We are about to kick off Match Day 27 so let’s do a quick recap of Match Day 26 to get you in the mood.
Race for the Top 4. Things holding a bit steady but some action in the 2-3-4-5 race. Manchester United has created a bit of a gap on 3-4-5. It is starting to look like the only excitement will be the winning margin for Manchester City…will it be a record…and who will finish in 3-4 and earn Champions League positions for next year. Liverpool sits in third, Chelsea has had two really bad games losing 3-0 and 4-1 in back to back contests and is floundering a bit. Tottenham has closed the gap on 4th. Only 3 points separate the 3 teams. This should be tight the rest of the way with 12 games remaining. Chelsea has had some serious injury issues and has been playing without a striker for a number of weeks and it shows. Pressure on the coach and team to get a result this weekend. Arsenal with a win last week to also close the gap a bit from 6th place.
Manchester City 22-3-1 69 points
Manchester United 17-5-4 56 points
Liverpool 14-9-3 51 points
Chelsea 15-5-6 50 points
Tottenham 14-7-5 49 points
Arsenal 12-6-7 45 points
Game of the week. This is an easy one. Liverpool v. Tottenham. It was a pretty average game for the first 80 minutes. Everyone predicting fireworks and attacking soccer and a 4-3 results, but at 80 minutes it was just 1-0. The one goal was a gift on a really bad back pass from a defender that was turned into an easy goal. but then….after 80 minutes…it turned into maybe the best game of the season. Two of the best goals of the year….penalties…PK’s, missed PK’s, late goals, and when you thought there was no more drama, a goal on basically the last play of the match. Wow. 15 minutes of pure drama and excitement that more than made up for the first 80 minutes.
So wow. The Wanyama goal was epic. Outside of the boot on a half volley and it was ferocious. The Salah goal was sublime. Intricate footwork. Players frozen in place as he danced around them and then the ability to lift it over the goal keeper. It reminded many people of Messi in his prime. Wow! And also some controversy. Was the first PK offsides…yes. Was it a dive…maybe. Was the second penalty a good call….most don’t think so. Really good stuff in the last 15 minutes.
Race for the Relegation Zone. The bottom had some movement. Southampton has exited the bottom and now sits at 15th with 26 points. We have a new member of the group. Stoke City. Here is where we stand. Very tight here. One point, a draw, can get you out of the Relegation Zone.
17. Swansea City with 24 points.
18. Stoke City with 24 points.
19. Huddersfield with 24 points.
20. West Bromich Albion with 20 points.
Big Matches This Weekend
Tottenham v. Arsenal is huge. A 5 v 6 match up that could be a factor in the Top 4 Race.
Chelsea v West Brom will be interesting. Chelsea with back to back losses playing the 20th rated team. A win is critical for them but they are in a funk. Can they snap out of it?