5 dark horses for the 2017/18 Premier League title

#5 Crystal Palace

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium on May 6, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images) — *If Frank de Boer can keep the likes of Christian Benteke playing well, could Crystal Palace “do a Leicester”?*

While the Premier League is trickier to predict than say, La Liga or the Bundesliga, it is true to say that it’s usually one of the bigger sides that wins it. That theory was blown apart by Leicester in 2015/16, and so every season the question is now “which smaller side could do a Leicester?”

My pick for next season? Crystal Palace. Their 2016/17 was somewhat disappointing – after replacing manager Alan Pardew with Sam Allardyce in December, they finished 14^th in the league although they safely avoided relegation. But Allardyce – a strong, dependable Premier League manager but never a world-beater – has since left and today the club have appointed Frank de Boer as their new manager.

While de Boer has had mixed results in his career as a manager, he could be a good fit for Palace, particularly as the squad is still pretty strong – they’ve still got the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Christian Benteke, Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha on their books – and their board have proven in the past that they’re willing to splash big money if it’s needed.

If de Boer can shore up a somewhat shoddy defence – Palace leaked 63 goals, but actually scored 50, more than all but the top seven and Bournemouth – and keep the likes of Benteke and Zaha ticking over, then a miracle could well be possible, ala Leicester just two seasons ago.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

Know More

Edited by Staff Editor