Welcome to the Premier League title race
SO Manchester City are not invincible after all. Their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend has stalled the procession that they were threatening to make of the Premier League this season.
The chasing pack has received some hope as an early Christmas present. Liverpool, most hopeful of all, now find themselves top of the table. Klopp’s side remain unbeaten in the league this season but with a tough December fixture list, they’ll do well to maintain that distinction into the new year.
Liverpool’s first game of 2019? Away at Manchester City.
Santa Klopp will be hoping to finally present Liverpool fans with their most longed for and eagerly awaited gift – a Premier League title.
The Liverpool–City game in early January is too early to be a title decider but a victory for the Reds would establish their title credentials beyond doubt.
I still think there’s something missing in Liverpool’s midfield, which lacks a genuine playmaker of craft and guile. Naby Keita brings dynamism but needs a bit more time to settle in; Xherdan Shaqiri has flair but is likely to be a cameo performer rather than a star turn.
Chelsea’s win will lead some to talk up their title chances again but I’m not one of them. Maurizio Sarri is doing a spectacular job at Stamford Bridge but he needs a more reliable centre forward. Playing on Thursday nights in the Europa League is also not the best scenario for maintaining consistency in the league.
Speaking of the Europa League, Liverpool find themselves in danger of having European date nights moved to Thursdays (in far less swanky venues). Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Napoli could have huge consequences for their Premier League chances.
And what of the rest? In his postmatch press conference Pep Guardiola was asked for his take on the title race.
“Everybody can win the Premier League” he said. Steady on Pep, even under Ranieri I think it’s a long shot for Fulham.
More specifically, Guardiola mentioned Spurs and Arsenal as title rivals (in addition to Liverpool and Chelsea). He didn’t mention Manchester United – they must be covered under the “everybody” reference.
At the end of October, Guardiola referred to a five-horse title race: Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal. Back then I suggested in this column that he was wrong. He still is.
Only Liverpool are capable of cancelling City’s title party. Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal are all works in progress. So too are Liverpool but their progress is further advanced – especially defensively having conceded a mere six goals in the Premier League this season.
Man United have conceded 26. Under the perfectionist Guardiola we can also consider City a work in progress as well to some extent. They remain to prove themselves on the European stage where they’ve uncharacteristically suffered stage fright in recent years.
Pep is a director who won’t be satisfied with “best cinematography”, he wants “best picture”. The Spaniard is an aesthete but he’s every bit as much a winner.
Another thing Guardiola said after the game was: “we’re not here to be invincible, we are here to be champions.” With invincibility lost, City might even be freer and more relaxed in their next few games. Good luck to Everton, Crystal Palace and Leicester if that turns out to be the case.
City have slipped to second place in the table but it is they who continue to set the benchmark for everybody else in the Premier League.
Not “everybody” can win it but at least we have a race. On Jan 1, maybe Klopp should try to sign Usain Bolt.
CraigWilkie.FootballWriter.Football Coach.FootballFan.Followhimon Twitter@ciwilkie