EPL:The Title Race No One Wants To Win

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IT’S the title no one is willing to admit favouritism for but seemingly everyone is in with a shout of claiming. We’re getting to the business end of a rollercoaster Premier League season and without a doubt the most tightly contested since the inception of the EPL in 1992. With 10 games remaining, it’s down to a four-way shootout between Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, and no manager – barring Roberto Martinez at sixth-placed Everton - is willing to accept the favourites tag. Chelsea – who hosts fifth placed Spurs on Sunday - holds a four-point lead at the top to Liverpool, whose irresistible attack and fact they don’t have the distraction of the Champions League has seen them rocket back into contention. They were meant to collapse by now, weren’t they?

 Sunday
Crystal Palace v Southampton 1.50am Fox 2
Cardiff v Fulham 1.50am Fox 3
Norwich v Stoke 1.50am Viewers Choice
Chelsea v Tottenham 4.20am Fox 3
LIVERPOOL
What they said: “It does suit us at the moment being underdogs. What suits us as well is that we’ve got a lot of time to prepare. I’ve run out of words to describe him (Suarez), but for me, without being biased, he’s the best.” – Steven Gerrard
The story so far
Liverpool has only entered the title equation in the last couple of months on the back of an irrepressible attacked headed by the brilliant SAS, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. While defence has been suspect on occasion, the Reds’ “you score three, we score four” mantle is getting the job done … for now. Suarez (24 goals in 23 games) and Sturridge (18 goals in 20 games) have been in devastating form, taking over from City as the league’s highest scorers. The duo have 42 goals between them, one less than Manchester United and more than 15 of the other clubs.
The run home: Man United (A), Cardiff (A), Sunderland (H), Spurs (H), West Ham (A), Man City (H), Norwich (A), Chelsea (H), Palace (A), Newcastle (H).
ARSENAL
What they’ve said: “We cannot say it’s easy. It is difficult. I would say look at our results at the crucial point in the season and you would be surprised.”

Can Wenger lead the Gunenrs to a drought-breaking trophy? Source: Getty Images

The story so far
Since a 3-1 opening-day defeat to Aston Villa, Arsene Wenger’s side took the league by storm, and at one point held a seven-point lead at the top. November came and people said the inevitable Gunners’ collapse would occur, but it didn’t. December and January passed and they continued to look down from the top of the ladder. Maybe it would be different this year. The cracks began to appear in an embarrassing 5-1 loss at Liverpool in early February, while a last-start 1-0 defeat to stragglers Stoke has forced Wenger to defend his team’s fragility. The Frenchman again looks certain to guide his side to a top-four finish – they haven’t finished lower than fourth in 18 seasons – but after such a promising start to the campaign, anything less than silverware will be hard to swallow for fans.
The run home: Spurs (A), Chelsea (A), Swansea (H), City (H), Everton (A), West Ham (H), Hull (A), Newcastle (H), WBA (H), Norwich (A).
MANCHESTER CITY
What they’ve said: “It’s going to be very hard but the team with the strongest mentality is the one that will win the title. I maintain the race for the Premier League will go to the last game or two - nobody knows what will happen but that’s my opinion.” – Manuel Pellegrini
The story so far
At one point it looked like no one would be able to stop Manuel Pellegrini’s City, who became the fastest team in Premier League history to score 100 goals. Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo were putting the ball into the back of the net for fun, until an injury to the former and poor away results put the brakes on their charge to a second title in three seasons. They’ve made a mockery of big teams, beating United 4-1, Arsenal 6-3 and Spurs 6-0 and then again 5-1. They’ve already won the Capital One Cup, are in the sixth round of the FA Cup but are on the brink of UCL elimination to Barcelona. An unprecedented quadruple is still possible, but Pellegrini’s men would be wise to focus on the league. Win all their remaining games and the title is theirs, though that’s easier said than done, with a tough run home awaiting the 2011-2012 champions.
The run home: Hull (A), Fulham (H), Man United (A), Arsenal (A), Southampton (H), Liverpool (A), WBA (H), Palace (A), Everton (A), West Ham (H).
TOTTENHAM
What they’ve said: “Games against Chelsea at the Bridge, Arsenal at the Emirates and Liverpool at Anfield, perhaps the pressure’s off us a little bit and we can cause a surprise. We’re looking to mess up as many other people’s seasons as we can, and enhance ours at the same time.” – Tim Sherwood.
The story so far
The rank outsider in a race of five, Spurs can give the title race a good shake-up by beating Chelsea this weekend. In an apparent ‘crisis’ under Andre Vilas-Boas, the Portuguese boss was sacked, with Tim Sherwood taking his place. The north London side has been far from impressive at times this season, but have been picking up points consistently thanks to reborn striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Spurs won’t win the league, but with games remaining against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, they’ll go some way to helping decide it.
The run home: Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), Southampton (H), Liverpool (A), Sunderland (H), WBA (A), Fulham (H), Stoke (A), West Ham (A), Villa (H).