Top Four Chase Review
We have two London front-runners in the Premier League chase to the Champions League and the title race — Chelsea and Tottenham respectively sit one and two in the Premier League table and don’t seem likely to let go of those positions. Both teams have played 30 games through the season and only have seven points that separate them. Chelsea’s chances to win the league are good with only eight games remaining in the season but Tottenham is close on their trail. The chase for number one will be very interesting along the way as both teams are in good form heading down the stretch.
Liverpool
Liverpool currently sit at poll position number three. Unfortunately they could not put on back to back stellar performances as they were unable to find a way to defeat a mid-table Bournemouth team. The game finished 2–2 and the result was Liverpool failing to take advantage of their chance to improve on their points total and putting them a little further ahead. This adds to Liverpool’s common theme of not getting points against mid-table opponents.
Looking Ahead
Liverpool will continue to play some mid-table clubs over the next few game weeks. That list includes teams like Stoke City, Crystal Palace and West Brom, with West Brom the highest positioned club over the next three game weeks.
However, next on the schedule for Liverpool is Stoke City. Liverpool is set to face Stoke City in what will seem like a must win type of game. Liverpool need to earn three points as often as they can as the remaining weeks of the season become less and less. Stoke City is also coming off it’s third straight loss in the Premier League while Liverpool is currently unbeaten in their last five. The odds are in Liverpools favor but it will be up to them to go out and earn the points they need to stay in the top four race.
Manchester City
Manchester City just dropped crucial points this week as they lost an away game to Premier League front-runners Chelsea. The loss moves City from third to fourth on the Premier League table and ultimately the opportunity to push ahead for Champions League and hopefully the league title. With the league championship slowly slipping through City’s finger tips the best option might be to look ahead. The Champions League race is going to be a tight one and it is something that City can not lose sight of with only eight games remaining.
It should be mentioned that City does have a game in hand on Liverpool. With only two points separating the two clubs this will prove to be vastly important for City as the season rolls on.
Looking Ahead
Manchester City are set to tussle with Hull City this weekend. With the game taking place at home for Manchester one would expect them to have the upper hand. Plus, you know, it’s Hull City — so of course Manchester City should have the upper hand.
Fun Fact: Hull City are one a two game winning streak and that feat has only happened one other time this season for the orange and black. Manchester City are coming off a very tough loss against a team they desperately wanted to beat and needed to beat. Could this be a redemption game for Man City or is it a trap game with Hull looking to steal away points from the Etihad giants?
Arsenal
After weeks of struggling Arsenal have finally put a game together where they looked like the giants they are perceived to be. Two straight losses and a tie were not sitting well with fans of the Gunners as Arsene Wengers hot seat only got hotter. Now Arsenal are coming off a 3–0 victory where they really put on a show for home fans. While the single game may not change a lot of the attitudes the fans have towards their long standing manager, the result does help them immensely. With two games in hand on Liverpool and one on Manchester City, the Gunners are still in firm position to manage a top four finish.
Looking Ahead
Arsenal have a very favorable schedule over the course of the next three game weeks. They will see the likes of Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and dead last Sunderland. In fact, all three of these teams are fighting to stay alive in the Premier League — if that is not favorable for Arsenal then I don’t know what is?
Crystal Palace is first up on that list of struggling Premier League clubs. Palace was on a four game winning streak in order to help save their season but those dreams were wistfully crushed in a 3–1 defeat to Southampton. Arsenal will question which form of good or bad they will see from Palace but to be fair, Palace will ask those same questions of Arsenal.
Arsenal need to take advantage of these next three game weeks and earn all nine points from them. This will put them on a four game winning streak if they can do so. With a four game winning streak, the top four will be looking more and more likely.
Manchester United
Manchester United is the team that hasn’t lost a game in 20 straight game weeks. Wow, right? Wrong. It’s the one streak in football in undefeated terms that no one seems to really care about all that much. They are not being praised for their superior talent (or lack their of) but instead being questioned with every step they take forward, right, left or backwards. Can they do anything right?
What has 20 straight games on not losing earned Manchester United? A moniker of six. They have been in sixth place the majority of the season and while it’s hard to see them move away from that spot — the likelihood is somewhat.
Looking Ahead
Manchester United are fortunate to face Sunderland in their next game and while the match may be an away game, Manchester United should clearly be the favorites in this one. Sunderland are last in the league and are surely headed to the relegation department by the time Summer arrives. The only thing important for Manchester to not do is overlook this game.
The next two games get tougher for United after the brisk walk at Sunderland. An away Europa League game against Anderlecht on April 13 will be tough and then only three days later they will see Chelsea coming to town. What a time to be alive. The key for United will be to earn all three points at Sunderland and then pray for good health over the course of the next two games — they will be tough and very impactful on United’s season chase for top four.
