EPL: Predicting The Final Standings Of The Top Six at The End Of The Season
This season EPL fans have witnessed one of the most closely contested title races of recent memory. Over the past few weeks, however, Arsenal and Manchester United have slowly pulled away from the rest of the pack. These two teams now look like firm favorites to clinch the title come May.
Manchester City’s recent loss to Manchester United and Chelsea’s inconsistency means that they have very few chances of actually winning the title. On the contrary, the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City still have an outside chance.
But if this season has taught us anything, it is to never rule out any team.
Chelsea looked invincible after the first few matches but have collapsed since. Tottenham too looked like they may have a chance of winning the title, but it is now evident that they will have to fight for a Champions League spot.
Manchester City, after all that spending, looked like the real deal but they continue to remain inconsistent and the recent loss to Manchester United has put a real dent in their title hopes.
Liverpool are starting to look like a formidable unit under Kenny Dalglish but it looks like their rejuvenation started too late for them to have any serious Champions League hopes. Nevertheless, don’t rule them out just yet.
In this article I will be predicting how the Top Six will look at the end of the season.
6. Liverpool
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Following last season’s poor showing, Liverpool looked to establish themselves once more as a European powerhouse and their main agenda would have been to qualify for the UEFA Champions League once more.
But Liverpool have struggled this season and are currently at sixth in the table. Roy Hogdson was appointed as manager at the start of the season but during his short tenure at the Merseyside club he was a huge flop, his negative tactics being one of the main reasons.
Following nine games Liverpool were shockingly in the relegation zone. Following that there was a slight improvement in results and Liverpool moved up to 13th in the standings.
But throughout Hogdson’s tenure Liverpool played boring defensive football and he failed to bring out the best in his star players. Liverpool endured embarrassing defeats to Manchester City, Blackpool, Blackburn, Newcastle and Stoke City.
Following their horror run Hogdson left the club by mutual consent and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish was appointed as club manager.
Ever since his appointment Liverpool have shown completely different side, playing good football; they look like they may put up a late surge for a Champions League spot.
Under Dalglish they managed four straight wins and despite the loss to Blackpool, Liverpool are finally back on track.
Unfortunately for Liverpool the comeback started too late and they have too much catching up to do. which is realistically not possible at this stage.
On the other hand, if Tottenham, Chelsea or Manchester City do go through a bad patch, Liverpool have a chance of sneaking in through the back door.
Liverpool are currently five points behind fourth placed Chelsea, who have played two games less.
Right now it does not look like those teams will collapse; Liverpool remains at sixth place, but the future does look bright.
5. Manchester City
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Manchester City are currently third in the league and some would even consider them title contenders. In my opinion, however, they will have to contend with another season of Europa League.
After signing several top players in the summer including David Silva and Yaya Toure, following the signing of Edin Dzeko, Manchester City looked like the real deal and seemed to have a good chance of lifting the title.
But the defeat to cross town rivals, Manchester United, has dented any hopes of a title win. They now face the task of competing with Tottenham and Chelsea for the two remaining Champions League spots.
Manchester City have picked up 49 points from 27 games and are only behind Arsenal and Manchester United.
They are ahead of Chelsea and Tottenham, who currently have 44 and 47 points respectively. But Chelsea have played two matches less than City, and Tottenham have played a game less than City. If the two sides win their remaining fixture, then City will slip down to fifth.
One reason I see them slipping down is because of their inconsistency. Manchester City will put together a string of good results only to lose in a match they should have won with ease.
Another major undoing of City may prove to be their over reliance on Captain Carlos Tevez. Tevez has scored 18 of City’s 43 goals in the league this season and in the absence of Tevez, City lack a proper replacement despite their extravagant spending.
Despite all their strength upfront City have managed only 43 goals, which is behind Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Although City has progressed a lot this season they still lack that final piece that will take them the final step.
But even if they do finishfifth, there is no denying that this team is on the verge of achieving success.
4. Tottenham Hotspurs
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Last season Tottenham qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history and in my opinion they will clinch another Champions League berth this season as well.
Right now Tottenham are fourth in the league, ahead of Chelsea who have played a game less. Tottenham didn’t get off to a great start but have slowly rebuilt their season with a string of impressive results.
