As the 2014-15 English Premier League enters the business stage of the season, there is still plenty to play for at both ends of the table in what promises to be a dramatic, yet wonderful and unpredictable, finale.
Although there are up to nine teams who could face a battle to avoid relegation, an intriguing title race is beginning to take shape with defending champions Manchester City in the mix once again. Chelsea currently hold a five point lead over Manuel Pellegrini’s side at the Premier League summit, but as any team can beat anyone in the league, there promises to be many twist and turns in the coming months which may take the title race down to the wire. Jose Mourinho’s side have been installed as strong favourites to make the most of their dominance at the top, but fans can back their favourites with betting companies who provide a range of odds on their social profile.
Chelsea
Mourinho has more than delivered on his promise that his team would be strong contenders in his second season back at Chelsea, with the Blues playing superb football ever since the opening game of their campaign. The ominous manner in which they swept teams aside with unerring ease in the opening months of the season created the possibility for Chelsea to emulate the infamous Arsenal side of 2003/2004 and go an entire season unbeaten. Although Newcastle and Tottenham managed to record three points against the league leaders, Chelsea have continued to dominate at the summit, with their recent 5-0 hammering of Swansea illustrating that they mean business. Winning all but one of their home games has enabled Chelsea to turn Stamford Bridge into a fortress, and with the likes of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Oscar in superb form, it already feels like Chelsea’s title to lose.
Manchester City
While the defending champions are well within touching distance of the runaway leaders, Manchester City lack the same spark and level of performances that were evident last season. There is no doubt that Pellegrini’s team possess the quality to beat anyone on their day, as proven by their victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and it would be extremely dangerous to write off their chances, but winning just one of their last five Premier League games is typical of the loss of form and concentration they have endured on more than one occasion. Sergio Aguero has undoubtedly been Manchester City’s shining light, but his recent injury layoff proved that the team depend too much on their star striker to produce the goals; neither Edin Dzeko nor Stevan Jovetic have stepped up to the plate, while powerhouse midfielder Yaya Toure looks a shadow of the player that took the Premier League by storm last season. Wilfried Bony’s arrival from Swansea in the January transfer window may improve their chances of catching Chelsea, but the Ivorian will have to hit the goal trail immediately if Manchester City are to make up the five point deficit to Mourinho’s men and retain the title.
Other contenders
Although Chelsea and Manchester City are widely considered to be the main contenders for the 2014/2015 Premier League title, the English league has a habit of throwing up major surprises that may allow another team to enjoy a blistering end to the season and make up the points deficit. Manchester United currently find themselves in third place, and with back-to-back victories against Queens Park Rangers and Leicester, Louis Van Gaal is beginning to get the best from his players who are finally adapting to his tactics and style of play. Ronald Koeman’s Southampton, who are undoubtedly the surprise packages of the season, are just a point behind Manchester United and currently occupy the final Champions League spot. They may ultimately lack the quality to ever mount a serious challenge for the title, but given they have stayed in and around the top four since the start of the season, Southampton could be considered dark horses to take the whole of England by surprise. The Saints are level on points with Arsenal who, along with Liverpool, are the in-form teams in the Premier League with three consecutive victories, with Arsene Wenger refusing to accept they are out of the title race just yet.
