And that is largely because of the depth of competition as opposed to most other leagues, the passion and rivalry and the way in which the incredible marketing teams package and present it.
I mean, just look at those three or four-minute inserts they produce illustrating the stories behind the games, the teams, the towns, the battles, the history.
After Liverpool lifted the trophy last Wednesday night in a ceremony (that felt more like a “corporate experience” where you pretend to do something that you’d never get to do in real life), they followed up with a bloke walking along the streets of Liverpool, acoustic guitar in hand making his way to a studio.
There he started singing an amazing song about Merseyside, the meaning it has to its people and the history behind it all backed with evocative footage, ranging from great Liverpool teams of the past, to shipping docks, to the rows of terraced accommodation that housed the working-class community.
It was awe-inspiring, almost tear-jerking and as you know, I ain’t no fan.
As for the game, it was so engaging that I forgot there was no fans in the stadium! Wow, Liverpool were going flat out on the night and Chelsea kept catching up.
Barring the scoreline, for me both teams had great periods in the game and it should have been 4-4. But yeah, anyway, as mentioned, they smashed it this season and lockdown or not, deserved it.
Of course, the result left Chelsea in the nervy position of needing a point over Wolves on the final day (or a Manchester United win at Leicester) to secure that all-important top four place.
Although the double-chance scenario put the odds largely in the Blues favour, given the inconsistent performances over the last few weeks, it was a MASSIVE relief when Mason Mount and Olivier Giroud secured the result before half time.
It was exactly the same for all you Red Devils out there; touch and go at 0-0, with Leicester probably edging it before the penalty paved the way for a result that put (arguably) England’s best four sides into the Champions League mix.
At the other end, an even bigger achievement for Aston Villa, who took 10 out of their last possible 12 points.
They’d been long written off, with most pundits not expecting them to get anything from their remaining four fixtures.
Following survival, coach Dean Smith pointed out that the £100m plus they’d spent equated to £9.5m a player for the 11 faces they brought in. Which puts some perspective on the quality of their squad.
Where do you find a decent top-flight player for under £10m these days?
The reaction of Jack Grealish and the Villa squad following confirmation of survival was nothing short of overwhelming.
Conversely, watching Bournemouth and Watford players walking off the pitch and into the reality of relegation on Sunday was painful, the tears, the anxiety from top ballers to Championship nobodies.
Well, that’s not the way I feel, but the gulf in fame, money and trappings between the two leagues is mind-boggling. How many of them will ever see the Premier League again?
It really is the cold, tough edge of life as a top flight pro
Anyway, we move onto the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea on Saturday
That’s going to be proper weird without fans.
I’ve got absolutely no doubt (as with the Europa final in Baku) that the Gunners are gonna get blasted off the park!
Score predictions? Send me a mail: [email protected] As always good people, mask up, stay safe, chat next week