Title is Man City’s to lose
Even after a weekend in which
Manchester City produced the worst performance of the Premier League’s top four, the champions streaked further clear towards a fourth title in five years.
City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his side were second best last Saturday (Jan 1) despite coming
from behind to beat 10-man Arsenal 2-1 with a 93rd minute winner that secured an 11th consecutive league win.
As Guardiola’s men have hit their stride, Chelsea and Liverpool have run out of steam to turn a tight
three-horse race, into a procession.
Struck down by coronavirus outbreaks and injuries, the two challengers for City’s crown threw themselves into a titanic battle at Stamford Bridge last Sunday, but a 2-2 draw did little for either side’s hopes of reeling in the leaders.
City’s advantage now stands at 10 points from Chelsea, with Liverpool a further point back with a game in hand.
“It’s a big gap, so they have the title maybe to lose at the moment,” said Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, one of those forced into a swift
return to action after testing positive for COVID-19.
“We just have to get results, play good football and win games. It sounds pretty easy but it’s tough.”
Rather than cutting the gap, there is a likelihood it could grow in the coming weeks as Chelsea and
Liverpool tackle their own issues.
Both are involved in two-legged League Cup semi-finals over the next two midweeks despite calls from managers for the ties to be switched to one-off games.
Chelsea’s record signing Romelu
Lukaku was dropped for Sunday’s crucial clash after an explosive interview with Italian media in which he revealed his displeasure with how his first season back at the Bridge is going.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
was also absent due to a COVID infection, along with Alisson Becker,
Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip.
SALAH, MANE TO BE MISSED
And the Reds now have to cope without their top goalscorers, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, for up
to a month due to their international
commitments at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Chelsea will also lose goalkeeper
Edouard Mendy to the AFCON, while first choice wing-backs Reece
James and Ben Chilwell face months
out injured.
“How should we compete in a title race?” Blues boss Thomas Tuchel complained earlier last week after his side were forced to fulfil all
of their December fixtures, while 18
other Premier League games were called off due to COVID outbreaks.
Even if Tuchel and Klopp’s men recovered their early season form, City’s relentless consistency shows no signs of offering a ray of hope.
They have averaged a total of 95 points in each of Guardiola’s three title-winning seasons in England and are on course to hit that mark again.
“We showed our champion mentality, we never give up,” said midfielder Rodri after his late strike
at the Emirates kept City’s winning
run going.
“We know how tough it is to win the Premier League and we are not going to drop it.
“We don’t look at the others much and winning 11 games in a row, it shows that we are focused on ourselves.”
Elsewhere the pressure increased
on Everton manager Rafa Benitez as his side were beaten 2-3 by Brighton last Sunday. The players were booed from the pitch after their dismal run
extended to just one win in their last 12 league games.
Everton sit eight points above the relegation zone and Benitez will know results must improve quickly if he is to avoid increased talk of the sack.
“I don’t like to make excuses. The goals we conceded is the lack of focus in the first minute and then
after you play under pressure,” Benitez said.
“I’m concerned that we have to improve, especially in defence. We are lacking a little quality in the decisions.”