Premier League
Title Race
As Arsenal's title charge has collapsed in the last couple of months, it's now a three horse race for the Premier League crown, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool. The side that has taken the 'bull by the horns' is Liverpool. 10 wins in a row since their 1-1 draw at West Brom, including drubbings of Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United has put the destiny of the title in their hands. Chelsea have been stuttering, going from embarrassing and humiliating Arsene Wenger at Stamford Bridge, to being caught out at Crystal Palace. Jose Mourinho is the master of the mind games and has played down his sides chances from the start and now his side have the title in their hands, four wins and it's theirs. The third side in the race is Manchester City, everyone's favourites but recent results have severely damaged their charge and now puts the title out of their own doing. Second highest goal scorers and one of the best defences in the league, you cannot write off Pellegrini's men with a lot of twists and turns expected to happen before the season's end.
A match which would always help decided the fate of the title was at Anfield this past weekend, Liverpool vs Manchester City. As Hillsborough was respected this weekend, across the country around the grounds, it was obvious that Anfield would be the centre of the tributes. It was a powerful and moving image as they greeted the minutes silent with the Kop holding placards a loft reading, "Justice 96". City showed their own message from the club as the fans held a poster in support and respect to the 96 people. The game was also a fitting tribute as it was played in a manner that showed these two deserve to be where they are. The World Cup is a hot topic and England players are not only focused on their clubs, but also on earning a spot on the plane, one of them Raheem Sterling. He was superb on Sunday and scored a quite brilliant goal. After Luis Suarez played in Sterling with a genius pass, Sterling had Joe Hart rushing off his line and Vincent Kompany closing him down, but a quick drop of the shoulder and Sterling beat both and fired the ball into the gaping net. I've been unsure as to whether Sterling should be booked to fly to Rio, but recent big game performances and the injury to Theo Walcott has convinced me that he is a 'must' to go to the World Cup. Liverpool have been known to wipe teams away in the first half of games and drift off in the second, Sunday was no different, they could've been out of sight by half time, Daniel Sturridge, Sterling and Jordan Henderson coming close, but they did get a second. Another Steven Gerrard set piece, another Martin Skrtel header, it's been a common theme this season and it worked again as his near post flick beat a wondering Joe Hart. It wasn't City's day as it only got worse for them, Yaya Toure was substituted after the 25 minute mark with injury, a key blow for Pellegrini. They needed a second half fight-back, a change was made, James Milner came on for Jesus Navas. It was that change which swung the tide in City's favour, Milner set up David Silva for a tap in and it was game on at Anfield, Liverpool were dropping deeper and City looked more and more threatening. I favoured City to take this game after getting the goal and they continued to run at Liverpool and carved out a vital equaliser. Interchange between Samir Nasri and David Silva got Silva in behind and his, what looked to be, a cross was deflected in off of Glen Johnson and past Mignolet, 2-2. A brilliant comeback and 5 minutes later, Edin Dzeko was a toe's width away from sliding in David Silva's pass, Silva had really come to the fray in the second half and showed why he is one of the most talented playmakers in the country. But a man in red was proving to be of equal trouble, Sturridge came off injured, Joe Allen on, so Phillipe Coutinho moved further forward and had an immediate effect in his new role. Luis Suarez was as ever involved in the action, in my opinion should've bee sent off as well, a second yellow for diving in a tussle with Gael Clichy. Then a defining moment in this 2013/14 Premier League season.
