasons. Before you decide which team you want to support, check to make sure that its fans aren’t considered to be the villains of the league. Otherwise, that is, you like to align yourself with that.
