Exactly 100 days since Leicester City thrashed Aston Villa 4-0, after which the global pandemic brought the sporting world to a jolting halt, the Premier League returns to action with Villa hosting Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United.
The hiatus has felt like an eternity and it is quite understandable if you have no longing a memory of what has happened in the Premier League thus far. To jog your memory, here is a quick guide to what the top six were up to before the Premier League’s three-month-long intermission:
Arsenal
Last 5 Results:
ARS 1-0 WHU,
ARS 3-2 EVE,
ARS 4-0 NEW,
BUR 0-0 ARS,
CHE 2-2 ARS
Currently ninth on the table, Arsenal had a woeful start to their campaign and after initially backing Unai Emery, the club dismissed the divisive Spanish coach on November 29th, ending his 18-month reign at the club.
Club legend Freddie Ljungberg took over the reins temporarily, but the Swede could not make the same impact that Ole Gunnar Solksjaer made in his time as interim boss, forcing Arsenal to poach another former player-turned-coach, Mikael Arteta from Manchester City.
The Spaniard has had a positive impact on proceedings at the Emirates, losing just one of his 10 matches so far in the Premier League and winning four. Arteta has significantly improved the Gunners’ defence. Before his appointment, the much-maligned Arsenal backline had shipped 27 goals in 18 matches, however, under Arteta, they have conceded just nine in their 10 games so far.
The former Arsenal captain has also managed to milk solid performances out of club-record signing Nicholas Pepe, who has a goal and two assists in his last three Premier League outings. The winger’s goal in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates has been not only his own but also the club’s turning point this season.
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Languishing eight points adrift a Champions League spot with a game in hand, Arsenal are going to need a strong finish to the campaign if they want to end their run of four seasons without Champions League football and it all restarts for them against reigning champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, where the Gunners will be hoping that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the rest of the cavalry can score a surprise victory.
Leicester City
Last 5 Results:
LEI 4-0 AVL,
NOR 1-0 LEI,
LEI 0-1 MCI,
WOL 0-0 LEI,
LEI 2-2 CHE
A lot has happened at Leicester City since Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspurs in 2016 that crowned them champions of England for the very first time in their history.
Three coaches and a squad revamp later, Leicester City are yet again punching above their weight in unfamiliar territory, holding on to the third spot in the Premier League table. Coach Brendan Rodgers, who took over from Claude Puel in late February last year, has transformed the club with his attacking approach and is reaping the rewards of his hard work.
The Northern Irishman was handed a new 8-million-pounds-a-year contract just nine months after signing for the club to fend off potential suitors and will now solely focus on bringing back Champions League football to the King Power Stadium in 2020/21.
While much has changed at Leicester on a personnel front, the philosophy of having a good mix of youth and experience that worked so well in 2015/16 continues to be the mantra under Rodgers as well. Caglar Soyuncu, Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Teilemans form the club’s young core that is well-supported by its experienced players like Johnny Evans, Kasper Schmeichel, Ayoze Perez and the Premier League’s top scorer, Jamie Vardy.
The feisty striker continues to keep the party going at Leicester City and will be the key to their Champions League ambitions.
Chelsea
Last 5 Results:
CHE 4-0 EVE,
BOU 2-2 CHE,
CHE 2-1 TOT,
CHE 0-2 MUN,
LEI 2-CHE
Following their nightmare start to the campaign at the Theatre of Dreams, Chelsea have steadily progressed under Frank Lampard and currently sit three points clear in the final Champions League spot.
Chelsea have had their issues, particularly in the goalkeeping department where club-record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga suffered a mid-season slump in form and was temporarily benched by veteran keeper Willy Caballero.
Injuries to Christian Pulisic, N’golo Kante and Reuben Loftus-Cheek along with the revolving door at centre-back has been a worry for the Blues, however, no team sits in a Champions League spot without its a fair share of positives.
