Premiership Run in

[Timbro]

OK, it's time to take a look at the English premiership with just 4 games left before we know who the champions will be.




It’s been a fascinating season, with things so close at the top and the top 6 sharing the lead at various times through the season. We now have 4 games left, and there are 7 points between 1st and 8th. Blackburn in 9th could mathematically still win the title.




Let’s focus on the top 8 and look at the run ins.




Southampton (8th) - 56 points




It’s been a good season for the Saints under Jamie Smith, as they look to build on their 12th place last season. There is no doubt that they have one of the stronger squads and they have been lead by striker Alexander Isak’s 23 goals and some impressive performance by the likes of Martinelli and Kulusevski. In order to win the title surely the Saints would need to win all 4 and their remaining games are :




Leeds (H)

Blackburn (A)

Aston Villa (H)

Crystal Palace (A)




Saints won 4-2 at Elland Road earlier in the season and Leeds are top at the moment so there are scores to settle there. Blackburn away and Villa home are certainly no walk overs so it looks like unless something magical happens Saints best hope is to hold on to a Champions League spot. They will miss top defender Fofana who is suspended for 2 crucial games and they have 3 others a yellow away from bans but they’ll be happy with their season.




Chelsea (7th) - 57 points




Steve Talbot is one of the many managers to have written off their title chances but surely now even he must think there’s a possibility? You can’t write anyone off within 6 points the way this league has gone with 12 still to play for. Chelsea have flirted with the top places all season and De Bruyne in particular has been exceptional for them with Rudiger and Berardi signing from Leeds a transfer masterstroke.




Sheffield Wednesday (H)

Leeds (A)

Blackburn (H)

Aston Villa (A)




Wednesday are scrapping for points but should surely be a win for the blues, Leeds away is massive, and then they will see the other two as winnable - so expect to see Chelsea right up there in the mix at the end. They have 4 players one game away from suspension so that could take its toll with some big cup games to come. Steve Talbot will be hoping to beat last season’s 4th position and might just get there - after their 10-0 win over Watford their goal difference is as good as any in the chasing pack which could well come into play.




Man Utd (6th) - 59 points




United have looked slick at times and really poor at others and Steve Outten has been frustrated with his team this season. Again having written off his side’s chances he now finds himself 4 points off the top. Adeyemi’s 21 goals make him a potent threat and Asprilla has been a top player with Gavi as well the three starlets.




Cardiff (H)

Crystal Palace (A)

Leicester (H)

Newcastle (A)




The only side not to play a title rival in the run in, United look handily placed to mount a real challenge and would be a pretty good bet to be there or thereabouts. 2 players are a card away from suspensions, which the Red Devils have been plagued by. Last year they were runners-up, can they go one better?




Tottenham Hotspur (5th) - 60 points




Spurs have definitely exceeded expectations and would have dreamed of being in a title race at the start of the season. Leon Bailey’s goals early in the season fired them and steady improvements in the squad and loan signings have kept Tim Brown’s team in the hunt.




Arsenal H

Man City A

Cardiff H

Leicester A




It looks like their season is about the next 2 games, not 4. The North London derby at home is massive, and then Man City away equally important. Cardiff and Leicester are no pushovers so starting this set of 4 strong is vital. Either way, a Champions League place is key for the clubs progress. Spurs are guaranteed to finish above last season’s 14th place and will be delighted with their progress. 2 players a card off suspensions.




Man City (4th) - 60 points




Just when it looked like the Champions were laying their claim to this years title a run of 4 losses derailed them and Nick Lovell must be scratching his head at times with this team of galacticos. They still loom large though in 4th just 3 points off the pace and it would take a brave man to write their chances off. Marquinhos has been solid at the back, Silva and Bellingham stars in midfield and Vlahovic has hit the goals but they haven’t fired as a team enough.




Leicester (A)

Spurs (H)

Burnley (A)

Watford (H)




If they can navigate Leicester away and beat Spurs at home you have to fancy City for 4 straight wins which will definitely put pressure on the top 2. 4 players are a card away from suspensions which could be critical. Goal difference could also be critical and they are one goal behind Leeds.




Arsenal (3rd) - 62 points




Arsenal had slipped right off the pace but a run of 5 wins in the last 6 has put them right back there just a point off the top. Timo Werner’s goals after a slow start have pushed them ahead and the Gunners are back to try and improve on last years 3rd place.




Spurs (A)

Burnley (H)

Watford (A)

West Ham (H)




3 of the 4 games are in London and you’d think that Arsenal will fancy their chances if they can beat Spurs in the North London derby which is one of the biggest in recent memory. Another squad 4 players one yellow away from bans which surely will be relevant at some point.




