Rezzil’s Season Review 2022/23: Part Three

Welcome to part three of Rezzil’s Premier League debrief, starting at Elland Road. 

Leeds

Final league position: 19th

Points: 31

Rezzil’s rating: 2/10

Having earned promotion back to the top-flight following a 16-year absence in 2021, Leeds will be playing Championship football again next season thanks to an underwhelming campaign in 2022/23.

The Whites’ main issue was simply keeping the ball out of the net. With 78 goals conceded, no team in the Premier League shipped more last season, and while they found few issues in netting at the opposing end (a respectable 48 goals scored), if you can’t keep regular clean sheets then ultimately you are going to find life very tough in a league as strong as England’s top-flight. 

Jesse Marsch was given his marching orders in February and replaced by Javi Gracia in an appointment that never really made much sense and certainly didn’t work, with renowned troubleshooter Sam Allardyce drafted in with four games left to play – but even Big Sam couldn’t help the West Yorkshire club’s fortunes. 

With a talented squad of players to work with, there’s a strong chance Leeds can bounce straight back up, but much work is needed on their defensive solidity this summer ahead of a testing campaign back in the second tier. 

Liverpool

Final league position: 5th

Points: 67

Rezzil’s rating: 6/10

Liverpool fell well short of the mark last season compared to what we have become so accustomed to in recent years. The 2019/20 champions failed to hit the ground running at the start and results were extremely inconsistent, which saw them withdraw from the title-race before Christmas. 

The Reds managed to find some form towards the end of the season and ended strongly, losing just one of their final 12 league games, and despite it looking as though they were completely down and out, they did manage to mount a serious charge for the top-four late on. 

However, the damage was already done and a spot in the Europa League will have to suffice for Jurgen Klopp and his side next term, who will undergo a very transformative summer ahead of the new season with several long-term players departing the Merseyside club. 

A new-look midfield has to be the aim for Liverpool this summer, who desperately need to start seeing a return on investment in £90m man Darwin Nunez if they are to challenge for the title once again in 2023/24. 

Manchester City 

Final league position: 1st

Points: 89

Rezzil’s rating: 10/10

For much of the campaign it looked as though Arsenal had the league title sewn up, ahead of Manchester City by eight points at one stage. The Gunners had shocked the footballing world by pulling clear of Pep Guardiola’s men during the final stretch, but underestimating this City side is an extremely dangerous mindset to adopt, irrespective of how late it is in the day. 

Indeed, when a team has so many seasoned winners and arguably the greatest manager in the sport’s history on their side, it’s unlikely that they will just roll over and play dead when the stakes are so high. Arsenal found this out the hard way, succumbing to the Cityzens when it mattered the most, as the now-treble winners overthrew them at the top of the division and then went on to win the FA Cup and Champions League for good measure. 

This City side is just something else, simply sublime in every department. The question is now: can anybody stop them while Guardiola still finds himself inhabiting the Etihad dugout? 

Manchester United

Final league position: 3rd

Points: 75

Rezzil’s rating: 8/10

After a less than impressive start, where Erik ten Hag oversaw defeats to both Brighton and Brentford, United endured a mostly successful season and regained their Champions League status with a strong third-placed finish. 

United’s issues with inconsistency have certainly improved under the Dutchman but there is no doubting that this is still something they need to work on ahead of the new campaign and they still appear some distance off seriously challenging Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool for the Premier League title.

A League Cup win appeased much of the supporter base last time out and a return to Wembley for a derby day FA Cup final was certainly a worthwhile achievement, with the return of top European competition a huge positive for the Red Devils after the summer. 

That being said, losing 7-0 to bitter rivals Liverpool and whimpering out of the Europa League to Sevilla were notable low points for the club and something which has left an unwanted splurge on an otherwise progressive campaign for the Old Trafford behemoths. Things are improving, though, and they finally look as though they are regaining their identity with ten Hag on the sidelines. 

Newcastle

Final league position: 4th

Points: 71

Rezzil’s rating: 9/10

Newcastle enjoyed their most successful seasons in decades last term, securing Champions League football for the first time since the Sir Bobby Robson era back in the early-noughties, largely thanks to their flawless defensive record (just 33 league goals conceded, the joint-best alongside City).

Eddie Howe’s tactful transfer strategy is a match made in heaven with his overall pragmatic approach to the game, with it clear just how much his players respect and buy into the process he is continuing to instil at St. James’ Park. 

The Magpies came agonisingly close to winning silverware, narrowly losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester United on penalties, but there are evident signs of progression for Newcastle and the feel factor is very much alive and kicking in the north east. 

A positive summer packed full of more shrewd signings can take this inspired team to the next level in 2023/23, and they will be hopeful of retaining their spot in the top-four as well as pushing for a domestic trophy under Steady Eddie.