End of the road for AVB
A round of fixtures that began with Arsenal being on the receiving end of a six-goal thrashing ended with their north London rivals Tottenham emerging as the real losers from the weekend of Premier League action. More specifically, as was confirmed by Monday's sacking, it was a nightmare game for Andre Villas-Boas as his Spurs side succumbed to a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool.
The Portuguese coach had been the subject of considerable doubts over his future ever since Spurs were hit for six by Manchester City but this was arguably even more devastating - and certainly more final. Tottenham fans are more than entitled to regard Liverpool at home as a winnable fixture but they were totally outplayed and the lack of fight shown when down to 10 men probably cost Villas-Boas his job.
Rampant Reds
It was a stunning performance from Liverpool to increase the gap to Spurs and Manchester United (the viable contenders for the top four who aren't currently occupying a place) and boost an already healthy-looking goal difference that could prove crucial come the end of the season. Liverpool will have watched Monday's Champions League last-16 draw with interest as several of their rivals face draining distractions in February and March while the Reds continue to plough ahead with their primary focus.
Indeed, it seems there is a perfect storm at Anfield in which several factors have conspired to afford Liverpool their best chance of returning to the Champions League. There are no fatiguing Europa League commitments; Spurs and United are struggling; Luis Suarez stayed for one final push; Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge had already been integrated into the team after arriving in January while others, such as Jordan Henderson, continue to improve; and Brendan Rodgers has had a year to adjust to the requirements of his role.
Rodgers hails team
The last point was influential against Spurs as Rodgers again demonstrated his tactical acumen to attack Andre Villas-Boas' high defensive line - and particularly the vulnerable Michael Dawson - with Jordan Henderson's runs from midfield a key feature of the first three goals. Liverpool were positive from the outset and Rodgers made a telling comment about the mentality of his team when he said they "earned the right to play" through their relentless pressing and work rate.
The worry of course, is that if Liverpool don't manage to hold on to a place in the top four this year, one wonders when they will ever have a better opportunity, especially given that failure would guarantee Suarez's exit. Steven Gerrard conceded as much in the Sky Sports studio on Sunday, and both he and Jamie Carragher pointed to the contrast between Spurs' struggles after losing their star player and Liverpool's progress as they continue to build around theirs.
It is still difficult to know how strong Liverpool are without Suarez - despite their form during his suspension - but accusations of being a one-man team are irrelevant. The striker is certainly showing no signs of slowing down after hitting 17 goals in only 11 Premier League appearances so far, and he has proved that his employers were right to remain strong in the summer. Imagine what the gap to Arsenal would be had they sold their prized asset.
Stunning City
A complete attacking performance to decimate the best defence in the division and reinforce City's status as the champions-in-waiting. No matter how much Arsenal pushed to get back into the game, they were always kept at arm's length. There was never any fear that City couldn't score again if they needed to.
On the evidence of City's current form, it seems it might take something as unfortunate as an injury to Sergio Aguero - who limped off after 50 minutes - to keep things interesting in the title race. It has been an open battle in the first half of the season, but the cream is rising to the top and once City reach first place - which they inevitably will - it is difficult to imagine them being overhauled.
Redknapp backs City v Barca
Arsenal are the only other team in the Premier League who seem capable of winning five games in a row - having done so in September - but they are already beginning to look jaded ahead of the busiest period of the season and require a statement against Chelsea this weekend to get Saturday's chastening defeat out of their system. Title winners tend not to run out of steam before Christmas.
As City continue to move through the gears, it appears less likely that we will witness another freak result such as the defeats to Sunderland and Aston Villa. Despite Manuel Pellegrini's poor maths, he obviously had a point about the significance of the win in Munich and that result could have the same galvanising effect that has taken Arsenal from fifth place to title contenders.
Although everyone else is in transition - as Chelsea try to mount a genuine title challenge for the first time in four years, Liverpool in five years, Arsenal in six, while Manchester United adapt from being champions to Europa League hopefuls - City are already the finished article, bar maybe one additional defender who we can expect will arrive in January.
It says everything we need to know about the race at the top that Pellegrini always had full confidence his team would improve their away form, while Jose Mourinho bemoans his strikers and Arsene Wenger grumbles about the fixture list. Arsenal may be holding on to first by their fingernails, but it is City's title to lose.
0 comments:
Post a Comment