The Battle For Second Place: Liverpool v Chelsea v Arsenal
Another Premier League season is edging to its climax and yet again its United that sit atop the table, having pulled three points clear at the league’s summit. With a game in hand it seems almost unimaginable that they would lose it now.
So with the title all but decided, attention can now turn to the scrap for second place between Liverpool, Chelsea and to a lesser extent Arsenal.
Once the adrenalin had left the system on Tuesday night there was time to digest the night’s action. Another outstanding game involving Liverpool this season yet for the Red faithful another home draw. Anfield, once impossible to play at, has seen far too many draws this season (seven in all) and the simple fact is that if they had won all of the home games that they had drawn they would be top of the table.
Admittedly you could say that about anyone; however the fact is that Rafa Benitez’s side have been far more impressive in the league this year than in past seasons doing the double over both Chelsea and United. Out of all the top four Liverpool do probably have the easiest run in, the trickiest of their remaining fixtures being home to Spurs on the last day of the season. Furthermore they do have the advantage of being three points clear of Chelsea and nine ahead of Arsenal.
Chelsea will still be hoping that they can catch Liverpool and claim the runners up spot. However with Guus Hiddink conceding the title after last night’s draw with Everton and with a Champions League Semi Final and FA Cup Final to prepare for it is likely the Dutchman will start to rotate his squad. Having to play at the Emirates in May is their most difficult remaining fixture and Arsene Wenger will be keen to take the points off of his London rivals and continue his side’s impressive run of form. On the last day of the season Chelsea travel to the Stadium of Light and Sunderland may well still be playing for Premier League survival. This could cause Hiddink’s team one or two difficulties especially with the FA Cup Final and potentially the Champions League final in the following week.
At the moment Arsenal are joint top in the current form league, having won five of their last six games and Wenger is keen to push on. Having started the season poorly the Gunners have quietly gone about their business and will be looking at the chance of claiming at least third eagerly.
They face United in their Champions League Semi Final on Wednesday and thus the prospect of having a much stretched squad as they try to compete on both fronts. The defensive injuries are causing problems but Wenger will be buoyed by the four goals his team scored at Anfield on Tuesday night.
With Chelsea and United to still play Arsenal most certainly have the hardest run in but they also have the least pressure, with fourth all but secured they can rest assured of Champions League football next year (although finishing in third would allow them direct passage to the group stages instead of qualifiers). Playing host to Stoke looks like an easy three points on the last day of the season especially considering that they look safe from relegation.
Liverpool look good for second, despite some poor home results this season they have a three point lead and the easiest run in. Neither Chelsea nor United will be looking forward to play Arsenal and with all three of them competing in the Champions League Semis the games may be tepid affairs; then again people said that about Arsenal Liverpool. So with only a few weeks to go, United all but champions in what order do you see the big four finishing this season?
Here’s my pick:
1) Man United
2) Liverpool
3) Chelsea
4) Arsenal
Topics: Arsenal, Chelsea, English Premier League, Liverpool, Manchester United
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“The title all but decided?”
“Liverpool battle with Arsenal for 2nd place?”
Do you really think a team that`s scored 27 goals in their last 8 games are planning on giving up?
And do you think Man United are in the safe zone just because they saw off Portsmouth last night? That`s a must-win game anyhow.
United still have to play Spurs, Arsenal and City at home, and nothing is decided yet. Last year United dropped 7 points in their remaining 6 games when under pressure from Chelsea.
This year the pressure is even stronger and United have a considerably tougher schedule than Liverpool, a Liverpool that is ferociously hunting them down.
You really need to wake up man, cause this is just silly.
Thank you for hilarious reading though…
April 23rd, 2009 @ 13:22The same team has conceded how many goals in their last handful of games?
April 23rd, 2009 @ 14:24I think chelsea will pip liverpool for the second spot this season.
April 23rd, 2009 @ 13:53But again you can’t really predict anything in the PL.
can only wish man u well for the summit as long as they agree to share the seasons’ spoils with us. they nead to leak some goals from us next week coz we did them a huge favour on tuesday.
April 23rd, 2009 @ 14:29Anyone who thinks Arsenal have a chance of finishing 2nd are completely out of their mind. I’m flabbergasted.
Liverpool are 9 points clear of Arsenal. So they need to either lose 3 of their last 5 games, or win only 1 of them. For a team that has in 33 games this season averaged 2.15 points per game, this is massively unlikely. In addition to this, Arsenal would have to win all of their remaining games, including a trip to Old Trafford and the visit from Chelsea, whilst also worrying about their Champions League semi-final.
It will not happen, and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to think a little harder. Come on!
April 23rd, 2009 @ 14:311. Liverpool
April 23rd, 2009 @ 14:502. Manure
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
I dont think Arsenal have a realistic chance of second hence the fact i have predicted them fourth but i think to totally right them off is naive when they have the joint best form in the leauge especially with Chelsea thinking about the FA Cup final
April 23rd, 2009 @ 16:21I don’t think you can discount Liverpool’s title chances just yet; they need to win all their remaining games and hope Man Unt slip up but looking at their remaining fixtures they still have an outside chance:
Hull Away
Newcastle Home
West Ham Away
West Brom Home
Spurs Away
These are all winnable for Liverpool and that would give them 86 points; this leaves Man Unt needing 12/13 points and they have some tricky games in the run in. If they lose points against Man City or Arsenal then the title race may be back on.
