Has this been the most boring Premier League season ever?

If you’ve been following the 2024-25 Premier League season, you’ve probably heard the whispers – whether online, in pubs, maybe even from your own exasperated sighs – that this might just be the dullest campaign in the competition’s glittering history. But is it really? Let’s pull up a seat at the bar, crack open a cold one, and dissect whether this season deserves the “snoozefest” label or if there’s more to the story than meets the tired eye.

The 2024-25 season has been a curious beast. Liverpool are romping toward the title with the inevitability of a tax bill, Southampton were relegated before Easter, and the race for Champions League spots feels like a polite queue at a tea shop rather than a gladiatorial scrum.

Yet, amidst the moans, there are glimmers of magic—Nottingham Forest’s fairy-tale surge, Mohamed Salah’s record-smashing heroics, and tactical quirks that have nerds like us scribbling notes like we’re back in school. So, let’s dive into the chaos, the complaints, and the counterarguments to figure out if this season is truly the football equivalent of watching paint dry.

The Case for Boredom: Why Fans Are Yawning

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: the title race, or lack thereof. Liverpool, under Arne Slot’s quietly brilliant stewardship, have turned Anfield into a fortress and the league table into their personal playground. By mid-April, they’re 13 points clear of Arsenal, needing just one more win second Premier League crown. It’s not just that they’re winning; it’s how inevitable it feels.

? TRENT WITH A SCREAMER OFF THE BENCH! ?

5 minutes. One unstoppable strike. Liverpool now ONE STEP CLOSER to Premier League glory!

But wait—was that a farewell gift before a shock Real Madrid move? ? pic.twitter.com/8dGSHl5zCO

— 365Scores (@365Scores) April 20, 2025

Slot’s side, powered by Salah’s 45 goal contributions, have been a machine—flexible, humble, and ruthlessly efficient. But for neutrals, inevitability is the enemy of excitement. Compare this to the 2018-19 season, when Manchester City and Liverpool slugged it out to the final day, or 2011-12, when Sergio Agüero’s stoppage-time dagger broke United hearts. This year? It’s less a race, more a coronation.

Then there’s the relegation battle, which has been about as suspenseful as a pre-recorded sitcom. Southampton were mathematically doomed by April 6, setting a grim record as the first team to go down with seven games left, their goal difference a comical minus-60. Leicester have also since been relegated and Ipswich Town are wobbling precariously. It feels like a rerun of last season when all three promoted teams—Luton, Burnley, and Sheffield United—went straight back down.

Even the fight for Champions League spots, usually a hotbed of intrigue, feels oddly tepid. Add to that the struggles of the so-called “big six”. Spurs and United have spent an age in the bottom half of the table, and you’ve got a season where the usual heavyweights are punching below their weight. Gary Neville’s post-Manchester derby rant summed it up: “This robotic nature of not leaving our positions, being micro-managed within an inch of our lives… is becoming an illness in the game.” Ouch.

Man United hit rock bottom with a historic low: 15 Premier League losses in a single season. ?❌

From Fergie’s era of dominance to this – a brutal reality check for the Red Devils ?

Rebuild? More like a revolution needed ? pic.twitter.com/5FxXLuQB9L

— 365Scores (@365Scores) April 20, 2025

The Tactical Trap: Has Football Gotten Too Smart?

Neville’s outburst points to a deeper issue: has the Premier League’s obsession with tactical perfection sucked the soul out of the game? This season, we’ve seen an average of 897 passes per game, flirting with the record set in 2020-21, while dribbles attempted (34.7 per game) are at their lowest since 2018-19, with a measly 46% completion rate. Crosses are down to 24 per game from 42 in 2003-04, and goalkeepers are passing more (32.2 passes per game) with fewer long balls (46.7% compared to 78.4% a decade ago). Pep Guardiola’s pass-heavy gospel has spread like a catchy tune, but as former City player Danilo admitted, it’s like being “brainwashed” at university—effective but not always thrilling.

VAR hasn’t helped. Bruno Fernandes, after a snooze-inducing Manchester derby, blamed the technology for killing the game’s flow and opportunities to get stuck in, “It can’t be like it was in the past, with VAR, everything.” The season’s 28 goalless draws (compared to 11 last year) feel like a symptom of teams playing it safe.

The Case Against Boredom: Hidden Gems and Wild Stories

Okay, let’s flip the script. If you’re calling this season boring, you might be sleeping on some absolute bangers. Take Nottingham Forest, who are living a fairy tale that would make Disney jealous. With 57 points from 32 matches, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are defying expectations.

Then there’s Bournemouth, who’ve gone from relegation scrappers to Champions League hopefuls under Andoni Iraola. Fulham, too, deserve a shout, with Marco Silva turning them into a potential European force despite losing stars like Mitrovic and Palhinha. Their wins over Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool were fantastic. These underdog stories are the Premier League’s lifeblood, and they’re alive and kicking.

Individual brilliance hasn’t been in short supply either. Mohamed Salah’s season is the stuff of legend, breaking records for goal involvements and cementing his case as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats. Ryan Gravenberch’s transformation into Liverpool’s No. 6 has been a revelation, his body-opening, dribble-past-the-opponent move a thing of beauty. Bruno Fernandes’ consistency amid United’s chaos and Alexander Isak’s flair at Newcastle have lit up Premier League matches that might otherwise have flatlined.

Sailing towards the title and breaking records ?

Mo Salah has set a new record for goal involvements (45) in a 38-game Premier League season! pic.twitter.com/6bKJUkIxWG

— 365Scores (@365Scores) April 13, 2025

The Neutral’s Dilemma: Is It Us or the Game?

So, why the disconnect? Part of it might be expectations. The Premier League markets itself as the world’s most exciting league, a rollercoaster of drama and unpredictability. When it delivers a season where the top and bottom are sewn up early, it feels like false advertising. Opta noted that the point gaps between first and second and 17th and 18th is the third-highest in 25 years, a sign of a lopsided campaign. Yet, as they point out, fans of Liverpool, Forest, or Bournemouth would laugh at the “boring” label—this season’s been a dream for them.

There’s also the Champions League factor. While the Premier League has been accused of going robotic, Europe’s knockout stages have delivered heart-stopping drama, making the domestic grind look pedestrian by comparison. But let’s not forget the numbers: this season’s 2.94 goals per game is the second-highest since 1992-93. If anything, the problem might be our own fatigue—too many matches, too much analysis, too many VAR debates clogging up the vibes.

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By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)

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