If your pre-season Premier League predictions are nonetheless intact, you’re both a time-traveller, have ridiculous foresight or, properly, you’re extraordinarily fortunate.
To date, this season has thrown up thrills and spills we might scarcely predict.
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An surprising contender stays in pole place within the title race whereas one other has crashed and burned in emphatic trend.
There’s additionally numerous shock packages jostling for the European spots in opposition to the heavyweights of the league.
Oh, and 9 groups are scrapping it out in what’s proving to be an exhilarating struggle for survival.
The better part, although?
We’re not even completed with the season.
There’s as many as 13 to 10 video games left for the groups between now and the top of the marketing campaign, with lots extra twists and turns left to play out.
Foxsports.com.au breaks down the important thing situations within the Premier League State of Play!
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THREE-PEAT OR THE END OF A 19-YEAR DROUGHT?
Having completed within the high two in each season since 2017/18, it’s no shock Manchester City are as soon as once more firmly in rivalry for a third-straight Premier League title, a feat not achieved since Manchester United’s three-peat in 2008/09.
A key aspect of City’s dominance is all the way down to the mind-boggling type of Erling Haaland, who has scored 28 objectives in 26 video games.
The Norwegian has feasted on inch-perfect deliveries from his teammates, particularly Kevin de Bruyne, who has offered a league-leading 12 assists and can wish to break his personal file of 20 assists in a season.
Despite Haaland’s freakish capacity in entrance of aim and the general prowess of the workforce, City usually are not in first place.
In truth they’re eight factors behind the league leaders, albeit they’ve a sport in hand.
Sitting fairly on the summit of the Premier League is Arsenal, who’re on monitor to win their first title since 2003/04.
In simply his third full season as a supervisor, Mikel Arteta has obtained his aspect buzzing and have obliterated all pre-season expectations.
The brilliance of Gabriel Jesus up high has been complimented by the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the wings in addition to skipper Martin Odegaard pulling the strings within the midfield.
A steely backline has additionally been pivotal to the Gunners’ exceptional season, conceding simply 26 objectives; the third-lowest determine within the league.
Mikel Arteta has Arsenal inside touching distance of a primary Premier League title since 2004. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
Crucially for the Gunners, they now not need to divert any focus to a European or home cup competitors, permitting them to solely consider giving every part to win the league.
As for City, they’re nonetheless within the hunt for the FA Cup and the Champions League, with the latter a trophy that continues to be a key goal.
When it involves analysing each workforce’s remaining fixtures for the season, they’re remarkably related.
Arsenal and City face six of the identical opponents in that very run: Southampton, West Ham United, Brighton, Liverpool, Chelsea and Leeds United.
Yet all eyes might be on April 26 when the Gunners journey to the Etihad to tackle City in a sport which holds monumental implications.
Should the Gunners win, it could nearly clinch the title offering the factors hole stays the identical going into the fixture.
But if City safe the three factors, it might swing momentum firmly in favour of Guardiola’s aspect with 5 fixtures to play.
Arsenal and Manchester City are the main contenders within the title race. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
THE SIX-WAY TUSSLE TO JOIN EUROPE’S ELITE
With Arsenal and Manchester City unofficially assured of a Champions League spot subsequent season, the hunt is firmly on for groups to qualify for Europe’s premier membership competitors.
At current, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are within the driver’s seat to compete within the Champions League, with the Red Devils in third on 50 factors and Spurs in fourth on 49.
One facet in United’s favour is their two-game buffer over Spurs, which means they could possibly be seven factors away from the London outfit ought to they take most factors from their video games in hand.
Spurs are additionally nervously trying over their shoulder at Newcastle United, who lie one spot behind and are on 47 factors.
However, like United, Eddie Howe’s aspect have two video games in hand and will leapfrog Spurs.
Tottenham have additionally rolled the cube on its season as they fired Antonio Conte, an inevitable determination within the wake of his explosive press convention, and put in Cristian Stellini because the interim head coach within the hopes of steering the aspect into the ultimate 4 but once more.
The transfer might finally show to be a masterstroke, or it might unravel in ugly trend.
Could Newcastle make it to the Champions League for the primary time in 20 years? (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
Also sniffing across the Champions League spots are Liverpool and the unlikely presence of Brighton.
Liverpool are in sixth with 42 factors however have two video games in hand, a disappointing return given many tipped the Reds to be competing for the title having come agonisingly shut final yr.
As for the Seagulls, they’re equal on factors and lie one spot behind however have the added bonus of three video games in hand on Spurs.
Brentford have loved an incredible season however are unlikely to have sufficient juice to barge into the European spots as they’re additionally on 42 factors however solely have one sport in hand.
