Premier League is into its final quarter with only 9 games left in the season, there is still no clarity over the title race. Many may consider Manchester City and Chelsea as the main contenders but you got to be wrong if you cancel the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal Premier League’s glory. Chelsea are currently 7 points ahead of 2nd placed Liverpool who still have a game in hand. Mourinho is very keen to bring silverware to the club this season and as the club is already out of FA cup and League cup and considering heavy competition in Champions League, Premier League is the most prioritized one. All the Top-4 teams have their respective reasons as to why winning the league matters the most. Let us take a brief look at all the contender’s chances of winning the league.
1) Chelsea : Already top of the table, and they have a world class tactician as their manager in the form of Mourinho. Chelsea are yet to lose at home in the league under Mourinho’s charge. They possess a world class squad and the depth they have assures them of any injuries at this stage. If City win all their 3 games in hand, Chelsea see themselves next to them on goal difference. Chelsea still are need in of a quality striker who could win or matter in important games. And talking of midfielders, Mata had to leave because of the competition the squad possess in the midfield. They have replacements in advance to face any injury situation. If they manage to win atleast 2 of 3 games against Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton they are very much in the contention. Many believe that Mourinho’s tactics can easily get them to the PL title.
2) Manchester City : Having already won Capital One cup and saw themselves ousted out of FA cup by Wigan for second time in a row, Pellegrini should win the league to safe guard his job. City lost to Barcelona in the round-16 of Champions league but there are plenty of positives to take from the return leg. The strike force they possess gives them a great advantage but their away form is a bit concerning. They still have to visit Anfield, Emirates and Goodison Park which are very difficult to play at. Winning all the 3 games will guarantee them of winning the league but realistically that is far from happening. Still one couldn’t write City off. They are the strong contenders for title next to Chelsea.
3) Liverpool : SAS. Yes, Liverpool’s title hopes solely rest on their strikers. Suarez and Sturridge undisputedly formed a deadly striking partnership up front. Liverpool’s amazing home form this season having lost only once and leveling a game, they still have to face City and Chelsea at Anfield. Those 2 games are going to be decisive in defining all the 3 teams chances and indirectly Arsenal’s chances. But the defensive errors and the sloppy back passes should concern Brendan Rodgers. They are currently 2nd in the league and are going to face Manchester United this weekend. They have 10 games to play and we can see Liverpool fans calling them often as 10 finals. Winning atleast 8 games of the remaining lot would end their 24 year title drought but the 2 key hostings against City and Chelsea are going to be crucial.
4) Arsenal : They have started their season on a high but injuries blocked their chances big time. Ramsey has been very influential at the beginning but Arsenal began to fade after his injury. Questions were raised over their title contention after they went down 5-1 at Anfield. Arsenal’s record signing Ozil has been performing poor lately and his recent hamstring injury against Bayern may keep him our for few more weeks. Also, the lack of a quality striker up front concerns them. The defense is their major strength and also having a settled midfield they still strong on paper. They still have 4 key games against Chelsea, City, Everton and Spurs. Every season at this point of time, Arsenal fades away settling for a top-4 spot. The same scenario looks to repeat again. Having already reached FA cup semi-final and having no strong contenders for the trophy, they are favorites to win the trophy. Arsenal fans would be hoping at least of a FA cup glory let alone the league.
More or less this may be the order of how teams may finish their season but this is Premier League and one needs to be prepared for the unexpected. This season is much more entertaining than any other season in the past decade. Some might point out Spurs, Everton and United may mathematically have a chance but realistically speaking the chances they finish in top-4 are very minute.
Source: DSG
