As we head into 2021 it has been an interesting season so far. Covid-19 meant the season was delayed until September and for the majority of games up until now there have been no fans present. The goals have flown in and we have had some unpredictable results, and VAR continues to divide and at times, frustrate fans.
The champions Liverpool will end the year in 1st place and a passing fan may think that the title will end up at Anfield once more but in reality the teams are much more closer this season with even Liverpool lacking consistency. The season thus far could be summarised in Liverpool's last two games, destroying a stubborn and well organised team in Crystal Palace 7-0 away from home and then at home only drawing 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion who have earned 8 points from 48 available.
Liverpool have at least seven teams on their tail and it is good at least that this season is more open. One of their great rivals Manchester United keep surprising after a slow start, which included losing 6-1 at home to Tottenham. United are unbeaten in the league since the beginning of November and have picked up 23 points from their last 10 games. With the same matches played they are just 2 points behind Liverpool. They have needed a little luck at times not least in their last match against Wolves which needed a deflected Marcus Rashford shot in the 94th minute to win the game. Talk of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being sacked is no more.
Leicester look like they are going nowhere and their objective will be to make up for last seasons collapse and qualify for the Champions League. With a fit Jamie Vardy in their team who just seems to be getting better with age they have every chance. The inform team at this time is Everton. The club started the season in brilliant form, then dipped but look back again and they have won their last 4 games. Currently Everton are having their best season in a generation, and it will be interesting if they can find that extra gear to qualify for the Champions League proper for the first time in their history.
However with the teams in form there have also been the teams that have fallen off, both are London teams in the form of Tottenham and Chelsea. Both have been disappointing in the fact that they would have fancied their chances of the title. Time is still on their side but form is worrying. Tottenham have dropped to 7th and Chelsea to sixth. Jose Mourinho's team have gone 4 games without a win whilst Frank Lampard's side have earned just 4 points in their last 15. Both clubs are heading for the mid 60 point finish, which wouldn't be good enough one would suspect for even the top 4.
Manchester City are lurking around, almost ready to pounce and shouldn't be written off just yet. In 8th place take their game in hand away and they would only be 3 points away from Liverpool. They should be kept an eye on and so should Aston Villa in 5th place with 26 points and in some cases having 2 games in hand of the teams around them.
As for relegation Sheffield United will surely be down as after 16 games they have yet to win a game and are 11 points from safety. For now they are sticking with Chris Wilder and that might be out of loyalty to a manager who guided the club through two divisions to get to the Premier League. Sam Allardyce will try and do his Houdini act once again and save West Bromwich Albion, the Baggies are 5 points from safety but since his arrival they have conceded 9 goals in three games despite recording a great draw against Liverpool. Allardyce may need a whole host of magicians to save the club.
Since it's the end of the year let's take a look at the players who have performed the best since September to make up the team of the season so far:
Premier League: Team of the Season so far: (4-4-2)
Goalkeeper: Damien Martinez- Aston Villa
Defender: Ben Chilwell- Chelsea
Defender: Joao Cancelo- Manchester City
Defender: Tyrone Mings- Aston Villa
Defender: Ruben Dias- Manchester City
Midfielder: Jack Grealish- Aston Villa
Midfielder: Bruno Fernandes- Manchester United
Midfielder: Wilfried Zaha- Crystal Palace
Midfielder: James Ward-Prowse- Southampton
Striker: Mohamed Salah- Liverpool
Striker: Harry Kane- Tottenham
© Copyright topfootballtipster.com 2019
