CHELSEA PLAYERS CELEBRATES
With Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United all dropping points, Antonio Conte's side seem to have an unassailable eight-point lead already.
So, can any of the chasing pack overturn Chelsea's dominance? Sportsmail assesses their credentials.
ARSENAL
What’s their form been like?
Apart from the thumping victory at Swansea, Arsenal have squeezed past West Brom and Burnley at home, while going three down away at Bournemouth.
The two defeats in a week last month might have derailed them but the Gunners are grinding out results.
ARSENAL'S NEXT SIX
(H) Watford - Jan 31
(A) Chelsea - Feb 4
(H) Hull - Feb 11
(A) Southampton - Feb 25
(A) Liverpool - March 4
(H) Leicester - March 11
What is the main problem?
Granit Xhaka’s brainless red card on Sunday suggested the midfield remains a problem area for Arsene Wenger, and that was definitely the case against Everton and Bournemouth, where they failed to control matches played at high intensities.
Reasons to be hopeful?
The late goals. Including an 89th-minute winner at Preston in the FA Cup, that’s four in the space of a few weeks now and shows the sort of fortitude which has been lacking in previous seasons.
Have they got any chance of catching Chelsea?
Writing them off now would be writing off the season, so yes, they can but Arsenal desperately need three points at Stamford Bridge on February 4.
TOTTENHAM
What’s their form been like?
The Premier League’s form team at the moment, even if they scraped a draw at Manchester City on Saturday evening. Six wins from their last seven (and beating Chelsea during that run too), Spurs will continue attacking this season.
TOTTENHAM'S NEXT SIX
(A) Sunderland - Jan 31
(H) Middlesbrough - Feb 4
(A) Liverpool - Feb 11
(H) Stoke - Feb 26
(H) Everton - March 4
(A) Crystal Palace - March 11
What is the main problem?
Have only won twice against those in the top six so far this campaign, losing at Manchester United and Chelsea plus draws against City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Nine points from seven games.
Reasons to be hopeful?
They’ve only got Liverpool out of the top six to play until the end of April and if Chelsea are to be run close, Spurs know this run of form needs to continue for as long as possible.
Have they got any chance of catching Chelsea?
Possibly have the best opportunity of the lot given their recent run of form. Dele Alli continues to sparkle and Mauricio Pochettino won’t see Hugo Lloris have another game like he did at City.
LIVERPOOL
What’s their form been like?
Patchy at best, with only four Premier League wins in their last nine, stretching back to the beginning of December and that capitulation down on the south coast at Bournemouth.
A good run over the Christmas period - four wins on the spin - has been let down by a costly draw against Sunderland and defeat by Swansea.
LIVERPOOL'S NEXT SIX
(H) Chelsea - Jan 31
(A) Hull - Feb 4
(H) Tottenham - Feb 11
(A) Leicester - Feb 27
(H) Arsenal - March 4
(H) Burnley - March 12
What is the main problem?
They are conceding way too many goals. Twenty-seven have flown into their net in 22 games - only Manchester City have a worse record in the top seven - and when Liverpool concede one, more usually follow.
Reasons to be hopeful?
Going the other way they have been electric all season. Goals are shared around nicely - nobody has more than Sadio Mane's nine in the league, despite Jurgen Klopp’s side scoring more than anyone else in the division.
Have they got any chance of catching Chelsea?
Chances are extremely slim at this stage, 10 points behind and with Chelsea seemingly unbreakable. They have to take the points when the Blues arrive at Anfield a week on Tuesday.
MANCHESTER CITY
What’s their form been like?
Not the best. Four defeats in their last nine games led Pep Guardiola to ruling them out of the title race after a chastening afternoon at Everton last week. He has rowed back slightly on that since, but City’s aim now must be to break into the top four.
CITY'S NEXT SIX
(A) West Ham - Feb 1
(H) Swansea - Feb 5
(A) Bournemouth - Feb 13
(H) Manchester United - Feb 26
(A) Sunderland - March 4
(H) Stoke - March 11
What is the main problem?
The No 1 problem is their No 1, Claudio Bravo’s save-to-shot ratio staggeringly low. Spurs scored with their only two shots on target on Saturday and the Chilean is not exuding confidence to anyone inside the Etihad Stadium.
Reasons to be hopeful?
Gabriel Jesus should give City the sort of pick me up required if his cameo was anything to go by. He has an electricity to his game which is infectious and really lifted the crowd.
An unknown quantity, he will offer a lift to some of the senior players.
Have they got any chance of catching Chelsea?
No. It’s 12 points now and City cannot find any sort of consistency. Big summer ahead for Guardiola.
MANCHESTER UNITED
What’s their form been like?
Undefeated in 13 games, albeit with a number of disappointing draws. Jose Mourinho has steadied the ship though and they look in a position whereby they can properly challenge for a top-four spot.
Stoke was a sticky performance, however, and United were bailed out by Wayne Rooney’s brilliance.
UNITED'S NEXT SIX
(H) Hull - Feb 1
(A) Leicester - Feb 5
(H) Watford - Feb 11
(A) Manchester City - Feb 26
(H) Bournemouth - March 4
(A) Southampton - March 11
What is the No 1 main problem?
The third man out wide. Anthony Martial was dropped altogether from the weekend squad, Juan Mata struggled again from the start, while Jesse Lingard has not flown on the flank this season.
Marcus Rashford is preferred through the middle and Mourinho really needs another decent option to complement Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Reasons to be hopeful?
The defensive solidity. A poor goal to concede at the Bet365 Stadium, but United are now stronger back there than they ever have been since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. Phil Jones continues to show why United persevered with him through all those injuries.
Have they got any chance of catching Chelsea?
Not a prayer. Fourteen points is way too much with only 16 games left. Too many draws put paid to a title challenge.
No comments:
Post a Comment