AuthorSports Billy Some interesting talking points coming out of the weekends EPL games. Below are a few key ones: Liverpool’s Recent Form
For the first half of the season Liverpool had been the surprise package in the league so far. Although an improvement from the past season was expected from Klopps side, I don’t think anyone really expected them to be in 2nd place and pushing for the title this year. However, this is exactly what had happened with the Anfield sides high intensity pressing game destroying opponents and wowing the footballing neutrals with their exciting brand of football. Unfortunately for Klopps men though, due to the Premier Leagues fixture computers output, combined with cup games and subsequent replays, this left the Reds with 10 games in 30 days over the festive period. Combine that with injuries to the side and the loss of key players to the African Cup of Nations and the team really struggled over the turn of the year. Their run of form was so bad that they are now lying 5th in the league having only managed 1 win in 10 games. Another reason for the poor form over the last month is that Klopp constantly plays his high energy gegenpressing style of football pretty much for every game, whilst operating with a relatively small squad when compared to other sides fighting for the top 4. This may have been a method which produced result for him in Germany, however the premier League doesn’t have a winter break, so all of this combined has resulted in the current form and league position that we are seeing. With the transfer window now shut and no real signings of note coming in, its decision time for Klopp. Can they still win the league? On Chelsea’s current form, you cant imagine anyone catching them, but with no Europe to worry about and exits from both cup competitions this past month could mean that a tilt on the top two league spots could still be on. Or, with nothing left to play for is Klopp going to experiment with the side and allow him to bed in the newer players such as Karius and Matip in readiness to go again next year with a more experienced set of players? The Unenviable Decision So after being the fairy tale of world sport last year, Leicester City now find themselves languishing at the bottom of the Premier League facing the very real threat of relegation. What’s gone wrong? Well this isn’t easy to put your finger on. Squad wise, they have only really lost Kante (admittedly a big loss) and they have bought a couple of high profile attacking options, so really they are functioning with pretty much the same side as last year. Is the Champions League the problem? Is it distracting the players? They seem to be performing just fine on the continent, so the team is more than capable and should be replicating this Champions League form in the league. Weeks are passing now and their league form doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of improving, which leaves the club owners with the unenviable decision of making the call as to whether to stick with Ranieri and hope he steers them to safety, or sack a club legend in order to try and get someone in to try and guarantee them their Premier League survival? Chelsea. Uncatchable? After an indifferent start to the season, with some discontent in the ranks and a manager struggling to know how the team was going to play, they are now romping away with the league and looking uncatchable. Can anyone rein them in? You’d have to be a brave man to suggest so, especially given Liverpool and Arsenal’s recent form, Man City being all over the place and Man U managing to churn out turgid football when you least expect it despite their riches and squad options, which really only leaves Spurs as realistic contenders to stop the Blues march to the title. The White Hart Lane side are playing some irresistible football at times; however can they maintain a title challenge till the end? They were unable to do so last season when it mattered, but that experience could probably be the catalyst to spur them on (no pun intended!) to their first Premier League title. Battle at the Bottom Most years it’s the excitement at the top of the league that keeps people enthralled in the seasons closing stages, however at the time of writing it’s the battle at the bottom which looks set to keep people glued to the Premier League this season. We currently have 7 sides that are all looking like candidates for the drop. What’s making this unusual is that some of the sides that looked nailed on for relegation are now playing well and picking up unexpected wins/points (Sunderland, Hull and Swansea), but more “stable” sides such as Palace and Bournemouth are now right down in the thick of it. Throw in to the mix the reigning league champions who are in freefall, as well as Middlesbrough and it’s quite the mix of sides battling it out down there. Who knows how its going to play out, but that’s what makes this League such an exciting one! |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
Categories
All
|