Premier League: Man City slip-up opens door to challengers

IT MAY be tad early for some, but it certainly feels like we are already in the traditional hectic run of Christmas Premier League fixtures. And most surprising of all, is that Manchester City are not dictating the pace into the holiday schedule.

Last weekend’s games and midweek’s fixtures has thrown the cat among the proverbial pigeons regarding the title race, with leaders Arsenal and second-place Liverpool putting a bit of daylight between them and a Man City who have managed only one win in their last five games and that win was in the Champions League.

Wednesday night’s game against Aston Villa ended in a surprising, but in hindsight, maybe not totally unexpected defeat at the hands of the Birmingham side. Resulting in the champions slipping to fourth spot, leap-frogged by Villa themselves. So, with two weekends to go to Christmas Day, City find themselves in the unfamiliar and maybe uncomfortable position of being closer to their sixth-place neighbours, Man United, in the table than to the top-spot Gunners.

Rumours of demise

So, is that it? Are we facing into a two-horse race to the title in May between Arsenal and Liverpool, with maybe an outside chance of a Villa dark-horse challenge from the rails?

Well, Jurgen Klopp doesn’t seem to think so.

The German boss at Anfield said, “If somebody would write City off that would be the biggest joke in the history of football.” He told the media after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday.

But then again, you’d expect him to say that, considering that he and his side have been stung by Man City resurgences on more than a few occasions.

The table would indicate such an outlook. And while City’s position in fourth looks unusual for this time of year, it also shows that there is just 10 points between first and seventh place.

Nevertheless, the recent results of the top two are more reminiscent of championship form unlike that of Man City’s rather anaemic performances of late.

Championship run

Both Arsenal and Liverpool had uncannily similar last seconds wins against Luton Town and Fulham respectively. With both sides coming from behind to win 4-3 in breath-taking late finishes.

Both sides had indifferent wins on either side of their dramatic results. Arsenal struggling past Wolves 2-1 and an obviously tired Liverpool getting the better of the relegation favourites Sheffield United on Wednesday.

While stressful to management and fans alike, these are the results that typically make up a committed championship-run. Digging out results on a cold winter evening when your tired body aches for the fireplace and then pulling out the morale-soaring, come-from-behind win when all looks lost and with seconds to go.

Of course, it helped that City have suddenly found getting a victory in the league as difficult as picking up a 5-cent piece after a feed of festive drink. But few of us would be sure that this situation will continue for the rest of Christmas and into the new year. City do tend to kick their campaign into gear after the festivities and have more than once gone on a run of victories from Christmas right through to May. In the past six years, only Liverpool have managed to upset that paradigm and they only managed to do that with the benefit of a near 10-point lead coming out of the Christmas fixtures.

While it’s definitely too early to write-off City one can’t help but feel they are struggling more than usual to keep the relentless run of good results together. Maybe the missing Kevin de Bruyne is having a more significant effect on the team than Pep Guardiola would have us believe.

In saying that, it was not just Man City’s frailties alone that led to their most recent defeat. Credit must go to Aston Villa for their dogged performance to hold on to the goal-lead against City on Wednesday night. The midlands outfit have built on their promise of last season and who knows, may consider themselves genuine title contenders even if it seems a bit early in their progression path. Credit also to the work of their manager Unai Emery, who may have done more for the Gunners’ title hopes from his position at the Birmingham club than when he was in charge at the Emirates.

Favours

No doubt he will be eager to call back that favour when the Gunners visit this evening at Villa Park. And it will be an interesting contest between Emery and the man who replaced, him Mikel Arteta, in this battle between first and the now third place Villa.

Before that Liverpool have the early kick-off again this afternoon against Crystal Palace. Jurgen Klopp angrily decried the League and TV channels decision to have his Liverpool play the 12.30pm kick-off again when asked about it after the Sheffield game. Liverpool have played the 12.30 slot 14 times since Klopp took over at Anfield. Eight more times than any other club over the same time.

Yes, all the ingredients for a tetchy, nail-biting, and controversial festive run-in till the end of the year is there. Would we have it any other way?