It’s that period of the year Sir Alex Ferguson famously labeled ‘squeaky bum time’ – the run in to the Premier League dénouement that will ultimately decided this year’s title destination. One suspects that it’s Sir Alex’ favourite time too. While others wilt in the face of pressure, the Scot thrives on the intense Spring competition.
The leading contenders – United, Chelsea and Arsenal – face 13 games before the Premier League concludes in mid May. Just 39 points are now up for grabs in a season of unpredictability. Indeed, a points total of just low to mid 80s will probably take the title this season.
United faces successive trips to Aston Villa and then Everton in the next 10 days, with the Champions League tie in Milan to come a week today. In a demanding February fixture list, United also plays the midlands team in the Carling Cup final before the month is out.
In March United has key home games against both Liverpool and Chelsea – key fixtures that will go a long way towards determining the Premier League title. Then on 21 April Ferguson’s side faces a trip to Eastlands to face Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City for a fourth time this season.
But in truth aside from those five fixtures – Villa, Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea and City – Sir Alex will expect his side to take maximum points with a fully fit squad – Owen Hargreaves and John O’Shea excepted – now at his disposal.
Chelsea’s fixture list looks balanced, with trips to Spurs and Liverpool as the most obvious banana skins. Carlo Ancelotti’s team also plays home ties against City and Villa in a marginally easier run-in than United’s.
Meanwhile, Arsenal – already heavily beaten by United and Chelsea in the past fortnight – arguably has the easiest run-in of the leading contenders. Arsène Wenger’s side meets Liverpool at the Emirates this weekend, with trips to Spurs and a home tie against City the toughest remaining fixtures on paper.
Chelsea’s two point advantage and, on paper, slightly easier remaining fixtures makes Ancelotti’s side marginal favourites for the title come May. But there is nobody better than Ferguson at managing the run-in.
With the Scot’s key defenders all but fit and Wayne Rooney almost unstoppable, the 3 April fixture against Chelsea already looks like a title decider.
Remaining Premier League games:
Manchester United: Aston Villa (a), Everton (a), West Ham United (h), Wolverhampton Wanderers (a), Fulham (h), Liverpool (h), Bolton Wanderers (a), Chelsea (h), Blackburn Rovers (a), Manchester City (a), Tottenham Hotspur (h), Sunderland (a), Stoke City (h).
Chelsea: Everton (a), Wolverhampton Wanderers (a), Manchester City (h), Portsmouth (a), West Ham United (h), Blackburn Rovers (a), Aston Villa (a), Manchester United (a), Bolton Wanderers (h), Tottenham Hotspur (a), Stoke City (h), Liverpool (a), Wigan Athletic (h).
Arsenal: Liverpool (h), Sunderland (h), Stoke City (a), Burnley (h), Hull City (a), West Ham United (h), Birmingham City (a), Wolverhampton Wanderers (h), Tottenham Hotspur (a), Wigan Athletic (a), Manchester City (h), Blackburn Rovers (a), Fulham (a).
Arsenal look like they have the easiest run in; plus they have the added bonus of us and Chelsea playing each other in the knowledge someone will drop points.
If we negotiate the next two fixtures I think we’ll be in a great position, but this end of the season really means that each team needs points for their own reason, making some games usually far more competitive than they would if they were played earlier in the season but also helping some teams out in terms of, say, Stoke – a trip there would normally be tough on Arsenal but with their safety probably not an issue, same as Birmingham, it will be a far more pleasant task than ours or Chelseas trips there this season.
Having said that though it is all relative and balances out, we negotiated a hellish first half of last season to compete, and so what, we have to play Liverpool, we have to play Chelsea, we have trips to Everton, Villa and City, at least our players should be fully up for it.
I’m loathe to make any predictions other than Arsenal on paper should be a lot closer, maybe not enough to win the title, but certainly not 9 points away from the top at the end.
Hi,
This article is very much like another I read on a ManUtd blog posted earlier this morning (earlier than this one). #
I’m not accusing you of anything, but both look very similar.
The link to the article: http://manutd24.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/same-old-title-race-can-united-make-it-4-in-a-row/#comments
Didn’t see it. So there are two posts in the blogosphere that talk about fixtures to come. The editorial is totally different.
I had a review of the Portsmouth match up on Saturday. Oh jeeze, did all the Sunday papers copy my idea. I’ll sue!
What’s your point?
Hi,
Ok. I always believed you just checking. Anyway great post, keep up the good work.
@ Greitar.
I think you will find every blog / media will have some sort of analysis on the run-in. Its standard. Not sure why you are surprised?
@Ed
Anyway, having been dissappointed with Arsenal’s dismal loss to Chelsea, I am now relieved to see them not gain any points from that game, as they have the easiest run in of the 3.
Not sure I will be rooting for Liverpool to beat them though, counter intuitive and all that.
United have the hardest run in, but we thrive when the chips are down and the pressure is on.
19
So why bring it up in the first place Greitar you absolute muppet?