Ten to Go:Four Horse Race for EPL Title

Ten games to go and the destination of the 2013/14 Premier League title is still very much in the air. Indeed, this is turning into one of the most open title races we’ve seen in a while, with a mere four points separating the top four teams. Is this going to be a four-horse race to the death? Or will the next few weeks, as the saying goes, “separate the men from the boys”? If nothing else, the fixture list should give inkling. Here’s what lies ahead for the contenders:

For all of Jose Mourinho’s protestations, Chelsea started the season as, at the very least, second favourites for the title – that they re-hired the Portuguese coach all but guaranteed that – and many of their fans would be pretty displeased if the title didn’t end up at Stamford Bridge come May. Of course it’s not just Mourinho’s winning track record that raised expectations; an already deep squad was strengthened by the arrivals of Andrea Schurrle, Willian and Samuel Eto’o in the summer; and Nemanja Matic and Mohammed Salah in January, and the Blues currently seat four points clear at the top of the table.
It’s a nice lead to have, yet it’s far from insurmountable and Chelsea will have to avoid any slips – like the recent home draw with West Ham - if they are to see this through. They remain a very hard team to beat – only three losses this season – and their run in doesn’t look too daunting, the toughest test coming in a potential decider against Liverpool at Anfield three weeks before the season ends, although home games against Tottenham and Arsenal could prove tricky.
FIXTURES: Spurs(h),Villa(a),Arsenal(h),Palace(a),Stoke(h),Swansea(a),Sunderland(h),Liverpool(a),Norwich(h),Cardiff(a)

Manchester City were clear favourites for the title when the season kicked off, again on account of a deep and talented squad bolstered by the multi-million summer arrivals of Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic and Fernandinho. Despite a shaky start – four losses in their first 15 games – they enter the home stretch well poised to make a run for a second title in three years. That is, if they can surmount the problems of fixture congestion and convert those two games in hand into six much needed points. City have been in great form though, losing just once since that early season flutter, and Sunday’s Carling Cup win would have boosted confidence – as will the return from injury of the prolific Kun Aguero. They’ll be hoping their early season away-day-woes are firmly behind them though, since their last 12 fixtures include trips to Old Trafford, the Emirates, Anfield and Goodison – typically, four of their toughest away games of the season.
FIXTURES:Hull(a),Fulham(h),ManU(a),Arsenal(a),Southampton(h),Liverpool(a),WBA(h),Palace(a),Sunderland(h),Everton(a),West Ham(h),Villa(a)

Arsenal have led the league for a long part of this season, the arrival of Mesut Ozil and the early season form of Aaron Ramsey especially inspiring a run of impressive performances. But the Gunners are going through a bit of a rough patch of late, losing two of their last four games, at Liverpool and Stoke, and slipping four points off the top. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier too: their next four games include trips to Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton, as well as a home match against a Manchester City that trounced them 6-3 at the Etihad earlier in the season. Ramsey’s return from injury – he’s been out since December – would be most welcome, but they will do well to still be in contention after that gruelling sequence.
FIXTURES: Spurs(a),Chelsea(a),ManCity(h),Everton(a),WestHam(h),Swansea(h),Hull(a),Newcastle(h),WBA(h),Norwich(a)

As for the dark horses, Liverpool have already exceeded expectations by remaining in the conversation this late in the season, yet they enter the run in great form, unbeaten this year and racking up 7 wins from their last nine matches. They’ve had their problems at the back, where comical mistakes have contributed to too many conceded goals, but they are the league’s highest goalscorers and currently seat in second spot on account of a superior goal difference. That could prove crucial come the end of the season. But even more critical could be their impressive form at Anfield, where they have dropped just 5 points in 14 matches, and comprehensively smashed both Arsenal and Everton in recent weeks. Their run in includes a trip to Old Trafford, but the key games – against Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham – are all at Anfield. If they can maintain their excellent home form – and keep strikers Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge injury free - they’ll be in this till the end.
FIXTURES: ManU(a),Cardiff(a),Sunderland(h),Spurs(h),WestHam(a),ManC(h),Norwich(a),Chelsea(h),Palace(a),Newcastle(h)

Of course, for all the focus on the big matches, it may well be one of the relegation-fighting “banana skins” that decide the destination of the title.

Still, the remaining fixtures suggest its Chelsea’s title to lose, even if City have games in hand and the quality to cope with a relatively more challenging fixture list. Liverpool’s firepower gives them an outside chance, but they’ll need others to falter, while the next four games could well put paid to whatever is left of Arsenal’s challenge.
Enjoy.