Chelsea top the Backlays English Premier League after a
second hat trick in weeks from yet another midfielder. Edin Hazard his last time
around and this week was Andre Schurle. The Blues are enjoying a purple patch
and coach, Jose Mourinho still want us to believe that his team are a work in
the process, a cake in the oven, a baby racing horse still suckling and being
prepared for the race. He admits they will receive the league if handed to them
in a platter. If you believe that, lucky you. I am not buying that one. If that
is to be taken seriously, then Chelsea would win the next league title by
Christmas.
That 3 goal salvo at Fulham was stained by conceding. The
comfort on the summit of the table was made sweet courtesy of the flop by the
fragile Arsenal's loss to Stoke City. Not that Stoke are easy taking and not
that the Gunners are pushovers. Other teams will have their turn to throw away
points like confetti too. The absence of Manchester City's league match left them
three points and two matches adrift and have a superior goal difference. Until
the outstanding matches are played and won, they count for nought.
It must be said that the Citizens enjoyed that league break
with the League Cup victory over Sunderland who threatened to upset the
tycoons. I was just commenting about ruing the lost chances and explain to a
friend how City can turn a single goal deficit and pounce in quick succession.
In no time, he was telling me of a 'couch potato' curse.
The story that has been doing rounds for seasons now, has
been Liverpool. For the first time since around 2005, the story is a good one
to tell. Earlier this season, they topped the table and many thought they were
flattering to deceive. I think they are now second to stay. The Reds came to
the party in the new 2013/2014 with basically a 'kidsnet'. Their line-up
included few veterans of note Skrtl and Toure Kolo, a reject in Dan Sturridge
and a 'rehabitatee' in Luis Suarez. A relatively unknown Bredan Rogers did not make
it any predictable even though he had turned Swansea's play into an enviable
carpet football many teams dream of, and having worked as an assistant to Jose
Mourinho.
There is about 30 points to fight for this season, 36 for
City. That means a potential finish of 93 for both. City's current surplus of
42 goals compared to Chelsea's 30 puts them a notch ahead. The recent form of
both is a little of a contrast. Chelsea have been consistent and quite sharp in
finishing while the blue side of Manchester flopped against mediocre opposition
including that loss to the Blues.
How we come this far without factoring Arsenal in a league
they dominated at the beginning of the season for the first time in years is
very surprising. Their season might be inverted. They looked very strong and
solid when they scored and kept clean sheets. They were championship contenders
until Aaron Ramsey got injured. He is one man who was winning the tile for the
Gunners. With him went a resurgent Theo Walcott. Somehow, they seem to be
ending the season the way they begin it. They could win it but I would not put
a dime on them. All I can see in them is their duel with Spurs and Everton for
fourth. In that one, they can prevail.
Liverpool may actually surprise us. They have some steel to
steal it, especially as the duel of City and Chelsea gets dirty. Tightening a
screw or two at the back, they are in the mix with the other two expensively
assembled giants.
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