So, time for the all-important query: who’s going to complete within the remaining 4 exterior of Arsenal and City?
Well, in response to the gurus on the revered statistical web site FiveThirtyEight, Manchester United and Newcastle are set to be those amongst Europe’s elite subsequent season.
The Red Devils have a 74 per cent probability of qualifying for the Champions League whereas Eddie Howe’s aspect have a 44 per cent probability.
As for his or her rivals, Liverpool sit at 29 per cent, Brighton at 26 per cent and Spurs — who already sit in fourth — are an alarming 25 per cent probability of qualifying.
Whether FiveThirtyEight’s predictions come true stays to be seen, however whichever means you wish to have a look at it, it’s grim studying for Spurs followers.
Harry Kane will hope he may also help cement Spurs in a high 4 spot come the season’s finish. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NINE TEAMS, FOUR POINTS: THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
At final, in the end, we have now a correct relegation race on our palms.
Four factors is all that separates Twentieth-placed Southampton from Twelfth-placed Crystal Palace, with seven golf equipment sandwiched in between.
A whopping six of the underside 9 have all made a managerial change at some stage this season, with Southampton remarkably making two.
Only West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City elected to stay moderately than twist when it got here to their man within the dugout, however that isn’t to say David Moyes, Steve Cooper and Brendan Rodgers have been below immense strain to maintain their respective roles.
Over the course of the season, the bottom-half groups have continuously traded positions.
For occasion, Wolves had been rooted to the underside of the desk at Christmas with simply two wins from 15 video games, together with 9 defeats.
13 video games later, the Midlands outfit has gained 5, drawn twice and misplaced six in a exceptional turnaround overseen by Julen Lopetegui that has the workforce sitting thirteenth.
Leeds United occupy 14th however already look a extra assured and compact outfit below former Watford boss Javi Gracia since sacking Jesse Marsch.
Leeds have appeared lifeless and buried at instances this season however they now look more likely to keep up. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Below Leeds is Everton, who’ve slowly climbed up the ladder after Sean Dyche took up the Goodison Park scorching seat.
Going in opposition to the Toffees is their remaining video games, with six of their remaining ten coming in opposition to groups within the high half.
In sixteenth is Forest, who haven’t gained since February 6 and face an equally-daunting fixture checklist.
Of the 11 video games Steve Cooper’s aspect need to play, six of these video games are in opposition to groups within the high 10.
Such is the issue of video games on the horizon, FiveThirtyEight has pegged Forest at a 56 per cent probability of being relegated regardless of being out of the underside three.
Leicester, who gained the FA Cup solely two seasons in the past, are one place above the relegation zone on 25 factors however have misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games.
Australians are definitely protecting a eager eye on the Foxes’ state of affairs given the presence of a sure Harry Souttar on the again, with the towering defender anticipated to play a pivotal position within the run-in.
Harry Souttar might be doing all he can to assist Leicester keep away from the drop. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
On to the underside three and it’s West Ham who sit 18th.
The Hammers would very a lot match the invoice of ‘too good to go down’, however, as historical past has proven, the drain into the Championship doesn’t care how a lot cash you spent or how deep you went in Europe.
In West Ham’s favour is their file of objectives conceded, which is best than the likes of United and Spurs.
However, their lack of ability to search out the again of the web has confirmed deadly on a number of events, though Hammers followers hope the January signing of famend Premier League marksman Danny Ings will clear up that difficulty.
Bournemouth are subsequent in nineteenth and hope to keep away from a straight return to the Championship.
The Cherries have confirmed able to pulling off shock outcomes, beating Liverpool 1-0 on March 11 and had been seconds away from a draw in opposition to Arsenal within the sport prior.
However, FiveThirtyEight doesn’t imagine Gary O’Neil’s aspect could have sufficient juice within the tank and have a 54 per cent probability of taking place.
That leaves us with Southampton in final place.
In an try and survive, the Saints have churned by means of Ralph Hassenhuttl and Nathan Jones within the dugout, with rookie supervisor Ruben Selles tasked with doing his finest to attain security.
However, the Spaniard — like his managerial counterparts at Everton and Forest — should lead his aspect into battle in opposition to six of the highest ten, together with video games in opposition to title contenders City and Arsenal.
That’s why they’ve the best probability of taking place, with FiveThirtyEight predicting a 68 per cent probability of relegation.
Southampton are rooted to the underside of the ladder and look more likely to go down. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
There’s lots extra chapters to be written for groups in any respect ends of the desk.
One win and Southampton could possibly be dreaming about survival as a substitute of life within the Championship.
One loss and Manchester City loosen its grip on the Premier League title.
Who is aware of the way it will all shake out, but when this season has instructed us something, it’s to anticipate the surprising.
