Sports
With just six games left so far, the race for the Premier League title is heating up
The 2018-19 season of the English Premier League, arguably the most competitive football league in the world, is just six weeks away from conclusion and the race for the title had not been this close in the last few seasons.Sailendra Adhikari
Almost 32 games played and just six more to go. Two clubs in the hunt for the title; four others jostling for the last two of the top four spot. The 2018-19 season of the English Premier League, arguably the most competitive football league in the world, is just six weeks away from conclusion and the race for the title had not been this close in the last few seasons.
The contenders
Only Two. Given there is going to be at least 14 points difference between the club in the second and third place for now and with only 18 points available from the last six matches, Liverpool and Manchester City are the only two in contention for the title. Manchester City are looking to win their first back-to-back title in the Premier League and the fourth in the last 10 seasons. Sitting second in the Premier League table, a point behind league leaders Liverpool, City are also chasing an unprecedented quadruple. Having defeated Chelsea in the penalty shootout and securing the League Cup, they are also in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and quarter-finals of the Champions League. City's next 15 games will decide if they are going to better the biggest achievement of English football, the treble achieved by their archrivals Manchester United during in 1998-99 season. However, with no sides making a successful defense of their title since 2009 and only two teams coming close to quadruple—Chelsea in 2006-07 and Manchester United in 2008-09—and failing in both occasions, it is going to be a tough ask.
Liverpool have a different story altogether. The Reds are one of the most successful clubs in English footballing history with five European titles, which is more than any other English club, and 18 league titles. But, their last title came in the 1989-90 season, that’s 29 years ago. In the 2013-14 season, it looked like Liverpool would finally break the league drought. With the likes of Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge—all of whom were at their prime—at their disposal, Liverpool scored 101 goals, their highest goal-tally in a Premier League season, yet finished two points behind eventual champions Manchester City. Their wait continued.
A year later, in came Jurgen Klopp promising some to deliver football at 'full-throttle'. With an attacking lineup including the trident of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool quickly established themselves as a potent strike force in English football. However, it’s not their attacking lineup but their consistency at the top level that has been questioned the most. This lack of consistency has also been reflected in their current campaign. In the start of New Year, Liverpool were seven points ahead of Manchester City. They went to City, lost 2-1 and the points difference came down to 4. Since that loss to City, Liverpool have won six and drawn four of the 10 league matches they have played, scoring 23 goals. City, meanwhile, are on a scoring spree with 30 goals in their 11 league games, of which they have won 10 games. The form of the two sides are in such a contrast that the seven points lead Liverpool once established has dwindled down to just two and in a danger of being overtaken by City, who have a game in hand. And with just six games left, including one home game against Chelsea, only time and their form will tell if they will end the 29-year barren run or once again let it go like the infamous Gerrard slip in the 2013-14 season which ignited their spiral downwards in their campaign.
AP Photo: Rui Vieira
Race for the top four
With two of the four European slots almost certain to go with City and Liverpool, the fight for the remaining two other berths for Champions League is becoming intense. Only three points separate the third team Arsenal from Chelsea, who are sixth with 60 points. Three of those four clubs in contention for lucrative Champions League places: Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have appointed new managers to change their fortune. So the remaining matches will be make or break the season of not only the club but also some of their managers.
Arsenal roped in Unari Emery. His previous success at Sevilla, despite the limited budget, and big-spending Paris Saint-Germain made him a promising prospect to watch in English football. The start was relatively painful with defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea. A streak of 22 unbeaten matches in all competitions, a bit of inconsistency after that unbeaten streak followed by six unbeaten matches in the league has propelled Arsenal into third place and in a leading race for the top-four spot. Another managerial change was in Chelsea, which saw Maurizio Sarri replace Antonio Conte. Sarri, unlike Emery, started brilliantly with 12 unbeaten games including those against Arsenal and Manchester City. However, big losses against Bournemouth (4-0) and Manchester City (6-0) and refusal to change his 'Sarriball' style of football despite huge defeats has not only left many scratching their heads but also fans turning against their manager. With the top-four race spots getting increasingly tight and the club's performance not showing any signs of improvement, Sarri's only option to secure the Champions League spot and probably save his job might be winning the Europa League where his side next face Slavia Prague in the quarter-finals. However, success doesn't always guarantee survival in Chelsea given Sarri's predecessor Conte was shown the exit door despite winning two titles in his two seasons.
Manchester United, the biggest giants of English football, had hoped the club would relive the glory days of now-retired Sir Alex Ferguson by signing Jose Mourinho. That swollen hopes soon deflated with poor run of form and lackluster display, despite the Portuguese having some exciting and young talents at his disposal. United turned to their former player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the move turned out to be the trump card they were desperately looking for. Before Solskjaer took over, United were 19 points off leaders Liverpool and 11 points off Chelsea in fourth. His appointed sparkled an upturn and United have taken 32 from the possible 39 points and are now in the hunt for the lucrative Champions League spot. They are also well alive in the Champions League where they face Barcelona in the quarter-finals. Many have suggested his appointment has also brought the old 'mojo' back, lost under Mourinho and more importantly brought confidence of some of the key players.
Tottenham Hotspurs has taken major strides under Mauricio Pochettino in terms to quality. With a group of young starlets playing together for quite a long time now, Spurs were also the only side not to make any new signing before the start of the new campaign. Instead he made his players adapt to his tactics. This plan has largely helped Spurs compete with their more wealthier English opponents. With a fully-fit squad, Spurs can be a match to any sides in the league but their weak bench-strength has often been their Achilles heel. Spurs have faltered when it mattered the most which is why they are without a trophy since the 2008 League Cup victory. Their last league title came way back in 1961.
The tailenders
Huddersfield Town's two season stay in the Premier League came to the end after defeat to Crystal Palace. With just three wins and 24 losses after 32 matches, they have been relegated with six games to play. Second from the bottom, Fulham, only promoted this season, also going down after a 4-1 defeat at Watford on Tuesday. Fulham spent over £100 million in strengthening their squad but despite spending heavily on players could not ensure safety. Five points from safety, another promoted club Cardiff also remains in the bottom three and still has to host title-chasing Liverpool and visit Old Trafford in their remaining seven fixtures. They will be looking to trade places with Brighton, Southampton and Burnley, all tied on 33 points but separated on goal difference.
This season's league is the closest the title race has been since 2013-14 season. Coincidently, back in the 2013-14 season, Liverpool also topped the table by two points against Manchester City before a run of events against them saw them finish two points behind winners City. With Liverpool still left to play against Chelsea and City yet to play against Tottenham and Manchester United and the fact that Premier League games are very unpredictable, it is a difficult task of predicting a champion