With defending EPL champions Manchester City losing their first game of the season, there is genuine optimism that a title race is on. The 2018/19 season may still be in the early stages, but Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are heading a pack of hungry wolves baying for City’s blood. With Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal all still in with a shout, soccer fans are being treated to one of the tightest campaigns in some time.
Liverpool’s 4-0 thumping of Bournemouth on December 8 took them to the top of the table, and Klopp will be hoping they can make that spot their own. Pep Guardiola’s Man City – who have not been beaten in the league since last season’s 3-2 loss to neighbors Manchester United – are still the team to beat. Liverpool fans will be confident in having City’s number, considering they handed them their only loss of the 2017/18 league campaign.
Of course, anything can happen in soccer. Aside from the two favorites for the title, City and Liverpool, there are other contenders capable of springing a surprise. The narrative seems to favor a shootout between Guardiola and Klopp, but the arrivals of Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea and Unai Emery at Arsenal have made this season very interesting. Considering Sarri is already 1-0 against Guardiola, things feel… different.
Antonio Conte and Arsene Wenger departed from the Premier League last season and were replaced by two men who were not exactly considered to tear things up. With Mauricio Pochettino at the helm at Tottenham, there are plenty of reasons to suggest that this trio could be more responsible for the outcome of the season than Guardiola and Klopp.
Unsurprisingly, Man City started this season’s campaign as favorites. In typical City style, they left it until the last kick of the game against Southampton – just like in 2012 against QPR – to fulfill their ambitions. Unlike 2012, City had already won the league. Gabriel Jesus’ 94-minute goal meant that the blue side of Manchester could celebrate history as the first team to reach 100 points in the Premier League.
City had the greatest league season in their history in 2017/18, scoring a phenomenal 106 goals and winning 32 games of 28. They dropped points in their 4 draws and 2 losses but looked so far ahead of the competition in a season that really failed to capture the imagination of the neutral fan. Manchester United (somehow) finished second, in spite of their profligacy in front of goal and negative, muddy-natured soccer.
This season, City have once again established themselves as the team to beat. Despite having their 21-game unbeaten run snapped by Chelsea, there is little doubt that they will be up there come the end of the season. It will be interesting to see if the ruthlessness they displayed following the loss to Liverpool last season will be replicated in the weeks to come. Another loss in quick succession could really inspire confidence in City’s opponents.
Liverpool, in particular, will be looking for any signs of cracks to exploit. There is no doubt that City are beatable on the day, as Liverpool and Manchester United showed last season. Chelsea’s victory this season has stressed this point and there will be a few teams out there who will fancy their chances.
Defending the title is certainly more difficult than winning it. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 2008/9 when Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United made the history books as the last team to defend the crown. Unlike the Manchester United team in the late 1990s/early 2000s – who won three consecutive titles – there is plenty of competition in the league these days. One only has to factor in Leicester City’s incredible campaign in 2015/16 to see that there is no monopoly these days.
Despite the competition, Guardiola should fancy his chances of winning back to back titles. City are the strongest team in the league and are a spectacular side to watch on their day. It would mean a lot to the Spaniard to defend the title and they will not go down without a fight. Make no mistake, the Citizens are still top dogs. Can they handle the pressure that the next few months will bring?
Despite having the most impressive forward line in the league last season, Liverpool finished in fourth place, a full 25 points below the winners, Man City. Jurgen Klopp’s men made it to the Champion’s League final, too, but walked away with nothing to show for a season that promised so much. This year, they are the only unbeaten team in the league heading into Round 17 and sit at the summit of the table.
Liverpool have been tremendous in defense, with the former Celtic and Southampton man, Virgil Van Dijk, bolstering the most miserly defense in the league. Liverpool have leaked just 6 goals in 16 games and have enjoyed the best start to a season in their Premier League history. Their attack hasn’t been as impressive as it was last year, however, and this is something that will need to gather momentum as the season goes on.
The biggest problem Liverpool have this season is in midfield, however. The players are there, with Keita and Fabinho, especially. The reliance on Henderson and Milner, stalwarts in their own rights, is questionable. The key thing for Klopp is to maintain consistency but develop the right mix in order for the Merseyside outfit to truly progress as the season goes on. This is certainly needed to win the league.
