Thursday, March 28, 2024

Has the Premier League title chase become a two-horse race?

Tom Dunstan in Editorial, English Premier League 2 Feb 2021

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While nine different Premier League sides might have already found themselves topping the table at some point this season, it appears that the expected front runners could be restarting their battle.

Both picking up victories over the weekend, there is no doubt that Manchester City and Liverpool have really started to capitalise on the slip-ups around them.

With the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham enduring their own horror weeks, defeats to both West Ham and Leicester could be a sign that we have another two-horse race on our hands this year.

The champions refinding their form?

While an extended five-match winless run might have rightfully started to worry many in Liverpool’s camp last month, there is no doubt that the defending champions will be boosted by what has been an eye-catching resurge.

Certainly laying down a clinical marker over the past week and reaffirming their title credentials, Jurgen Klopp’s side have collected back-to-back 3-1 victories against Tottenham and West Ham on their travels.

Managing to capitalise on Leicester’s slip-up against Leeds on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool eventually finished the weekend sat third in the table and with the mood in their camp undoubtedly on the rise thanks to their exploits in the capital.

Ahead of their heavyweight showdown against City next weekend, fans around Anfield will also be hoping that Mohamed Salah has managed to turn a real corner.

Bagging himself a stunning brace against the Hammers, Salah became the first player to score 20+ goals in all competitions in four consecutive seasons for Liverpool since Ian Rush did so six times running from 1981-82 to 1986-87.

Now chasing a four-point deficit and with a Champions League knockout tie against RB Leipzig fast approaching, Klopp’s title ambitions could also be boosted by the arrival of two new defenders on Deadline Day.

With Jordan Henderson and starlet Nate Phillips featuring at the heart of Liverpool’s defence against West Ham over the weekend, it was announced on Sunday that the Reds had reached deals for both Preston’s Ben Davies and Turkey international Ozan Kabak.

City go marching on

Although that 2-0 defeat against Tottenham in North London back on November 21st might have seen many already start to question Manchester City’s title-charge, Pep Guardiola’s squad have bounced back in some style.

Landing themselves what was a deserved 1-0 win against a rock-bottom Sheffield United over the weekend, the former Bayern Munich boss has seen his side only skyrocket their way back to the top of the table.

Becoming the ninth different side that has occupied the top spot at some point this season, City find themselves enjoying an eight-match Premier League winning run and with a growing reputation for their eye-catching stability at the back.

With summer arrival Ruben Dias becoming an immediate hit at the Etihad, Guardiola’s men have picked the ball out of their own net just once since the middle of December.

While the defending champions might have endured a well-publicized injury list this season, Manchester City have done an impressive job of soldiering on without some of their biggest names.

With Sergio Aguero only continuing on what can best be described as a stop-start campaign at the Etihad with his contract ticking away, Guardiola’s side were also hit by the news that attacking talisman Kevin De Bruyne faces at least another month out with a hamstring injury.

Watching the likes of England starlet Phil Foden really spearhead their title charge this season, the Sky Blues are already priced as low as 2/7 with Betfair to reclaim their Premier League crown come May.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Dunstan


Formerly of The Independent, Tom has spent the past six years as one of our senior writers and betting experts. Alongside working with numerous publications from across the globe, Tom also graduated from the University of Falmouth in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Media.
Spending almost the past decade working in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, he has also spent time featuring in sports radio. Tom can be followed on Instagram - @iamtomdunstan

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