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As the most remarkable campaign ever enters the last stretch, we pick who should make up the top four
Followers of the beautiful game love a fairy tale. And right now they are living through a totally romantic one and most are praying that it will have the kind of beautiful ending that memories are made of.
That fairy tale is the commanding position being occupied by Leicester City at the top of the English Premier League.
Having spent their first season back in the premiership slumped at or near the bottom of the log, Leicester survived relegation in the 2014/15 season through a last-gasp seven-game unbeaten run at the end.
This season, though, they have been remarkable, playing sensational football and breaking records while at it.
With most teams left with just five games after this weekend’s action, what are the prospects of the title challengers and Champions League qualification contenders in the run-in?
LEICESTER CITY
In times gone by, teams such as Manchester United, Chelsea and even Everton would have believed they were turning up for a Leicester fixture for the mere formality of collecting three points. Not any more. With the power dynamics having been upset this season, the Foxes are the giants in the equation.
Should they dispatch Sunderland, West Ham and Swansea City, they should be on a high when they face the traditional giants in their last three games.
The downside for the unlikely log leaders is that most of their opponents have everything to fight for. Fifth-placed United are desperate to get back to Champions League action next season, West Ham also want to be in contention for a Champions League slot while defending champions Chelsea want to end their disastrous season in a respectable spot.
Today, the Foxes begin their run-in against Sunderland, lying third from the bottom and wanting to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Prospects: With their free-scoring heroes Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez still in fine form, a tight-knit squad and the hospital bay still relatively empty, Leicester should be optimistic that last year’s champions will form a guard of honour for them at Stamford Bridge on May 15.
TOTTENHAM
If you sense some bias in this segment, it is intended, and no apology will be offered.
Spurs fans have waited agonisingly since 1961 for their team to lift the league trophy again. It has also been eight years since this tradition-steeped side laid their hands on silverware, in the form of the League Cup in 2008.
So the White Hart Lane faithful have been holding their breath, praying for Leicester to falter so their team can claim first place and lead the last stretch.
Today’s home fixture against a Manchester United that is capable of producing that occasional bit of magic when in-form youngsters Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard are clicking will be tricky. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs have been purring this season – ripping the net apart, connecting with passes smoothly and defending resolutely.
Like Leicester, Pochettino’s charges have been playing as a team and their enjoyment of the game has been obvious. The overreliance on Premier League leading goal scorer Harry Kane to secure maximum points could prove problematic should anything untoward happen to him though.
Another worry is the threat of losing creative midfielder and assist king Eric Dier, who has accumulated nine yellow cards this season and risks an automatic two-match ban should he be given a 10th.
Prospects: Closing a seven-point gap against the in-form leaders at this stage is a tall order, but with faith, nothing is impossible. So we will pray. Realistically though, Spurs fans may have to settle for the consolation prize of finishing above archrivals Arsenal.
ARSENAL
The Gunners have gone from being serious title contenders before Christmas to being mere mathematical outsiders in the run-in. The word ‘if’ is being used a lot at the Emirates these days as the technical team, the players and the directors look elsewhere for favours.
The post-Christmas slump saw the Wenger Out! campaign grow in decibels. To Gunners fans, it seems like a century since their team achieved the magical feat of winning the 2003/04 season without losing a single match. It has been hurtful to them to watch the title change hands between their Chelsea and Manchester rivals while they always had to be happy with a perennial top-four finish.
On paper, Arsenal should have an easy run-in, with the second-last game against Manchester City being their toughest. But as has been the case with Arsenal’s season, their tendency to blow hot and cold could see them drop easy points.
Prospects: It is over. The Gunners must just concentrate on catching up with Spurs. Which they hopefully won’t.
MANCHESTER CITY
The only target on City’s mind right now is staying in the top four and playing in the Champions League during Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge.
Except for Arsenal and relegation-threatened Newcastle (and maybe the revived Chelsea) the run-in should be a light jog for the Citizens.
Prospects: City should win the Manchester duel.
MANCHESTER UNITED
United have two goals right now: to qualify for the Champions League and – if they’re lucky – to finish above their Manchester rivals. As the despised Louis van Gaal’s clock winds down, this youthful team is starting to click.
The best the players can do right now is to play their hearts out to stay in the team and avoid being part of the mass clean-out when the new manager – probably José Mourinho – arrives for the new season.
Prospects: Mourinho may have to live with playing on Thursday nights next season.
WEST HAM
West Ham have had a fabulous season, this being the first time in ages that Champions League qualification has been a realistic target for the east London club. The Hammers have a decent run-in, but not one where they can hope to collect enough to achieve a top-four finish.
Prospects: So near, yet so far.