Liverpool are not playing the beautiful football we witnessed last season, sure, but this has probably helped to keep the team grounded. Now that they sit at the top of the table, the target is well and truly on their backs. If they can find that spark and unity throughout the team, there are few pundits and fans who will be surprised if they go on to win their first ever Premier League title.
There is a sense that we are yet to see the best of Liverpool this season. The foundations for success are there, and Virgil Van Dijk, in particular, has steadied the ship. Players like Salah, Keita, Firminio, Fabinho, and Keita are all capable of hitting purple patches at any point and this could prove crucial as the campaign plays out. Even Joe Gomez’s loss has not been received as catastrophic as it would have been maybe last season.
2018/19 is set to be one of the tightest seasons in recent memory. If Liverpool can find an extra level – and if Klopp can bring out the absolute best in his big-game players – the team should be up there at the end of the season. Defensively, they are sound and that is a great platform to have. All it takes now is some creativity in attack and consistency in midfield, and they could do what no other Liverpool squad has done in the history of the Premier League.
Wild would certainly be the word to describe the Chelsea coach’s decision to play the best holding midfielder in the world, N’Golo Kante, in a right-sided role. When Manchester City visited Stamford Bridge on the weekend, it seemed as though Kante’s absence in the center of the park would leave Sarri feeling sorry (and as the subject of many more atrocious puns).
Sarri had the last laugh, as Kante scored in a 2-0 victory over the EPL champions. Kante did what he does best: he read the flow of the game and somehow managed to find himself in the right position to blast the ball home, in what was Chelsea’s first shot on target in the game. Even if he was played out of position, Kante still managed to be the key player in the game. That says a lot about the man, but also speaks volumes for Sarri’s thought process.
When Sarri took over from fellow Italian, Antonio Conte, this season, there was not a great deal of expectation that rested on his shoulders, alone. Fans have been somewhat convinced that he is the right man for the job. With 16 rounds played, Sarri’s men have been beaten just twice, accumulating a respectable 34 points in the process. Is it too early for Chelsea to launch an attack on Man City’s title? Maybe not.
The Blues will travel to Brighton on Sunday with the wind in their sails. There is growing optimism that they can compete for the title, especially given that the attention is almost exclusively afforded to City and Liverpool. Yes, their win over Guardiola’s men means that they are not exactly flying under the radar but there is a lot to be said for rolling without the same pressures as the top two teams, as it stands.
Granted, Chelsea do have the talent but they are lacking quality in a few areas. Eden Hazard is certainly one of the league’s standout stars, but Morata and Giroud are not what you would consider as prolific goalscorers. Conversely, the scorer of Chelsea’s second goal against City, David Luiz, is inconsistent when it comes to defending the goal from hungry poachers and opportunists.
With investment in the right areas, Chelsea will be a force to be reckoned with next season. That is, of course, if they can hold on to Hazard. However, this year, they still have a chance of upsetting the apple cart. At very least, as they showed against Man City, they can beat any of the top teams on their day, and this could be pivotal in determining where the title ends up on the final day of the season.
Five years in the job for Mauro Pochettino and it’s the same old story: no silverware. It is quite surprising, really, given that Spurs have been threatening to win something for quite some time. This season represents the best start that Spurs have ever had in the Premier League and there is no doubt that the men in white can still challenge for top honors. It just seems that they will find a way to beat themselves, in the end.
Leicester City’s fairytale title win in 2015/16 might have (and probably should have) ended in heartbreak, with Spurs winning the title. However, the North Londoners found a way to screw things up and this has been a consistent theme for a team that has, for the most part, been consistent. They have been up there for the past few seasons, yet have achieved nothing. This year, consistency has been a major talking point, considering that they brought no new players into the squad during the transfer window.
12 wins and 4 losses in 16 games has seen Spurs take the third spot in the table heading into Round 17. They have put together some good results this season, with their 3-1 victory over Chelsea certainly standing out. They are winning games and demonstrating a true desire to go for the kill, as evidenced by the fact that they are the only team not to register a draw this year.
What I like about Spurs this season is that they are a squad that knows each other very well. With no new players coming in, there are no new egos to contend with. Pochettino is stable and players like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, and Hugo Lloris are established and can rally those up around them. Spurs are very underrated this year and can certainly produce the goods if they can maintain that level of consistency.
