The UK football season: The Story So Far

Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo

With the UK footballing season now well underway, there has already been a number of hot topics for fans to discuss and a number of outstanding encounters to keep any neutral spectators engaged and gripped to their television screens. As the season continues to progress, we look back on the main headlines from the major leagues across the UK and which names have performed at the very pinnacle of their abilities so far this season. 

Is Mohammed Salah the best player in the Premier League? 

While there have been plenty of sublime performers this season which has included Edouard Mendy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michail Antonio, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Phil Foden to name a few, the consensus best player in the league so far this season has to be Mohammed Salah. 

The Egyptian superstar was already an elite name in the league since arriving at Liverpool back in 2017, but he has since taken his game to a whole new level in the opening matchdays of the 2021/22 season. 

Salah is already a favourite to win the Golden Boot this season and has been the standout name in the league this season after a tremendous spell of form that has seen the winger score some truly spectacular braces including a dazzling performance most recently against Watford. 

There is an argument to be made that Salah is not only the best player currently in the league, but at this current juncture, the best player on the planet which could play a major role in Liverpool’s touted title challenge this season as the Reds look to regain their dominant grip that they held over the Premier League back in 2019/20. 

Newcastle’s takeover is the biggest story of the season. 

For over a decade, the sleeping Tyneside giants Newcastle United have been craving for a change in their ownership after a tyrannous tenure under Mick Ashley that saw the Geordie side relegated twice under his tutorship. 

Early in October, it was finally announced that Newcastle United had been sold to a Saudi-Led group that will likely provide enough financial power and backing to compete with the league’s most elite teams including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City. 

Newcastle have not wasted any time in parting ways with manager Steve Bruce after a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, with a number of prestigious names including Paulo Fonseca and Jose Mourinho both being the early favourites with Rafa Benitez also being approached. 

It’s a takeover that has sent shockwaves throughout the footballing landscape and left a number of clubs and fans baffled by this sudden competition, yet this will place Newcastle in a major position to become hefty spenders in the upcoming transfer windows with many projecting that the club may fully refurbish their entire squad with only a select few names likely to remain. 

Jim Goodwin yielding results since his major three-year extension at St. Mirren.  

While the usual hot topic or commodity in the Scottish Premiership usually revolves around Celtic or Rangers, St. Mirren have also been a major talking point with the three-year contract extension that was handed to gaffer Jim Goodwin 

In the earlier months of the year, Goodwin penned a three-year deal to remain in Renfrewshire in a deal that will see the former Republic of Ireland international earn approximately £3,301 per week and £171,728 per year. 

In spite of a few setbacks in the earlier weeks of the season, that included a 6-0 hammering against Celtic, St. Mirren have since enjoyed a brief spell of good form with recent wins over Aberdeen, Livingston and Ross County which has helped the Buddies occupy a respectable mid-table spot in the Scottish topflight division. 

Rangers on course to win back-to-back titles. 

The SPL’s title race has been picking up steam in recent weeks with Rangers looking to continue their recent dominant tenure over the Scottish topflight division with a second consecutive title being a primary target. 

Legendary ex Liverpool and LA Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard, has uplifted the spirits at Ibrox since his appointment which has since seen a number of spectacular moments under the floodlights of the magnificent footballing venue 

Rangers have impressed a number of fans this season and seem destined to claim another Scottish title to add to their endless trophy cabinet of ladened accolades in the club’s long withstanding history. 

Rangers were even able to edge out their fiercest Glaswegian rivals Celtic in the always energetic Old Firm derby, with Gerrard’s team winning with Filip Helander netting the winner. 

While their recent results in the Europa League has not completely reflected on their excellent form in the SPL, Gerrard’s team are the perennial favourites to lift the Scottish league this season, with Celtic looking to bounce back after a patchy run of form.