Is the Title Race Back On?

It’s what we’ve been crying out for this season. Please. Please give us something to cheer for at the top of the table. Yes, the race for the top four is enthralling as ever, with even more teams in with a shout this season. But what we really want, right now, is a fight for a trophy.

Games this weekend involving the top six saw 4 of them drop points; only Tottenham and Liverpool claiming victories. City and Arsenal shared the spoils at the Emirates on Sunday night, United were held in a stalemate with West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea dropped points at home for only the second time this season as they were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by an inspired Crystal Palace side.

So, what does this mean as to the table? Well, Chelsea still lead the way, seven points ahead of Tottenham, who themselves are 3 points ahead of Liverpool, both having a game in hand on the Merseysiders. City sit in fourth, a point behind Liverpool, also with a game in hand. Manchester United and Arsenal sit in fifth (53 points) and sixth (51 points) respectively. Both teams have a game in hand on Manchester City in their race for the Champions League places.

The teams playing Champions League football next season looks more and more certain as the weeks pass, especially when Arsenal and Manchester United continue to drop points.

But, the tippy-top of the league. Can Chelsea be caught? It seemed like just last week we had all-but handed Chelsea the title. Champions-elect was being thrown around. However, with that defeat at Stamford Bridge, a few doubters have emerged.

Let’s take a look at how doable it is. Now even at this stage, it seems pretty likely that anyone below Spurs can be ruled out. Liverpool and City’s poor spells have seen them drop from both being title favourites at one point, to being in a big battle to just stay in the top four. Tottenham are probably the only likely challengers to Chelsea’s all-but certain win.

Nine games left. Seven points apart. It still seems a tough job, but when you break it down, it suddenly appears much easier. Supposing that Tottenham continue their good form and win every game from now until the end of the season, seven points dropped by Chelsea is simply two draws and a loss. And when you see that they still have to play three of the top seven, there seems to be more of a chance. One more defeat in that even throw Liverpool and Manchester City into the mix.

All this is assuming that all the teams below Chelsea win every game they have left, and yes, that is very unlikely. But if the teams near the top can win the majority of their games left, Chelsea may start to feel the pressure on the home stretch.

Liverpool’s remaining games are the easiest of the bunch, but Liverpool have infamously struggled against the league’s weaker teams, making their run-in probably just as hard as those around them.

Do Tottenham have the fire-power to mount a realistic challenge? No Kane, but without him, Tottenham have won four and drawn three, losing none. With stats like that, it doesn’t look as if they miss their talisman. Dele Alli is still firing on all cylinders. Eriksen is expertly pulling the strings in midfield. The defence is hard to break down. They have all the elements to keep the pressure on top spot.

At the end of the day, no, I don’t think the title race is well and truly back on. Chelsea will need to have more than one slip up to make it interesting, and they have very rarely looked anything but perfect this season. The race for the top four is still what will need to perk our interests as the end of the season nears.