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Man Utd eye Premier League summit after Liverpool stumble
LONDON, Jan 1, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Liverpool will start 2021 in a familiar
position at the top of the Premier League but with a rejuvenated Manchester
United leading a pack of challengers who are all within striking distance.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side would join the champions on 33 points if they
beat Aston Villa on Friday, with Jurgen Klopp’s men not in action until
Monday.
But just seven points separate Liverpool from their next opponents
Southampton, all the way down in ninth spot, giving clubs a chance to dream.
AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the weekend
action in the English top-flight.
Liverpool v United battle?
Jurgen Klopp said he was not “overly frustrated” after seeing his side held
to a goalless draw at Newcastle on Wednesday.
But the squandered points denied Liverpool the comfort of a five-point lead
over bitter rivals United heading into the New Year.
The leaders have now drawn three of their past five Premier League games,
including last weekend’s disappointing 1-1 draw against struggling West Brom.
Midfielder James Milner has noticed Manchester United’s rise and has warned
injury-hit Liverpool that they must “kick on” or risk losing their crown.
Liverpool and United are the two most successful clubs in English football
history but have rarely been at their best at the same time.
It would take a brave punter to back against Liverpool, and Manchester City
are tipped by the bookies as more likely winners than their neighbours.
But despite lingering questions over United’s defence, there is a sense of
momentum at Old Trafford and a growing belief that they could mount a proper
title challenge for the first time since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Chelsea face Man City test
The most eye-catching game of the weekend pits Frank Lampard’s Chelsea
against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday —
coronavirus permitting.
New-look Chelsea appeared to have found a good balance after an early
defeat to Liverpool, embarking on a long unbeaten run, but have lost their
way in recent weeks, taking just four points from their past five matches.
They now find themselves level on 26 points with City, who also have two
games in hand after quietly putting together an impressive string of results
following a slow start to the campaign.
Despite the cluster of teams within striking range of the Premier League
summit, neither manager will want to risk falling further behind Liverpool,
who have the capability to go on a long unbeaten run.
The reason Guardiola’s team have an extra game in hand is because their
match against Everton this week was postponed over a Covid-19 outbreak at
City.
First-team training has resumed and the club said a fresh round of testing
had not revealed any new positive cases.
Following the update from City, the Premier League issued a statement
confirming the game at Chelsea on Sunday currently remains on.
Frustrated Mourinho
Just a few short weeks ago Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham were top of the
Premier League and looking every inch credible challengers.
Now they are seven points off the pace after two draws and two defeats in
their past four matches — and had to face the further frustration this week
of a coronavirus-enforced postponement.
Mourinho said his side should be doing more to kill games after conceding
late in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Wolves.
His mood was not helped by the postponement of Spurs’ home match against
Fulham on Wednesday with three hours’ notice after a coronavirus outbreak in
the visitors’ camp.
Tottenham host free-scoring Leeds on Sunday in a mouthwatering clash, with
Marcelo Bielsa’s men just three points behind Spurs after bouncing back from
their 6-2 Old Trafford humbling with two wins.
Fixtures
Friday (GMT)
Everton v West Ham (1730), Manchester United v Aston Villa (2000)
Saturday
Tottenham v Leeds (1230), Crystal Palace v Sheffield United (1500),
Brighton v Wolves (1730), West Brom v Arsenal (2000)
Sunday
Burnley v Fulham (1200), Newcastle v Leicester (1415), Chelsea v Manchester
City (1630)
Monday
Southampton v Liverpool (2000)
BSS/AFP/GMR/0931 hrs