While the Premier League is in the midst of a fascinating three-team title race, the same thing is happening in the EFL Championship. It may not be the same as a battle between Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal, but the race in England’s second tier between Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Leeds United is just as close. On top of the title race in the Championship, only two of those teams will secure automatic promotion to the Premier League next season. Meanwhile, there is a compelling race for the four promotional playoff spots, adding an extra element to what will be a complicated but exciting final month in the Championship.
The Title Race
For Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Leeds United, first place in the Championship is the top prize. For much of the season, the title looked like it was Leicester’s to lose. However, the Foxes have plummeted since a mid-February loss to Middlesbrough. That was the first of three straight losses and a stretch of six matches in which Leicester City won just one match. The Foxes are now hoping to get back on track late in the season and edge out two worthy competitors instead of running away with first place the way they were a few months ago.
As for Ipswich Town, the fact that the Tractor Boys are anywhere near the top of the table is surprising. Ipswich Town finished second in League One last season, having just earned promotion back to the Championship this season. They now have a chance to make the immediate jump to the Premier League. Much like Leicester, the Blues got off to a fast start, winning 11 of their first 13 matches. After cooling off in the middle of the campaign, Ipswich has heated up again, winning nine of 10 matches between mid-February and early April with the hope such a streak can propel them to the title.
Then there’s Leeds United, which has become a wild card in the title race. After getting relegated from the Premier League last season, the Whites won just two of their first seven matches in the Championship this season. But Daniel Farke’s squad has just one loss since January, totaling 13 wins and two draws in the first 15 matches of 2024. They certainly have momentum on their side in the title race whereas Leicester and Ipswich are trying to recapture the momentum they had earlier in the season.
The Top Two
Part of the appeal of winning the Championship is that it comes with Premier League promotion. Of course, the runner-up also earns a trip to the top flight as well. Leicester City and Leeds United have a chance to go right back up after being sent down last spring. For Ipswich Town, moving from League One to the Premier League in just two years would be a phenomenal accomplishment.
Unfortunately, one of these clubs will be denied an automatic promotion spot at season’s end. For all three, nothing is guaranteed as far as the Premier League is concerned. This is why DraftKings Sportsbook and other oddsmakers are offering odds on what teams will finish in the top two. DraftKings is one of the most reputable sportsbooks around and has a variety of ongoing promotions for users.
Four Playoff Spots
Between Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Leeds United, one will have to settle for third place and a spot in the four-team promotion playoffs. That means playing three more games in order to get to the Premier League. Southampton, the third team that was relegated from the Premier League last season, looks to be safely in the promotion playoffs, giving the Saints a chance to play their way back to the top flight.
But this is where the end of the Championship season takes another twist. There are still two spots left with just a 10-point gap between fifth-place West Bromwich Albion and 10th-place Hull City. At the moment, West Brom and Norwich City look somewhat comfortable in the last two playoff positions. However, Coventry City, Preston North End, Middlesbrough, and Hull City have all put together impressive seasons and are within striking distance of sixth place.
Of course, the fight for those final playoff spots may not be as compelling as the playoff itself. One way or another, there will be multiple teams in the promotion playoff that boast a wealth of Premier League experience and will understand what it means to get back there. Between the three-team title race, the playoff chase, and a potentially loaded playoff field, the conclusion of the Championship is going to give the end of the Premier League season a run for its money.
