Premier League preview, 14/01/12 – the title race heats up
As the season enters the second half we are learning a little more of the aspirations of the ‘big six’. The story so far has been Tottenham Hotspurs’ gatecrashing of the title race, for a while seen as a face-off between Manchester’s finest.
Many predicted at the start of the season that there would be two Manchester clubs and one London club sparring at the top. However London’s most consistent team for the last 8 years, Chelsea are now clinging on to what has become a routine involvement in the title race.
It seems unlikely that the Blues’ fluctuating form of late will cost manager Andres Villas-Boas his job, with the view that owner Roman Abramovich installed him to overhaul an ageing squad. However, one quality that has been persistent throughout this squad in past years, the togetherness and team ethic, have seemingly vanished amid well-documented tensions between established players and manager.
Frank Lampard is the most prominent example, having seen his playing opportunities severely limited for the first time in his career. This may have been less emphasized had Villas-Boas taken his team into the midst of a title challenge, but the team’s stuttering form has increased media speculation and turned the heat up on this unorthodox approach. As a result today’s game against Sunderland takes on added interest.
Both Manchester United and Tottenham are expected to join Manchester City at the top of the table, taking on Bolton and Wolves at home respectively. The radical nature of the Premier League over the festive period, including a similarly routine fixture for United against strugglers Blackburn leading to shockwaves with a dismal home defeat, means there will be hope for the underdogs but there should be no slip-ups for the high-flyers.
Alex Ferguson’s claims that Tottenham are currently playing the best football looked like mind games in the build-up to their FA Cup victory over City last Sunday, but the midweek game against Everton confirmed these words. Playing like a team oblivious of the stress of a title race, Tottenham have melded their dazzling attack with a steadfast defence – their eight clean sheets so far equals the eight from the whole of last season. Redknapp has quietly assembled a squad with impressive strength in depth, having coped with injuries much more impressively than City and United so far, and in Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart have consistent world-class performers.
Arsenal fans will have difficulty digesting their bitter rivals’ surge through the ranks but their tie against Swansea on Sunday represents the two silkiest sides in one game. Swansea have the tightest home record this season (conceded four) and will be a match for the Henry-inspired Gunners.
City and United should win their games but neither has looked consistently convincing since Christmas. Upturns in fortune have been matched by disappointing defeats and they will want to stem the rise of Spurs by delivering routine victories.
Liverpool should overcome Stoke at home despite the presence of Andy Carroll, with Steven Gerrard’s return perfectly timed to soothe the absence of Luis Suarez. A sensible apology to Patrice Evra is not forthcoming.
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