I think Manchester will just hold on though and I don’t expect the league positions to change from what they are now:
Man Utd
Liverpool
Chelsea
Arsenal
Let hope Man Unt lose a few points to make the run in interesting!
April 23rd, 2009 @ 16:28nice one ahmed…. me thinks crazy horse has a bad case of MYOPIA!!! strange it was arsene wenger who first used to be myopic,, i guess in football these things are infectious huh…
April 23rd, 2009 @ 17:05I think the author of this article is out of his mind. So you think its easy for Arsenal with 9 points behind (and a far inferior Goal Difference) to catch Liverpool but impossible for Liverpool 6 points behind (donating the 3points for the game in hand to ManU)? And all this with Liverpool having a superior Goal Difference the whole League? Come to ur senses man!
April 23rd, 2009 @ 17:27Myopic? Me? Me thinks not.
Last eight Liverpool games:
Goals for: 27 /Goals against: 12
The scoreline at Old Trafford flattered Lfc slightly, and the draw against Chelsea was fair and square I guess, but Arsenal was incredibly lucky to get away with a point at Anfield. Two points lost for the home side.
Whilst I concede the title is United`s to lose, and they are firm favourites, to claim that Liverpool will fight it out with Arsenal over 2nd place is next to lunacy. Lfc is 3 points off United while Arsenal is 9 points off Lfc.
And on the basis of United`s performances lately I`m not entirely convinced they can expect a stroll in the park versus Tottenham, City and Arsenal.
However, if Liverpool drop points this weekend me thinks it`s more or less game over.
Anyhow, it`s nice to see the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal making such great strides forward, and Ferguson rightly fears he`ll be knocked off his perch sooner rather than later. But then again, his highness Mr. Ferguson is soon off to his retirement home rocking chair anyway. Godspeed!
April 23rd, 2009 @ 17:49I can still see Liverpool dropping points but we will have to wait and see. Though Crazy horse you are indeed right about Ferguson i do think he is concerned about remaining successful and this is the first season Liverpool have looked like any sort of genuine threat. Will be interesting to see who replaces the Scot
April 23rd, 2009 @ 18:10Man united looked much better against portsmouth, and were very comfortable.Had it not been for their profligacy in front of goal,they would have easily won.
April 23rd, 2009 @ 18:41Crazy horse has a point-he shouldn’t be derided..but so does Ben King
I agree and disagree with Crazy Horse (great name by the way, he was a fantastic character, RIP).
I agree that the title race is not over. Nobody at Utd will be thinking that for a moment. But I think Liverpool fans are missing the point lately. Their purple patch is over, as is Utd’s blip.
Liverpool are going balls-out to overrun teams as if they believe that the Real, Utd, Villa and Blackburn results can automatically be repeated. This shows naievity and lack of experience in how to win the PL. Tactics have gone out the window and they are all over the place defensively.
Utd on the other hand showed exactly what is required against Pompey. They dominated but even though the goals didn’t flow they closed the game out with ruthless efficiency.
That said, Liverpool CAN win all their remaining games, although I don’t think West Ham away is a banker by any means.
Utd know what’s required though. Crazy Horse suggests that Utd’s home games are difficult. I disagree. City are rubbish, Spurs have nothing to play for and Arsenal may not count or they could be either saving themselves for the CL final or have their minds on holidays.
Chelsea will be concentrating on the 2 cups so I don’t see them overcoming Liverpool. The positions should stay the way they are at present….but who knows?
As for Crazy Horse’s comment: “Anyhow, it`s nice to see the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal making such great strides forward, and Ferguson rightly fears he`ll be knocked off his perch sooner rather than later.”
He’s heard it all before, numerous times. Does he look worried? Arsenal took a major step backwards and are just recovering from that. I expect them to be a major force next year though. Chelsae are also back to their best.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, if they don’t pull it off this season, I suspect they’ll be back to 4th next season. Fair play, they’ve out-punched their weight this season but at the end of the day they’re not actually that good and need lots of work on the squad.
April 24th, 2009 @ 11:35Very hard for ManU to lose 2 games. Maybe if they draw thrice. Very hard seeing Liverpool pip ManU. But good season for liverpool. I, as a Liverpool fan, am very proud of what they have achieved. Next season I hope will be a repeat and better against weaker team. And I hope there’s a good signing in the summer with better players that can take the weight out of Gerrard and Torres shoulder.
April 24th, 2009 @ 13:12I completely agree the positions are going to stay like this:
April 25th, 2009 @ 02:031)Man.Utd
2)Liverpool
3)Chelsea
4)Arsenal
But i wish that Arsenal could be in the 3 place not Chelsea.