The Tossed Salad

Each team engaged in the English Premier League has only nine games to play, making each game a ‘do or die’ situation for them. We’ve reached the climax where, now, anything is possible. Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea,  fighting for the title, know that if they commit any mistake now, their title hopes will vanish into thin air. United, the defending champions unexpectedly lost last Saturday (14th of March). They suffered one of their worst defeats at home by their arch rivals, Liverpool, 4-1. This twist of events has not actually opened up the  race, but at least it has shown that United aren’t unbeatable.

This week, indeed, belongs to Liverpool and their coach Rafa Benitez. This has proved that the latter is a force to be reckoned with, by helping Liverpool thrash Real Madrid 4-0 midweek and sweeping the ground away from under the feet of the United players by thumping them 4-1. Still lying 4 points (61 points) behind United (who have 65 points with one game in hand), Liverpool can certainly say that their title hopes are still alive, but will that be enough? Will this humiliating defeat wake United up or will it be the start of the end of the Red Devil’s reign? Whatever happens, Liverpool have shown that they cannot be written off.

With the same number of points as Liverpool stand a revitalized Chelsea team. They too are in the race for the title. Under the guidance of Dutch maestro Guus Hiddink, they have been winning matches one after the other. Only recently they registered six straight wins. While saying humbly that United is still the favorite to retain the title, Hiddink also added that his side haven’t yet accepted defeat. Didier Drogda, the footballer who was underused when Filipe Scolari was manager, has managed to score 4 goals in his last 3 games showing his boost of confidence under Hiddink.

Apart from the title race, there’s a fierce battle being fought for the 4^th place which is equivalent to a spot in the Champions league. Three teams - Arsenal, Aston Villa and Everton are engaged in a fierce fight for it. Among the three of them, the ‘Gunners’ who have just beaten Blackburn 4-0 are in a better place to clinch that spot.

Coming finally to the relegation battle, which will see three teams going down, there’s a very close battle going on, unlike the previous years. West Brom lying at the bottom of the league with 22 points (with one game in hand) can still survive if they win the remaining match. Incredibly, from the 9^th place Fulham to 20^th place West Brom, no one can be thought to be safe from relegation. That’s the beauty of the EPL!

My prediction: Man Utd for the title, Aston Villa for the 4^th spot and West Brom, Stoke and Middleboro’ relegated.

Ashish Padaruth

[ratings]

Author: Ashish Padaruth
Web: http://