A Glen Johnson throw-in was flicked away by Gael Clichy, straight to captain Vincent Kompany. Kompany had trained by himself in the warm up after picking up a knock in a collision in training last week. He'd looked mentally cautious all game and this moment would not have helped the cause. A scuffed clearance off the outside of his right foot dropped in the path of Coutinho who buried the shot past Hart in the bottom left corner. Liverpool led a second time and now Anfield was rocking, I couldn't believe what I was watching, of all people, City's captain with an error. A late penalty shout wasn't seen as from the replays, a blatant punch was made by Martin Skrtel whilst jumping with Javi Garcia. As the final whistle approached Liverpool finished a man shy, Jordan Henderson sent off for a late lunge on Samir Nasri, a correct call. The whistle blew and Anfield was stunned, Steven Gerrard was in tears and realisation hit, this could be Liverpool's year. 24 years of hurt has passed since their last league title as Manchester United waltzed to 20 league titles, Liverpool have watched on in anguish, could this be a swinging of the Premiership pendulum. I think it's Liverpool's year and who else more deserving than Stevie G.
Manchester City went into their meeting with Sunderland on Wednesday, 7 points behind Liverpool with two games in hand, needing a Liverpool slip up, it was still open for City to battle back from Sunday's disappointment. However, the shock of the season was two minutes from materialising as an incredible double from Conor Wickham got the Mackems in front after conceding inside 5 minutes from Fernandinho. Yet, a moment to forget for Vito Mannone let slip the 3 points for Sunderland with Samir Nasri grabbing the equaliser. A night which both sides will not be happy with the result and the manner of it. So with 4 games to go, Liverpool lead Chelsea by 2 points and City by 6, with City having one game in hand, it's Liverpool's to lose.
The Race for 4th
8th February 2014: Arsenal head to Anfield top of the league, 8 points clear of Liverpool, they lose 5-1.
6th April 2014: Arsenal lose 3-0 at Goodison Park to Everton, now 4th, a point clear of Everton, with the Blues having a game in hand and now 10 points BEHIND Liverpool.
Arsenal's season, once again collapses in March and April and from title chasers are now in a close race for that coveted 4th place trophy (there isn't actually a trophy for 4th, although that would've made our drought a tad shorter!). Arsenal have had many injuries to key players, again as usual, like Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny. Although I as an Arsenal fan do think this is a valid statement for our slump, the players left still have no excuses for frankly embarrassing displays and shameful results, 6-0 at Chelsea, 1-0 at Stoke, 5-1 at Liverpool and 3-0 at Everton. Arsene Wenger was getting a ludicrous amount of criticism and people questioned if he was nearing the end of his reign, they needed a confidence turn. So on Saturday where they narrowly made it to their first FA Cup final since 2005 (their last trophy success) Arsenal needed to kick on and rescue their remains of a collapsed campaign. So a comeback 3-1 win over West Ham on Tuesday night was just what the doctor ordered. A trend has set that Arsenal need to go behind before playing properly, like against Wigan at Wembley and West Ham on Tuesday, A well taken double for Luka Podolski and a quality control and finish from Olivier Giroud made it a happy night in the end for the Gunners. They leapt to 4th and the pressure was on Everton.
Everton have not been in this position at this point in a season since 2005, when they finished 4th, above Liverpool. But, Roberto Martinez has believed since he arrived that they'd be challenging for Champions League football, he's made excellent signings and has transferred his style of football from Wigan with tremendous results. Only once had Everton lost at Goodison this season in the league, that was to Sunderland!! So when Crystal Palace arrived in Merseyside, a home banker yeah? Wrong. Tony Pulis has revolutionised the Eagles from South London and singlehandedly made them one of the toughest teams to beat in the league. They outplayed, outwitted and out-fought Everton winning 3-2 with goals from Scott Dann, Cameron Jerome and the goal machine Jason Puncheon, who has 6 goals in 4 games. Everton got two goals back making it 2-1 and then 3-2, thanks to Steven Naismith and Kevin Mirallas, the pressure of 4th had cracked Everton. Now with 4 games to go, Arsenal lead by a point, it's all to play for.
