Chelsea beat Liverpool
Man Utd beat Arsenal
Liverpool beat Man Utd
Chelsea have lost 2 games already
Man Utd have lost 2 games already
Arsenal have lost 2 games already
Liverpool have lost 3 games already
Just who is the best team in the current edition of the Premier League?
Although Chelsea sit at the top of the table, Arsenal could move ahead of them on goal difference if they win their game in hand, and, were the better team for long stretches of their visit to Old Trafford. But, they shipped 4 goals to Man City and just blew a 2 goal lead at West Ham. Man Utd have been beaten by Burnley, needed an injury time equaliser to get a draw at home to Sunderland and beat Man City in similar fashion. Chelsea looked disinterested when losing 3-1 at Wigan and defensively naive when losing to Aston Villa. Liverpool have lost to Sunderland.
So, we might just be looking at one of the more competitive Premier League season in some time now. Note that 'competitive' does not imply that we are going to see a lot of quality-look at last Sunday's clash of Liverpool and Man Utd-the standard of play-flashes of brilliance from Fernando Torres and the odd cameo from Yossi Benayoun aside-was poor. Liverpool won despite the fact that they had surely the worst Brazilian ever to kick a ball in the middle of the field, and were helped by a largely anonymous display from Man Utd's midfield and an ineffectual display from their front 2. It's worth noting however that Man Utd still looked like a more natural attacking force when they got forward in the 1st half, and Liverpool's first instinct appeared to play the ball sqaure or backwards. How they miss the drive of Steven Gerrard.
Sure Man Utd might have benefited from the industry and strength of Darren Flethcher, and maybe even the likes of Park and Andersen would have made an impact, but Carrick and Valencia are first choice and hardly looked the part on Sunday. Fernando Torres seems to be Nemanja Vidic's kryptonite. It is debatable as to whether Liverpool really played well enough to win the game, but equally, it is a stetch to say that Man Utd deserved anything other than a defeat. Makes sense? Good.
November could make the picture a little clearer with Chelsea playing host to Man Utd and facing Arsenal at The Emirates. Clashes between the 'Big 4' don't always tend to matter greatly in determining the Premier League winner, but in a year where parity appears to have returned, points taken from your closest challengers could be more important than in recent years.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Chelsea all the way I think. Only African Nations can really hurt them and if they can be solid when Drogba, Essien et al are away then they'll be at the business end of things come May. Arsenal lack any kind of leadership or steel in their team despite their great football; you know they'll crack as soon as the pressure comes on. Liverpool are doomed to be also rans as long as Carragher, Insua and Lucas are in the team (although I think Mascherano could be dropped as quickly as Lucas) and Gerrard's fitness is uncertain. Utd have the experience and the referees but they haven't replaced Ronaldo's goals. Rooney still has to show he should be rated at the same level as Messi or even Ronaldo and any team relying on the aged Scholes to run midfield can't be going anywhere fast.
ReplyDeleteI reckon Arsenal are going to be there or thereabouts this season. I think that Fabregas has started to show the form and leadership that Wenger was expecting of him last season when he was made captain. The arsenal team seem to have a belief and drive that they were lacking in previous seasons and I'd be very surprised if they weren't still in the shake up come May. Chelsea have the experience in their ranks and having already won the premiership with the current team (give or take a few players) they will be the team to beat. United are looking old and haggered this year and I think even with the managment of Ferguson I think that they will be behind the two London clubs this seasons as for Liverpool ... pah!
ReplyDeleteLOL-United have the referees-try telling their fans that after Sunday.
ReplyDeleteGood to see comments-keep it up lads!