Tottenham beat Arsenal away at the Emirates and held Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea to draws.
This season Tottenham have displayed character and mental fortitude as they have picked up several crucial wins against the likes of Arsenal, Blackburn, Sunderland, and Fulham, all away from home.
Right now they seem to be the team most likely to finish third but they have picked up a few impressive wins in their last two games to stay in contention.
One of their major drawbacks has been their over reliance on Gareth Bale and Rafael van Der Vaart, but they also have other match winners in the form of Modric, Defoe, and Kranjcar. Tottenham are packed with a lot of talent in midfield.
Tottenham have conceded the most number of goals and scored the least among the top five which means that if boils down to goal difference, Tottenham will struggle.
3: Chelsea
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After the first 10 fixtures of the season Chelsea were so rampant and dominant that people began to wonder whether Chelsea would win the league for the second consecutive season and break several records along the way.
But right now it is hard to fathom the thought of Chelsea lifting the trophy come May. Several people including me were shocked at the way in which Chelsea collapsed. They went from title favorites to a club fighting for a place in the Champions League.
Chelsea’s collapse was triggered by the sacking of Ray Wilkins and since then have struggled to establish themselves against even weaker opposition.
During their slump Chelsea went on a six game winless streak as they drew three and lost the remaining.
Chelsea then managed three straight victories before they lost again against Liverpool.
Although Chelsea are fifth right now, they still have a game in hand and, in my opinion, will finish third despite growing pressure from Manchester City and Tottenham.
The reason is that Chelsea have much more experience than the other two sides when it comes to the business end of the season.
Also, the recent signings of Torres and David Luiz will give them some much needed depth and strength in squad.
Chelsea may finish third at the end of the season but from my point of view, it will be an extremely close shave.
2: Manchester United
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Manchester United are currently leading the table and have suffered just one defeat all season. Yet I predict them to finish second.
Why?
Despite their impressive run, Manchester United have struggled away from home, picking up only three victories. The three victories came against Blackpool, West Brom and Stoke City. Against the former two, Manchester United were lucky as the referee made a few poor calls in their favor.
Manchester United also have a few important matches still to play. They have to play Chelsea twice, Arsenal away and Liverpool away. That means they have three extremely tricky away fixtures in their next 12 games.
Manchester United have looked fragile this season, which is why I’m predicting them to fall down the table. They have less depth in squad when compared to Arsenal and have failed to show that winning mentality that has characterized them for so many years.
They have often squandered away comfortable leads this season and have not played with their usual killer instinct. They have had several scrappy wins.
Nevertheless, that does not mean they have been poor. So far in the season they have been good, which is why they are leading the table. Players like Nani, Berbatov and Vidic have excelled this season.
With Rooney slowly coming back to form, Manchester United have a great chance to lift another trophy, but I see them falling just short.
Champions: Arsenal
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Some may call me biased but I believe that Arsenal stand the best chance of winning the league from here.
Arsenal are currently second in the table, behind Manchester United by a mere four points. They are undefeated in their last nine matches with six wins and three draws. Arsenal have the best away record in the league this season, picking up 25 points from a maximum of 39.
Arsenal have displayed a certain mental strength and fortitude that has been missing for the past several seasons.
Arsenal’s season has had several ups and downs this time and, despite missing several key players, they find themselves in a good position as the season enters its close.
Arsenal missed Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Vermaelen and Robin van Persie during the early parts of the season. But the great performances of Samir Nasri, who has been easily Arsenal’s and the Premier League’s best player, reduced the impact of their losses.
Marouane Chamakh was brilliant during the start of the season and minimized the loss of van Persie.
But the following the return of van Persie and Fabregas, Arsenal have started to play some great football and have notched up some real dominant victories. Van Persie has added ruthlessness to Arsenal’s beautiful game and now Arsenal look to be gaining in confidence. Arsenal have built up momentum over the past couple of months and are the inform team in the Premier League right now.
Arsenal with Djourou have one of the best defenses in the league and have conceded just one goal in close to 600 minutes with him playing this year.
Compared to the other challengers, Arsenal have the easier run of fixtures and have more depth in their squad.
Their new found belief, solid defense and the return of van Persie and Fabregas means that Arsenal will lift the trophy this season.
