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Who are the Premier League strugglers since opening 2022?

Tom Dunstan in Editorial, English Premier League 25 Feb 2022

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Storming their way to a stellar 6-0 romp against relegation scrappers Leeds earlier in the week, it appears that Liverpool have really breathed life back into their Premier League title charge.

Watching Manchester City get hit with that stunning last-gasp defeat against Tottenham last weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s men have cut the deficit at the top of the table to just three points and the battle is really on.

However, while the likes of Wolves have continued to shine on their bid to book a shock top-four finish, some top-flight outfits have really struggled since opening 2022.

With the January transfer window slamming shut just over three weeks ago, we have taken a look at a handful of Premier League teams who find themselves in the midst of a recent struggle.

West Ham

Opening the 2021/22 campaign enjoying another flurry, West Ham made it no secret that they had their sights set on going one step further this season and clinching a maiden top-four finish.

However, while David Moyes’ side might have comfortably booked their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s Europa League, the one-time Manchester United boss finds growing frustration in his camp.

Eventually having to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against relegation scrappers Newcastle last weekend, the Hammers have managed to win just one of their previous five Premier League outings.

Shocking many as they failed to add a single new addition to their squad during the January transfer window, an incredibly thin team was always going to struggle with such a stacked schedule during the second-half of the season.

With the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Wolves all holding at least a pair of games in hand over them, West Ham’s recent rut means that they will likely face a stern challenge in their bid to secure back-to-back European finishes.

Leicester

Lifting a first FA Cup trophy last season and securing another top-six finish, Leicester had really gained a reputation as a Premier League favourite during their eye-catching rise under Brendan Rodgers.

However, with the likes of Jamie Vardy, Johnny Evans and Wesley Fofana still dealing with long-term injury issues, the Foxes are enduring what has quickly become a Premier League nightmare at the King Power this season.

Suffering a 2-1 defeat away at Wolves last time out, the former Liverpool boss finds growing pressure on his position after a run of form that has seen Leicester fail to win any of their last six domestic matchups on the spin.

Crashing out of the FA Cup thanks to a woeful 4-1 drumming against Championship outfit Nottingham Forest earlier in the month, Rodgers’ side also still find themselves battling it out in the bottom-half of the table.

Also watching their Europa League adventure come to an end last year, the Foxes have remarkably collected just nine points from any of their 11 Premier League away fixtures this season, the fifth-worst record in the division.

Brentford

Opening the 2021/22 campaign with that stunning 2-1 win against Arsenal on home soil, Brentford shocked almost everyone when making their Premier League debut back in August.

Despite impressing many with their attacking approach under Thomas Frank, the Bees have come tumbling back down the table and have the feel of a side really seeking a boost since opening 2022.

Hit with a deserved 2-1 defeat away at Arsenal last weekend, the west London outfit are in the midst of an extended eight-match winless run across all competitions, suffering seven defeats.

With some in their camp likely to be looking over their shoulder at the drop zone, Brentford have also managed to pick up just a single Premier League point since January 2nd.

Unable to call upon attacking talisman Ivan Toney over recent weeks, Frank has been open about just how important his side’s next few fixtures are in their bid to extend on their top-flight status for another season.

Ahead of welcoming Newcastle to the capital this weekend, the Bees then face back-to-back meetings against fellow relegation scrappers Norwich and Burnley.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Dunstan


Formerly of The Independent, Tom has spent the past six years as one of our senior writers and betting experts. Alongside working with numerous publications from across the globe, Tom also graduated from the University of Falmouth in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Media.
Spending almost the past decade working in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, he has also spent time featuring in sports radio. Tom can be followed on Instagram - @iamtomdunstan

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