Premier League Round-Up: Matchweek 36
Burnley player Matthew Lowton clearing Sergio Aguero’s shot, which happened to cross the line by centimeters
Photo Credit: Man City
Midweek:
Watford 1-1 Southampton
Tottenham 1-0 Brighton
Wolves 3-1 Arsenal
Man United 0-2 Man City
Weekend:
Liverpool 5-0 Huddersfield
Tottenham 0-1 West Ham
Southampton 3-3 Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton
Fulham 1-0 Cardiff
Watford 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 1-1 Newcastle
Leicester 3-0 Arsenal
Burnley 0-1 Man City
Man United 1-1 Chelsea
In The End, Either City or Liverpool Are Going To Be Very Unlucky
In the previous 10 seasons there have only been a total of 3 teams hit 90 points or more. In 2008-09 Manchester United finished with 90 pts and won the league title. In 2016-17 Chelsea finished with 93 pts and won the league. And then of course Manchester City finished last season, 2017-2018, with a record setting 100 pts and obviously won the title. So not only has just 3 teams hit 90+ pts in the past 10 years but every one of them won the title in the process. Well it just so happens that Man City and Liverpool have both been so dominant that they sit with 92 and 91 pts respectively with still 2 games remaining. Whether or not Manchester City are able to hold on over these last 2 games or if Liverpool are able to snag the title if City drop some points, one of these teams are going to end up having an incredible season end in disappointment. And knowing the history, Liverpool is definitely going to be the team that finishes with 97 pts but still doesn’t win the title.
Also another note, is the Premier League losing some of it’s parity as of late? I mean the past 3 seasons have ended with a team getting 93, 100 and potentially 98 pts, and it had been 8 years before that that the last team hit 90. Granted the season before Chelsea hitting 93 points in 16-17 was a season in which Leicester won the league with 81 pts. I’m going to go with the parity in the Premier League still being great, it’s just that Man City have developed an incredible squad under Pep Guardiola. But it won’t last.
Arsenal Have Chocked To Say The Least, But Could Somehow Still Get Top 4
With two games remaining Arsenal sit in 5th place, 2 pts behind Chelsea in 4th place and 4 pts behind Tottenham in 3rd. So while they are going to need some help, Arsenal still have a shot at top 4. And as a Chelsea fan, who realizes how tough these last 2 Watford and Leicester games are going to be, I’d still give Arsenal the best shot at top 4. But what is truly amazing is how a top 4 spot is still a possibility for Arsenal. In my blog a couple of weeks back, I talked about how Arsenal had the easiest remaining schedule of those teams fighting for the top 4. Granted I did note that they did have some tough away match-ups against some opponents that you don’t want to sleep on. And…….it looks like Arsenal have fell asleep on a couple of opponents, or 3 to be exact. Arsenal have now loss their last 3 games in the Premier League in the past 8 days. They lost last Sunday to Crystal Palace at home and then lost Wednesday away at Wolves and followed all that up with another loss on Sunday to Leicester City away. But again, despite all that they still have a shot at top 4. While I said that Arsenal had the easier schedule a couple weeks back, they definitely have the easier schedule between them and Chelsea over the last 2 weeks. Arsenal have 17th place Brighton and 15th place Burnley, while Chelsea have 10th place Watford and 8th place Leciester. This Chelsea season has been an absolute disaster, so I’m fully expecting Arsenal to still get that last spot.
Other Notes:
Manchester City only needed a couple of centimeters to beat Burnley on Sunday and keep their title lead. Just look at how close this goal was to not going over the line.
Burnley and Southampton are officially safe from relegation. Brighton are the only team still left in danger of Cardiff somehow climbing out out of the 18th spot. Though it’s not very likely. Cardiff are in 18th place with 31 pts while Brighton have 35 pts in 17th place. Cardiff only need to win both of their final two games and hope that Brighton pick up no more than 1 pt.
News from the Championship division. Norwich City and Sheffield United are officially promoted to the Premier League next season. Norwich City have been in and out of the Premier League over recent years with a couple of promotions and relegations. Sheffield on the other hand haven’t been in the Premier League since 2007 and as recently as 2017 they were playing in League One, which is the third tier of English football. So it will be exciting to see them join the Premier League next year and see how they do.
Champions League and Europa League action return this week which will be interesting to see how it affects Liverpool in the title race. Will Liverpool focus more on Barcelona and winning the Champions League or will they focus their attention on the Premier League. Man City who were recently knocked out of the Champions League only have the one to focus on.
Thanny