Same old, same old in the New Year race for the Premier League
As we turn from '07 to '08, its the same old story at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal and Manchester United are locked in a toe to toe battle for the Premier League, with Chelsea breathing down their necks, and Liverpool the perennial wall-flowers, are sitting back in fourth spot.
Arsenal regained top spot with a great 4-1 win at Everton, though it has to be said the scoreline didn't really reflect the game itself. You just get the feeling that Arsenal are beginning to feel the strain a bit, and may soon run into problems. Their injury list is mounting and they will lose players to the Africans cup. Premier League placing prediction? An agonising 2nd spot.
Manchester United go into 2008 really looking as the team everyone else will have to beat. Their form has been outstanding after a relatively slow start, and they have stormed back into contention. With few major injury worries, no players at the African nations cup, and the team in great form, they are looking in a great position to grab a commanding lead at the top. Premier League placing prediction? Champions again.
It's hard to characterise the football Chelsea are playing under Avram Grant. They were very pragmatic under Mourinho, but sometimes lacked a 'plan b' when things didn't go to plan. Under Grant they are playing better but not particularly flamboyant football. They've got some major injury worries, which combined with losing players to the Africans Cup will cause them some major problems. The loss of Terry and Drogba in particular is a huge blow. Premier League placing prediction? Squeezed out of it to fourth spot.
rivals and Rafael Benitez's penchant for weird and wonderful team selections in the name of rotation. You just get the sense with Liverpool that they haven't quite got enough to propel themselves into that top two and really challenge. Defensively they are fine, but offensivelyLiverpool, despite appearing to have one of their strongest squads for years have not yet quite clicked into gear. Two things are conspiring against them - their inability to take points off their, Torres and Gerrard apart they haven't got that extra bit of quality that world class players give. As Rafa is always saying, it's small details! Premier League placing prediction? An improved points total but stuck in third.
Arsenal regained top spot with a great 4-1 win at Everton, though it has to be said the scoreline didn't really reflect the game itself. You just get the feeling that Arsenal are beginning to feel the strain a bit, and may soon run into problems. Their injury list is mounting and they will lose players to the Africans cup. Premier League placing prediction? An agonising 2nd spot.
Manchester United go into 2008 really looking as the team everyone else will have to beat. Their form has been outstanding after a relatively slow start, and they have stormed back into contention. With few major injury worries, no players at the African nations cup, and the team in great form, they are looking in a great position to grab a commanding lead at the top. Premier League placing prediction? Champions again.
It's hard to characterise the football Chelsea are playing under Avram Grant. They were very pragmatic under Mourinho, but sometimes lacked a 'plan b' when things didn't go to plan. Under Grant they are playing better but not particularly flamboyant football. They've got some major injury worries, which combined with losing players to the Africans Cup will cause them some major problems. The loss of Terry and Drogba in particular is a huge blow. Premier League placing prediction? Squeezed out of it to fourth spot.
rivals and Rafael Benitez's penchant for weird and wonderful team selections in the name of rotation. You just get the sense with Liverpool that they haven't quite got enough to propel themselves into that top two and really challenge. Defensively they are fine, but offensivelyLiverpool, despite appearing to have one of their strongest squads for years have not yet quite clicked into gear. Two things are conspiring against them - their inability to take points off their, Torres and Gerrard apart they haven't got that extra bit of quality that world class players give. As Rafa is always saying, it's small details! Premier League placing prediction? An improved points total but stuck in third.
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