By the time Premier League champions Manchester City emerged from the tunnel at the Etihad ahead of their 4pm kick-off with Liverpool, the title gauntlet had well and truly been laid down at the feet of Roberto Mancini’s men.
Bitter rivals Manchester United had earlier in the weekend edged past Fulham to extent their lead at the top of the table by 10 points, a yawning chasm of a gap even if we are still in early February.
A win was imperative for City against Liverpool – it would have closed the gap to a more negotiable 7 points, and considering the Sky Blues shut down an 8 point gap going into the final weeks of last season’s nail-shredding title race, the Citizens may well have been feeling slightly more confident this morning.
But as it stands the gap is nine points after Brendan Rodgers’ side deservedly held the champions to a 2-2 draw. Roberto Mancini will tell you that the title race isn’t over but if this were a boxing match, City would definitely be on the ropes.
I believe, taking certain factors into consideration, that the Red Devils will definitely win this season’s Premier League, and here’s 5 reasons why.
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3 Comments
I think it is ridiculous to think the title is over. Last year there was 6 games left and United were 8 points ahead. What happened? This time around there are 13 games left and United are 9 points ahead. That’s one extra point, however there are also 7 extra games to be played.
United have the champions league to play in. City don’t.
Cleverley, Rooney, Carrick, Smalling and Welbeck will all play in two WCQ’s in the space of 4 days. Trips to San Marino and Montenegro. Whilst Barry, Milner and Lescott rest on the bench as their form is shocking at the min. And then there is more champs league if we beat Madrid (those two legs against Madrid will be the equivalent of 4 prem league games) while city have all their weekdays to recover.
Away games at West Ham, Sunderland and Stoke are never going to be easy for United. Games against Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal are far from easy.
Im a United fan and I do think we will win the league. City have a home tie in the cup versus Leeds (stroll in the park) and two or three extra games in the cup possibly. Then they have 13 prem games. Thats all they have got. Silva, Tevez, and Aguero have to hit form eventually. They don’t turn into bad players over night. Mancini wont give up, he showed it last year. There is nothing to show that this title race is ‘definitely’ over!
You make some excellent points there but I think Ferguson has learned his lesson after being pipped to the title on the last day last season, I can’t see lightning striking twice.
United typically get better in the New Year and play their best football. I’m not convinced Ferguson is going to take the Champions League seriously – not if he loses the first leg for instance. I think he’d rather win the Prem this season and make up for last year.
True, he wont let what happened last year happen again..but there is still ALOT of work to do and anything can happen as the Prem League continues to show!
And to say he isn’t taking the Champs League seriously is crazy… He wants to (has to) win the Champions League, because without a third Champions League win, questions will always remain as to whether he was the greatest British manager of all time. Bob Paisley won 20 trophies in nine seasons with 3 European Cups. Fergie needs the 3rd win to confirm him as the best. Add that to dumping Mourinho and Ronaldo out of the cup, and therefore sending Madrid (the world’s most successful club) into total meltdown…Fergie is going all out for this tie! He wont let it the first leg alone decide this tie! Its too important, for him and for United.