Battle for Champions League berths heats up
LIVERPOOL host derby foes Everton and Manchester City visit ailing Arsenal this weekend as the battle for Champions League qualification takes centre-stage in the Premier League following the international recess.
With Chelsea 10 points clear at the top of the table and seemingly destined for the title, five major clubs are scrapping over the three remaining Champions League berths. Here’s how they shape up: Following an unsteady start to the season, Tottenham clicked into gear in mid-December and have only dropped points against Manchester City, Liverpool and Sunderland in their last 13 games.
Their run-in features only two meetings with other members of the top six and both are at home: against north London rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, in what stands to be the last game played at White Hart Lane.
But manager Mauricio Pochettino will hope 19-goal top scorer Harry Kane recovers from his ankle injury quickly.
City’s seven-game unbeaten run in the league faces successive tests in London next week as Pep Guardiola takes his erratically performing team to Arsenal and Chelsea.
City have tightened up at the back, conceding only two goals in their last six games. But they are now having problems at the other end, as demonstrated in the 0-0 draw at home to Stoke City and 1-1 draw at Liverpool.
“l have the kindest run-in of any team in the top six but that’s not necessarily a good thing.’’
Jurgen Klopp’s men have thrived against their main rivals, avoiding defeat in the 10 head-to-heads against the other teams in the top six.
But they have struggled to break down sides near the bottom of the table, losing to Burnley, Bournemouth, Swansea City, Hull City and Leicester City.
Everton, meanwhile, have Champions League ambitions of their own after moving level on points with Arsenal, albeit games more.
United manager Jose Mourinho has complained long and loud about his club’s packed fixture schedule and there is no let-up in sight.
Unbeaten in 18 league outings, United must squeeze in 11 league games plus a two-legged Europa League quarterfinal against Anderlecht, and injuries are starting to bite.
Paul Pogba, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are currently sidelined, while top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ander Herrera are suspended.
Besieged by questions about his future, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger faces a huge battle to steer having played two his team into the Champions League for the 19th season running.
Beaten four times in their last five games, Arsenal are at the lowest ebb of Wenger’s 21-year tenure, with fans divided over whether or not the Frenchman should be allowed to stay.
“Our season will now be decided by the next two months,” Wenger conceded on Thursday. Fixtures: Today: Burnley v Tottenham, Chelsea v Crystal Palace, Hull v West Ham, Leicester v Stoke, Liverpool v Everton, Manchester United v West Brom, Southampton v Bournemouth, Watford v Sunderland.
Tomorrow: Arsenal v Man City, Swansea v Middlesbrough. — AFP