Liverpool (2nd) - 63 points




2 matches ago the engravers were starting to practice the Anfield side’s name to go on the trophy as Graeme Edwards miracles continued to help them reach the summit whilst all fell around them. 2 defeats later they now share the lead on points with Leeds, who they are well behind on goal difference. Mats Hummels has been superb in defence, Rodri and Grealish lively in midfield and Mudryk and Rashford dangerous up front.




Watford (A)

West Ham (H)

Sheffield Wednesday (A)

Leeds (A)




Zoom into the last week as that really looks like a cracker, but you can’t really see Liverpool dropping too many points here. The only place they are vulnerable is suspensions where they have 6 players one booking away from a ban, but if they can get into a last day shoot off with Leeds for the title, after finishing 10th and looking very average last season, there is no doubt they will take that.




Leeds (1st) - 63 points




Leeds led the Premiership for a fair while at the start and during the season have been the side that has always been there or very close to the summit. Tim Davey has made a couple of changes, bringing in younger players, but still remains very much in the hunt for silverware. Caicedo has been the stand out performer, with Osimhen’s 20 goals lighting up their title charge.




Southampton (A)

Chelsea (H)

Barnsley (A)

Liverpool (H)




Probably the toughest fixtures of all of the contenders, Leeds will have to be on top form to take the title. It will be tough not to drop any points against Saints, Chelsea and Liverpool, and Barnsley away is not the easiest place to go, so Davey’s men will have thoroughly deserved it if they win this title. 3 players one card away from bans. They look a good bet to beat last season’s 6th position though.




So who will win this title? What an amazing run in with all of these sides having realistic chances. Leeds and Liverpool have it in their own hands to finish top 2, but the Arsenal and Manchester’s charge looks ominous now and Spurs and Chelsea might have a thing or two to say. This year, anyone can beat anyone, so let’s see what happens!!!

[Timbro]

Premiership run-in - the last 4 games



Week 35


At the start of week 35 we had 9 potential champions, each with a mathematical chance of taking the title. We track the drama as it unfolds, starting with 8th position as Blackburn’s draw at Newcastle effectively mathematically ended their chances.


So Southampton - 8th at the start of play, and facing Leeds at home who were looking to firm up their title claims. Saints started well with Isak’s 14th minute opener but Osimhen and Sane put Leeds ahead and when Saints defender van den Berg was sent off it looked good for the away team. Saints have form for red cards at home and hitting 6 past league leaders though, just ask Liverpool - and they added 5 more to take the game 6-2 and put a massive dent in Leeds hopes.


Chelsea were my dark horses to climb high in the last report and they comfortably eased past Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 to keep up the pressure with goals from Chalobah, Berardi and De Bruyne.


Man United took on Cardiff at home and again looked good value for their 3-2 win to keep themselves in the mix


Spurs and Arsenal shared a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane, in a result which probably didn’t help or hinder massively either’s title fight and it was a cagey game that neither side wanted to lose as the North London challenge remains strong


Everyone has been looking at Man City and they sent out a warning shot to their rivals with a 7-1 win at Leicester with Kane and Vlahovic both picking up braces - surely this was their time to take control of this race.


With Arsenal and Leeds covered earlier, Liverpool were the final piece of the jigsaw, and facing what could have been a tricky tie at Watford they found the home side manager missing, and a side that didn’t look very organised as the Hornets rolled over to lose 4-0 and the Reds just got a little finger on one side of the Premiership trophy, Graeme Edwards side looking favourites ahead of the rest with 3 games to go


Week 36


Southampton’s challenge was effectively extinguished with a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn this week, Son scoring in injury time to give the home side a win.


The big game was at Leeds, where Chelsea were visiting, and Rudiger and Berardi returned to their former club. It was another 4 goal defeat for the home side, this time 4-0 as Chelsea cruised past them. Berardi scored the last one and stuck his tongue out at Tim Davey, immediately running away as soon as the whistle went as Davey glowered at him. Two 4 goal defeats surely knocked Leeds out of the race and Chelsea kept on climbing.


Another side dropping out of the race was Man Utd as they went down at Palace, unable to break through and conceding in the 77th minute to lose 1-0. Steve Outten has publicly criticised his players and has promised his fans that changes are coming.


Spurs manager Tim Brown said that anything was a bonus before the game - and this week they certainly exceeded expectations with a huge win at Man City to do the double over the Champions, Gimenez scoring twice before Kane pulled one back. Spurs climb to 3rd


Arsenal eased past Burnley 3-0 at home and are starting to look like a genuine contender, and Liverpool stuttered to draw 0-0 with West Ham who were fighting for survival. Surely the winner will come from these two, just one point between them and Arsenal about to play Watford with an empty dugout. Officially now it is only Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs who can win the title, but with Spurs having a far inferior goal difference it looks like it will go down to the wire between the Gunners and the Reds.