The league is never won in January, but, after this Sunday we could have a much better idea of where it is going. Third place Spurs travel to top of the league Manchester City in the 2 o’clock kick off. Then later in the day second place Manchester United face fifth placed Arsenal at the Emirates.
When these teams met in the corresponding fixtures in August the league title looked to be ending up somewhere in Manchester. Tottenham lost 5-1 at home in August to a rampant Manchester City, leaving them bottom of the league. Their blushes only slightly spared by their North London rivals, who famously lost 8-2 later that same afternoon to Manchester United.
Fast forward to January 11th, Spurs win their game in hand against Everton to move within 3 points of City at the top. And level with United. The next day, Sky Sports News conduct a poll of who their viewers think will win the title. The majority go with Tottenham. Cue Spurs everywhere relishing the fact that their team are now seemingly considered as actual title contenders.
Harry Redknapp didn’t make wholesale changes in the summer. But a few notable additions such as Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor seem to have pushed Spurs to that next level. Their regular midfield four of Bale, Parker, Modrić and Lennon is the envy of much of the Premier League and they have been heralded for playing a brand of football which is arguably the easiest on the eye of any played in this country.
Spurs did falter last weekend, a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves was not what they had in mind. But a win at the Etihad on Sunday will keep them well and truly in the mix. And despite their recent form Man City will not just roll over and die at home.
City have had a somewhat patchy spell. Monday night's trip to Wigan however was business as usual, sort of. City won 1-0 against a hard working Wigan side, not their most convincing appearance of the season by any means. But this is sometimes the sign of champions. Being nowhere near your best but being able to grind out a win anyway.
In truth City have seemed to have the impetus for a while now. Their convincing 6-1 win at Old Trafford moved them from title contenders to title favourites. City have spent money, as you’d have expected, and now boast a squad to rival any in the world.
David Silva and Yaya Touré especially have been hugely influential, having had last season to settle in England and acclimatise to the Premier League. The ball is well and truly in City’s court now. They’re top, it’s theirs to throw away. Possibly the only thing they’re lacking in is the experience of Champions.
And if experience is to play a big factor, then that the puts the advantage firmly with Manchester United. Sir Alex’s squad have seen and done it all. Boasting a huge number of title winners, including (but not limited to) Giggs, Ferdinand, Evra, Rooney and Nani. The recent addition of Paul Scholes has only furthered this.
United have that winning mentality which is impossible to teach. They remain close to City in the league despite never really hitting their best so far this season. The confidence that would have been dented by the 6-1 humiliation at the hands of their local rivals was somewhat restored by their recent FA Cup triumph away at City. And, in all honesty, we seem to say every year that United never hit their best form until the turn of the year. Their best could still be yet to come.
It’s true that the league is never won in January, but perhaps it can be lost. Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool could now be too far off the pace to catch the leaders. It would take a huge collapse from Spurs and the two Manchester clubs to allow one of these sides in. But the top three still have difficult away trips to Anfield, Stamford Bridge, the Emirates and the like. So Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal could still have a big hand in where the title ends up.
So, to this Sunday, where North London tries to exact revenge on Manchester. If results go Man City’s way then they could open up a decent lead at the top. The league table looking like this…
1st Man City – 54pts
2nd Man United – 48pts
3rd Spurs – 46pts
But if things don’t go City’s way, the table may look like this come 6pm on Sunday….
1st Man City – 51pts
2nd Man United – 51pts
3rd Spurs – 49pts
Then it really would be game on!
Roll on Sunday!