Harry Kane is one of the best goalscorers in soccer. The winner of the World Cup Golden Boot is integral to Spurs’ success and will no doubt play a huge part in how the team performs this season. There is no individual as important to their team as Kane is for Spurs and it is not a stretch to say that the team needs him. An injury for Kane could be enough to see any hope for a championship win derailed.
In order for Tottenham to win their first title in the Premier League, they will need everything to go their way. They have lost to both City and Liverpool this year, and if they can gain revenge for these losses, there is no doubt that they can put together a real challenge this year. Consistency will have to lead to success at some point and Spurs desperately need to shake off the tag of also-rans.
Unai Emery arrived at Arsenal this season as the replacement of the legendary Arsene Wenger. Emery’s appointment was met with intense criticism in some quarters, with a number of fans particularly disappointed that a bigger name didn’t get the gig. Additionally, Emery’s job was made even more difficult when it was announced that he would receive a modest transfer kitty to bring new players in.
Fast forward to December 2018 and Emery is not doing too bad at all. In fact, he has exceeded most fans’ expectations, especially in regards to the stylish football that The Gunners have showcased this season. 16 games in and Arsenal are still very much in with a shout. With 35 goals scored, they also have a better offensive record than Liverpool in 1st place. Not bad for a team tipped for a rough campaign.
Much of the credit surely belongs to Emery, who has revitalized a stagnant Arsenal team and injected a little flair into the team’s game. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 10 goals have certainly helped the cause, although other players like Alexandre Lacazette have also stepped up and demanded to be counted.
There is much of the season yet to be played and Emery will need to bolster up in January’s transfer market to truly convince most that the team can launch a genuine challenge. Arsenal fans will be hoping that the Spanish coach has done enough to convince the board that his philosophy can work, in order to acquire more funds to make it actually happen. Easier said than done, right?
Despite what many critics had to say at the start of the season, Arsenal are still very much in with a shout as we approach Christmas. At very least, the Emirates-based club can play a part in knocking points off the likes of Man City and Liverpool and this could be crucial, come the end of the season. There is no pressure on Arsenal and this makes them a very dangerous team to play against.
If Arsenal can add a couple of new faces in January, they could surprise many. I would go as far as to suggest that they are the bona fide dark horse this season, and will be in the mix at the end of the season. If they can go all the way, Emery will be an incredibly popular man in the red part of North London.
Manchester United are not in the title race. They currently sit in sixth place in the league and can probably feel lucky to be there. Without a win in their last four games, the former English powerhouse are enduring a painful period in their history under the guidance of another former (individual) powerhouse in Jose Mourinho. What was seen as a match made in heaven prior to Mourinho joining the club has proven to be a little underwhelming.
Has Mourinho lost the dressing room? Why are players like Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba underperforming in the red shirt? For all the negative tactics of Mourinho, the former Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Internazionale manager has really bored fans with his frequent excuses regarding not having the transfer funds available to challenge City and Liverpool. Despite having spent around $493 million on players. Yup…
The best United can hope for this season is securing a UEFA Champion’s League spot (by finishing anywhere from 2nd to 4th place). Aside from this, United could still have a say in the title race by beating City (they did this last season), Liverpool, or even Tottenham. Unfortunately, it seems that United’s role in the league will be restricted to the status of party poopers. How times have changed.
There is no doubt that the EPL this season is the tightest it has been in years. Manchester City certainly deserve their status as favorites heading into the festive period, but Liverpool are definitely strong enough to push them all the way. As the rest of the season unravels, we should also see a strong push from Spurs. Consistency is key for Pochettino’s men and they have the ability to really go for it this season, providing they can avoid key injuries.
Chelsea have proven that they are a match for any other team on their day, as proven by their recent win over defending champs Man City. Sarri will undoubtedly harness the huge boost in confidence with this win and will be hoping to translate it into success.
Sarri’s fellow new coach on the scene, Unai Emery, is also in a pretty good position heading into the new year. Arsenal are the dark horses and could really surprise fans and pundits as the season progresses. It is great to see Arsenal playing attractive soccer again and this can only be good for the league.
Make no mistake, the next few months will be crucial for the teams that find themselves at the top of the league. Will this be the tightest EPL contest in years? It’s going to be a lot of fun finding out!
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