Relegation Battle
This is by the far the tightest, most intense, unpredictable relegation scrap for years, possibly ever in the Premier League. 7 teams are in the dog fight for me and I don't know which 3 will face the drop. Let's go through team by team:
Sunderland
20th, 26 points
Sunderland are in desperate trouble and seem to have suffered the same curse of Birmingham City in 2011, the Capital One Cup curse. After reaching the final this year, they've lost 8 and drawn 2, won 0!!!! Birmingham won it and got relegated, Sunderland are staring down the barrel of relegation themselves and Gus Poyet is running out of games. With a game in hand, they're 6 points from safety and a few tough games at Chelsea and United. Needing a lot of slip ups form teams above, Sunderland must win their next home game to second bottom Cardiff or be all but relegated, lose or draw and they may as well have a red 'R' by their name. Their remaining home fixtures are against three rivals, so with help from others and 9 points from those three games, they have a chance of survival still, in my mind, but it'll be a mighty miracle.
Cardiff City
19th, 29 points
Cardiff were dead and buried as soon as Malky Mackay was forced out of Wales. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no experience in England, has been thrown in a relegation fight and has had his fair share of bad luck. But, hope and fight has been restored after their shock 1-0 win at Southampton and now 3 points from safety, they believe they're still in it to survive. Their biggest game of the season arrives this weekend against Stoke in Cardiff. Lose, I say they're down. Draw, they still need a miracle to survive. Win, they can pull clear of Sunderland, assuming they lose at Chelsea and head to Wearside with renowned hope they are more than capable of escape.
Fulham
18th, 30 points
Fulham were relegated by everyone this time two weeks ago after failing to hold on to a point against Everton. Yet back-to-back wins against other relegation strugglers have put them 2 points from safety and with momentum behind them, I back them to stay up once again, just like there 'Great 2008 Escape', they were written off by everyone, including me, but the recall of Hugo Rodallega and Felix Magath's uplifting turn-around has swung the battle back in Fulham's favour. 3 more wins will get them that escape.
Norwich City
17th, 32 points
With 4 games to go, they've sacked their manager, lost to the team below them Fulham and have their remaining four games against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. Good Luck Norwich, I think they're doomed bar a extraordinary run of results.
West Brom
16th, 33 points
With a game in hand, 3 points clear and three massive games against other teams in the bottom half, two wins from their last five games will see West Brom definitely safe for me. They have struggled more so since Steve Clarke was dismissed and since Pepe Mel has taken over they have had a tricky time, beating Swansea away but blowing a 3-1 and 3-0 lead to Cardiff and Spurs conceding injury time levellers. They have quality through their side still and have the strength to stay out of the bottom 3, I worry for them but expect them to end up safe.
Swansea City
15th, 33 points
Swansea are a side I never thought would be in trouble this late in the season. But the dismissal of Michael Laudrup due to disagreements with the chairman has thrown club captain Gary Monk into fire. He's done extremely well considering his lack of experience as a coach, but his knowledge and passion have led him to not be dragged down and hold his own, particularly on his managerial bow against Cardiff in their 3-0 derby win. Swansea have a quality side and with Wilfried Bony and Jonathan De Guzman in their armoury, I expect two wins from their four remaining for them will see them safe too.
Aston Villa
14th, 34 points
At this late stage, Villa were comfortably in mid-table after their shock win over Chelsea. But, the loss of Christian Benteke for the remainder of the season and embarrassing results against Stoke and Fulham have seen them pulled very firmly in the relegation mixer. 4 points from safety, with a game in hand, although away at City, they are in deep trouble. This weekend against Southampton is must win or they could find themselves 17th and suddenly realising they are falling dramatically near the trap door. However, a win and a draw at least for them will see them safe, but I'm struggling to see where their win is going to come from.
From these 7 teams, at this stage of the season, here's how I see the bottom 7 looking:
14th: West Brom- 39 points
15th: West Ham- 38 points
16th: Fulham- 36 points
17th: Aston Villa- 35 points
18th: Cardiff- 35 points
19th: Norwich City- 32 points
20th: Sunderland- 30 points
The end to this season should be special!
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