Sport Editor Charlie King discusses what we can expect from the end of the season
The March international break represents a good time to take stock for teams and supporters alike after a hectic schedule, before the run-in begins in earnest in April, with nine matchweeks left until the finale on 25 May. With the title race and relegation battle already decided in most people’s eyes, the focus lies on the battle for the European spaces.
The title race
Had anyone foreseen the dramatic drop-off from Manchester City this season, they might have anticipated a wide-open title race. This time last year Liverpool and Arsenal were giving the champions a run for their money, before Liverpool crumbled and Arsenal suffered a crushing home loss to Aston Villa. However, Liverpool’s consistency in their first season under Arne Slot has come as a surprise, and they find themselves a commanding twelve points clear at the summit.
Despite being rocked recently by cup defeats against PSG and then Newcastle, Liverpool are still expected to recover and secure a title that is theirs to lose. It would have to take a string of Liverpool defeats, and Arsenal to pick up a head of steam they have struggled to gather since the injury of Bukayo Saka, for such a large margin to be overturned.
“Liverpool are still expected to recover and secure a title that is theirs to lose
Scramble for Europe
Forest’s magnificent season has seen them steadily climb the table, and they have found the consistency to stay there. Their recent victory over Manchester City has made Forest fans’ dreams of hearing the Champions League anthem ringing around the City Ground seem like they could soon be a reality.
Below Forest are two teams slightly less happy to be where they are, but with the resources to salvage their season. Man. City have shown some signs of improvement recently, and it would be unimaginable for a squad of that talent to find itself cast out of the European elite. Chelsea’s great start to life under Enzo Maresca has begun to turn sour, and recent performances suggest they might be looking over their shoulder.
“Chelsea’s great start to life under Enzo Maresca has begun to turn sour
Newcastle and Aston Villa are the two clubs sitting just outside the top five that would have had the greatest ambitions to reappear in the Champions League, but they will face stiff competition from some more unlikely clubs. Brighton have found great form recently and could make a Champions League charge, whilst Fulham continue to tick along. Any form of European football for either side would represent a great achievement.
Mid-table
Bournemouth, Brentford, and Crystal Palace probably all fall in a category where a strong run of form at the end of the season could see them mount a European challenge, but they are also pretty happy with how their season has gone so far, and would not be too concerned if things fell away slightly.
Man. United and Tottenham must use their league form as some way to rescue their pride after embarrassing seasons. It is also crucial that they build winning momentum in their pursuit of the Europa League title, their only realistic path to European football next season. Everton will want to maintain the positivity David Moyes’ return has brought, as they look to head into their new stadium with a more optimistic outlook.
“Man. United and Tottenham must use their league form as some way to rescue their pride after embarrassing seasons
Relegation
Wolves are looking more assured these days with a nine-point buffer in seventeenth and some good recent results under Vitor Pereira. They seem a far more functional outfit than their relegation rivals, but cannot afford to become complacent. They come up against Leicester and Ipswich in April, and bad results in those games to could alter the landscape significantly.
Meanwhile, Southampton’s main priority has to be avoiding the unwanted record set by Derby County in the 2007/08 season for the lowest-ever points total, with just eleven. Saints need just one win to get to twelve points, and you would surely think that they will manage this – potentially coming up against some disincentivised mid-table teams in May and a possibly already relegated Leicester. However, they are behind the eight-ball, as Derby only accumulated one point in their final nine games.
“They are behind the eight-ball, as Derby only accumulated one point in their final nine games
The climax
Incredible drama is needed if the expected outcome at either end of the table is not to be fulfilled come the end of May. A Liverpool capitulation seems unlikely despite a recent wobble. Southampton are all but relegated, with Leicester and Ipswich also increasingly cut adrift at the wrong end of the table. Therefore, it looks as if we will have to turn to the jostle for European places for our excitement, as ambitious but inconsistent clubs vie for a place in Europe’s major competitions next season.
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