Among the biggest positives for Chelsea has been the form of midfield duo Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho. Neither made a huge impact and were often criticized for their performances under Maurizio Sarri, however, the duo has turned a corner under Lampard and are quite possibly Chelsea’s two best players this season.
One player who would be challenging the midfield maestros for Chelsea’s player of the year is striker Tammy Abraham. The young Englishman donned Chelsea’s dreaded no.9 and has made it his own and has found the back of the net 13 times already this season.
With the impending arrival of German striker Timo Werner, Abraham would be eager to prove that he is the man to lead Chelsea’s attack next season by firing them to a spot in the Champions League.
Manchester United
Last 5 Results:
MUN 2-0 MCI,
EVE 1-1 MUN,
MUN 3-0 WAT,
CHE 0-2 MUN,
MUN 0-0 WOL
It has been a weird season at Old Trafford. Both, the ‘Ole In’ and ‘Ole Out’ brigade have enough ammunition to go by, but neither can say whether the season has been a success or a failure.
It all started rosy when they thrashed Chelsea 4-0 with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Daniel James getting on the scoresheet but the inconsistent form, a slew of injuries to key players like Paul Pogba and Rashford, the terrible form of Andreas Perriera and Jesse Lingard all added up to them recording their worst Premier League points tally at the end of January.
But then came the knight in shining armour.
The club signed Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes at the end of the January transfer window and his impact since arrival has been surreal. Fernandes has scored or assisted in all but one of his Premier League appearances so far and lifted the club to within three points of Chelsea who currently occupy fourth.
The long layoff has allowed time for Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford to return to full fitness and with the full squad at his disposal, manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has the sweet headache of having to pick from an embarrassment of riches in midfield against Tottenham Hotspurs, headlined by Fernandes, Pogba and one of the club’s best player of the season so far, Fred.
Manchester City
Last 5 Results:
MUN 2-0 MCI,
LEI 0-1 MCI,
MCI 2-0 WHU,
TOT 2-0 MCI,
SHU 0-1 MCI
Any other year, Manchester City would be extremely content with the season they are having. Four points clear of third place, one foot into the quarterfinals of the Champions League, alive in the FA Cup and the League Cup already in the bag.
However, such is the standard at the Etihad Stadium these days, that manager Pep Guardiola and his men chose to focus on what’s in front of them and not trailing. And what’s in front is a team 25 points clear of them at the top of the table. The outgoing champions would not be too dissatisfied with their campaign if they end up lifting that elusive Champions League crown.
Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne continue to be must-have on every fantasy team and will look to seal City’s automatic qualification spot in the Champions League. David Silva’s last hurrah with the club would not see him win his fifth Premier League title, but the crafty Spanish midfielder will be hoping to leave with another FA Cup and the club’s first Champions League winners medal around his neck.
Liverpool
Last 5 Matches:
LIV 2-1 BOU,
WAT 3-0 LIV,
LIV 3-1 WHU,
NOR 0-1 LIV,
LIV 4-0 SOU
No League Cup. Out of the FA Cup. Booted at home in the Champions League. And there’s still not a worry in the world for the Kop and Liverpool.
The champions-elect sit just six points away from ending their 30-year wait for the league title and if Arsenal manage to cause an upset at the Etihad, the scouse celebration can kick-off at fulltime at Merseyside in the derby on Sunday against Everton.
Virgil van Dijk continues to be Virgil van Dijk. Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane continue to terrorise defences. Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have bullied teams on their own from the fullback position and the rest of the squad has played the perfect complimenting role in helping Liverpool sit on the brink of their maiden Premier League title.
The lack of a parade at the end of the campaign, an empty Anfield that will only serenade its famous song on a loudspeaker and a proud fanbase forced to sit at home as their team are crowned the champions of England for the 19th time will surely bother all those associated with Liverpool, but it’s unlikely that anything will take the shine off this season for Liverpool and its faithful.
Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Geoff Caddick
