NFLNBANHLMLBWNBASoccerTennis
Featured Video
World Cup Smallest Nations ๐Ÿ”

Is It a Two Horse Race for the Premier League Title?

TheChelseaBlog.orgNov 26, 2008

We are at a time in the season where we arenโ€™t too far away from the rather packed Christmas schedule. It is a time where many points can be won and lost in a short period of time.

ย 

Many people claim it to be the most crucial part of the entire season.

ย 

For example, Chelsea have five Premier League games in December with four of these coming in a two week period as Christmas well and truly arrives. Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have fairly similar schedules, so what does it mean for the title race?

ย 

Well, in my opinion it could confirm the fact that we have a two horse race on our hands. The Christmas period could almost certainly break Arsenalโ€™s title challenge as they sit ten points adrift as it is. Something Iโ€™d like to suggest though is that it could be the end of Manchester Unitedโ€™s challenge as well.

Alex Fergusonโ€™s men do have a game in hand at the moment, but their indifferent start to the campaign means they sit eight points behind Chelsea at the top of the table. They can ill afford a poor Christmas period and considering they have the Manchester derby and Tottenham away to contend with โ€“ there are times where they could drop points.

ย 

They also have the Carling Cup quarterfinal and the Fifa World Club Championship during December, meaning that in terms of games played they are likely to be a couple behind the rest. Constantly playing catch-up isnโ€™t ideal going into the New Year and as much as the words coming out of Old Trafford wonโ€™t admit itโ€”this is something that will affect them psychologically.

ย 

So, it is a realistic view that the Christmas period could spell the end for Arsenal and Manchester Unitedโ€™s title challenge. If nothing else, it will certainly mean that the football odds wonโ€™t fancy their chances come January. Of course, these two slipping up over the next few weeks isnโ€™t all that will make the โ€˜two horse raceโ€™ notion suggested in the headline of this piece. Current leaders Chelsea and Liverpool must maintain their decent form and not drop too many points.

ย 

Looking at Chelseaโ€™s fixtures during December, I have to say that Iโ€™m confident not too many games will end in anything other than a win for Scolariโ€™s men. The Arsenal game this weekend aside, December then sees Chelsea take on Bolton, West Ham, Everton, West Brom and Fulham. Not the most daunting set of fixtures is it?

ย 

Overall, my point is that as long as Chelsea come through the Arsenal game and then the busy Christmas period relatively unscathedโ€”the title could be in sight. Yes, there will still be a long way to go, but with there being a distinct possibility of Manchester United and Arsenal being too far adrift, it could be Chelsea and Liverpool going head to head in the final few weeks of the season.

ย 

Should this be the case, I have to say that Iโ€™d happily stick a lot of my football betting money on Chelsea winning the league and see off the challenge of a team that isnโ€™t used to seeing out a season searching for honours at the top of the table.

ย 

ย 

By Thomas Rooney โ€“ A sports writer who blogs about football betting

ย ย ย ย ย ย 

TOP NEWS

World Cup Groups Preview ๐Ÿ”Ž

Predicting World Cup Group Winners ๐Ÿ”ฎ

World Cup Favorites ๐Ÿคฉ

World Cup Smallest Nations ๐Ÿ”

TOP NEWS

World Cup Groups Preview ๐Ÿ”Ž

Predicting World Cup Group Winners ๐Ÿ”ฎ

World Cup Favorites ๐Ÿคฉ

World Cup Schedule ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ

Print Your World Cup Bracket ๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ

Mike Brown Calls Out Refs ๐Ÿ˜ 
Bleacher Reportโ€ข7h

Mike Brown Calls Out Refs ๐Ÿ˜ 

Knicks HC baffled by the foul discrepancy in Game 3 ๐ŸŽฅ