Chief editor Adrian Houghton believes the top four race is far from a foregone conclusion, and is expecting a few more twists and turns between now and the end of the Premier League season.
Liverpool’s stirring 13-game match unbeaten run was ended in horror circumstances against fierce rivals Manchester United. They lost the game that they simply could not afford to lose. To make matters even worse, they had skipper Steven Gerrard sent off within a minute of entering the fray. Post-match, Martin Skrtel received a three-match ban for stomping and striker Daniel Sturridge appears to be under yet another injury cloud.
What seemed like such a rosy period for the Reds became a media-driven nightmare – football can be a cruel game.
After a charity match at Anfield to lighten the mood and the football fast-approaching this weekend, Liverpool will remerge from the misery of their United display. That upbeat mood that once pervaded Anfield and its global fanbase has now turned to a dreaded gloom ahead of their trip to The Emirates.
Instead of talking about a top four spot, most of the dialogue is centred on Raheem Sterling’s contract saga. It is strange when you consider that the Reds find themselves six points adrift of their upcoming opponents and five behind a Manchester United side who face a gruelling run-in.
With eight games left to play, anything is possible. Well, not if the prominent football media is anything to go by.
ESPN notably – and the majority of press has followed suit – ran with a video segment deliberating over Liverpool’s chances of achieving a top four place and whether the clash against Arsenal was a genuine “must-win” game. During the clip Manchester United were regularly spoken about as the only rival for fourth spot, but not one mention of the Gunners. They lie six points ahead of Liverpool, who, if they were to win, would cut that deficit to just three points and in all likelihood be dragged back into a dogfight for the coveted Champions League positions.
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Despite Arsenal’s fine form, and supreme home record against Liverpool in recent years, all it takes is just one dismal afternoon that their counterparts recently endured or a lamentable evening – AS Monaco in the Champions League springs to mind – and suddenly the Premier League delivers yet another typical twist.
The supposed immunity they have stems from their ability to always find a way of securing top four under Arsene Wenger, plus United’s tough schedule. What I will never understand is why media outlets regularly and casually dismiss the lesser sides, namely the relegation threatened teams.
Does this ring a bell, “most competitive and unforgiving league in the world”? Type that into Google and you will be presented with a multitude of different British publications that toe the same line.
No game is a gimme, however, once March comes around it is as if this sentiment completely goes out the window and the ‘big’ teams are expected to cruise to the finish line. That is certainly not the league I have witnessed for the best part of 14 years.
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For example, last season Sunderland went on an incredible run which saw them collect 13 from a possible 15 points to ensure the club’s safety. Gus Poyet worked a miracle and during that great escape the Black Cats claimed a point away to Manchester City, defeated their neighbour Manchester United at Old Trafford and secured a come-from-behind victory at Stamford Bridge.
This is certified proof that teams fighting for survival are extremely dangerous. For a league that prides itself on ‘no easy games’ then it is a little comical as to why media pundits cast their eye over a fixture list and do not even mention potentially problematic trips to Burnley, Hull City – two fixtures that Arsenal face in the run-in.
Unforeseen circumstances are a constant in football. One key injury, one red card, an unfortunate deflection, an incorrect offside decision, an own goal or a piledriver from an unlikely source like John Obi Mikel and suddenly the picture can change in a flash.
Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton are a point behind Liverpool, waiting and hoping that they can capitalise on slip-ups further ahead. If Manchester United can throw away an eight-point gap in just four games, as they did in 2011-12, then it is all to play for with double the amount of games left.
If there is one thing we have all learned, and the media should be privy to this more so than others, the Premier League never runs to script.
The top four race will experience some more twists and turns before it is all done and dusted in May – mark my words.
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