Barclays Premier League Table: Updated 2014 EPL Outlook After Week 19 Results
The top teams in the Premier League missed a unique opportunity to take advantage of each other's failings, with the entire top four drawing their final match of 2014 on Matchday 19.
Southampton held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw, Manchester United couldn't score against Tottenham and Manchester City gave up a 2-0 lead at home against Burnley.
Arsenal were the big winners in Week 19, beating West Ham United to leap over the Hammers in the Premier League standings and move level with Saints on points. Here are the results for Matchweek 19 of the 2014-15 season:
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| FT | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 - 0 | Manchester United |
| FT | Southampton | 1 - 1 | Chelsea |
| FT | Aston Villa | 0 - 0 | Sunderland |
| FT | Hull City | 0 - 1 | Leicester City |
| FT | Manchester City | 2 - 2 | Burnley |
| FT | Queens Park Rangers | 0 - 0 | Crystal Palace |
| FT | Stoke City | 2 - 0 | West Bromwich Albion |
| FT | West Ham United | 1 - 2 | Arsenal |
| FT | Newcastle United | 3 - 2 | Everton |
| Monday, Dec. 29 | Liverpool | v | Swansea City |
Here's a look at the current Premier League standings:
| 1 | Chelsea | 19 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 41 | 14 | 27 | 46 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 41 | 17 | 24 | 43 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 33 | 19 | 14 | 36 |
| 4 | Southampton | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 32 | 15 | 17 | 33 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 23 | 11 | 33 |
| 6 | West Ham United | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 31 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 31 |
| 8 | Swansea City | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 28 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 28 | -6 | 26 |
| 10 | Liverpool | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 24 | -2 | 25 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 23 | -2 | 25 |
| 12 | Everton | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 29 | 31 | -2 | 21 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 22 | -11 | 21 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 19 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 27 | -11 | 20 |
| 15 | Queens Park Rangers | 19 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 34 | -13 | 18 |
| 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 28 | -10 | 17 |
| 17 | Hull City | 19 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 26 | -8 | 16 |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 19 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 20 | 30 | -10 | 16 |
| 19 | Burnley | 19 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 29 | -15 | 16 |
| 20 | Leicester City | 19 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 31 | -14 | 13 |
Chelsea and Manchester City
Jose Mourinho was in a foul mood after his side weren't awarded a penalty against Southampton, with the Blues eventually settling for a 1-1 draw.
As shared by BBC Sport, the Portuguese manager didn't mince words:
His mood likely changed when the final whistle blew at the Etihad Stadium, with defending champions City also held to a draw, by none other than Burnley.
The Citizens didn't just fail to get past the newly promoted side—they gave up a two-goal lead in the process. According to OptaJoe, it was a case of history repeating itself:
Little changed at the top of the table on Sunday, with Chelsea holding onto their three-point lead over City. The two sides will be kicking themselves for failing to take advantage of the other team's struggles, but ultimately, this will hardly matter in 2015.
Manchester United
The one team that should be really disappointed with how Matchweek 19 played out is Manchester United, as odd as it may sound. A trip to White Hart Lane to take on in-form Tottenham was always going to be tricky, and one could argue a draw there would be a fine result for anyone.
While that's true, Manager Louis van Gaal has been telling everyone in the past few days how his club are challenging for the title, not a Champions League finish, via beIN Sports:
The Red Devils sit 10 points behind Chelsea entering the second half of the season, and they have to seize each and every opportunity to close that gap in 2015. Taking into account goal difference, United will likely have to win four matches more than Chelsea to win the title.
Sunday gave the club their first opportunity to gain in the standings, and they didn't take it. If United's title challenge is real, it took a big hit in Week 19, both mentally and mathematically.
Arsenal
Go on and celebrate, Arsenal fans. You've earned it.
I've given the Gunners a hard time all season for their inconsistency and lack of a physical presence in midfield, and for the second week in a row, the team showed the work rate and character to cope with both.
Francis Coquelin was fantastic against one of the Premier League's better midfield duo, Alexis Sanchez has the lung capacity of an ox and Santi Cazorla continues to conduct proceedings like few others in the Premier League.
Yes, Mathieu Debuchy was dreadful against West Ham, but Arsenal found a way to deal with that. And that's exactly what's different about this squad. Sure, the results went the club's way as well, as shared by Football Vines:
"Arsenal win. Spurs draw. Man City draw. Chelsea draw. Man Utd draw. http://t.co/yaHrLS0u8S
— Football Vines (@Vine_Football) December 28, 2014"
But the team's resiliency on Sunday was arguably even more important. The Gunners survived a ton of pressure in the first half, scored twice from two shots and defended a one-goal lead for much of the second half. For the second consecutive match, Arsenal didn't give up said lead in the final minutes.
The Gunners have momentum on their side heading into 2015, and a win over Southampton will push the club into the top four and among the big boys of the Premier League once more.
