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English Premier League clubs have played only 21 games and still have 17 more games to play before the season ends, but the games this weekend are crucial for the current top three in the table. The results this weekend will determine if it’s going to be a three-horse race or two horse-race to the finish.
It might seem premature to claim that the title will be won by only one of the current top three, however, such has been the season with a very tightly fought race to the top.
Some faithfuls might argue not to discount Chelsea as yet, who were very much in the title race until they lost to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of November. But they now sit four points behind Spurs, who are third in the points table, and 10 points behind the leaders Liverpool. To add to their woes, they have managed to score just five goals in their last five Premier League games, three of which have been scored by Eden Hazard.
The lack of an in-form and reliable center forward is hurting Chelsea and the fans would be hoping that this is addressed before the January transfer window ends. For this season, they may have to contend with the fourth position, but will have to fend off Arsenal, who are three points behind on fifth, and Manchester United, a further three points behind on sixth in the points table.
1. Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Liverpool (Saturday, Jan 12 @15:00 GMT)
Brighton are just in their second season of the Premier League and sit comfortably at 13th, 10 points from the drop-zone. Their results in the last five Premier League games (recent first) are: D W D L L.
At home this season, they have done fairly good with 5 wins, 3 draws, and just 2 losses. They’ve also conceded just 11 goals in 10 games at home with three clean sheets. However, they face a Liverpool team that has been in a superb run of form. Liverpool have just lost one game this season, their last game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool have won four of their last five Premier League games, scoring 15 goals and conceding just 4. They have also kept the most clean-sheets this season, 12 so far of which 5 have been away from Anfield.
Away from home, Liverpool have won 8 of the 11 games. Although Chris Hughton might be hoping to come away with a point from this game, but the signs are ominous for Brighton against Jurgen Klopp’s rampaging Liverpool team who hope to win their first Premier League title in so many years. In my opinion, Liverpool will come unscathed from this game maintaining the lead at the top or depending on other results even extending the lead.
2. Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United (Sunday, Jan 13 @16:30 GMT)
The closest Tottenham Hotspurs have come to winning the Premier League title was in the 2015-16 season, when Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City won the title against all odds. Tottenham got just 2 points from their last 4 games and finished third on the table, one point behind Arsenal.
This season they been in good form. Tottenham have not drawn a single game this season. Yes, you read it right, they have not drawn a single of the 21 games played so far. It has been all or nothing as far as Mauricio Pochettino’s men are concerned.
At home this season, they have lost three games, one each against Liverpool and Manchester City who are above them in the table and one against Wolverhampton Wanderers. They have been rampant in the last five games winning four and scoring 18 goals.
Their South Korean wizard, Heung-Min Son has had a hand in 9 of these 18 goals, scoring 5 and assisting 4. He’s in the form of his life and would like to leave a mark before he departs to join his countrymen at the AFC Asian Cup 2019 in United Arab Emirates.
In contrast, Manchester United had a poor start to the season. They lost their first away game to Brighton & Hove Albion and the very next weekend lost the home fixture against this week’s opponent Tottenham Hotspur 0-3.
The first half of this season for Manchester United under former manager Jose Mourinho was turbulent to say the least. With lot of unwanted chatter off the field and poor showing and results on the field, new order was in the beckoning.
The interim manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has turned things around since his arrival. With five wins out of five, four in Premier League and one in the FA Cup last weekend, he’s brought joy to the field and the fans. However, this week will be his first biggest test as manager of Manchester United.
He will hope the players continue to show the same intensity on the field and exact a revenge for the drubbing they received at the start of the season. In the last three Premier League seasons, Manchester United have failed to take a point away from home against Tottenham Hotspur. However, this time the result could be different.
3. Manchester City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (Monday, Jan 14 @20:00 GMT)
The current title holders Manchester City made a blistering start to the season, winning six and drawing one in the first seven games. They scored 21 goals and conceded just 3 in those seven games and maintained a clean sheet in four of the games.
Their form has not been the same in the last five games. They have won three games and lost two, while scoring 11 goals and conceding 8. However, they will take heart from the fact that they beat the table topper Liverpool in their last Premier League game to reduce the gap to four points.
Unlike last season when they were run away victors, this season the title race is much closer and tougher. But having won the title thrice and finishing runner-up twice in the last seven seasons, Manchester City very well know how to close the gap and go about the games in the second half of the season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers seem to be the party spoilers this season. They have surprised many, including their own fans, with some amazing results. This started with a draw at home against the title holders, this week’s opponent Manchester City. Then they drew against Manchester United and Arsenal away from home. They capped 2018 with a victory against Chelsea at home and defeating Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.
They have taken 9 points from seven games against the top 6 on the points table this season. So to assume the game against Nuno Espirito Santos’ Wolves would be a walk in the park can be perilous. With a 72% win record in his managerial career, Pep Guardiola is wise enough to keep his team focused on the title race. Wolves will have to play through their skin to come away with a point this weekend.
