By Ikeddy ISIGUZO
NOTHING suggests that Chelsea stand a chance against Manchester City, defending champions, EPL leaders, whose pace keeps second-placed Chelsea 10 points behind. Their awaited face-off on Saturday could split attention of football fans between EPL and AFCON 2021. Thankfully, the AFCON match, particularly Nigeria’s, would be two hours after the encounter.
City have erected a dominance that can only be threatened if they lose three matches at a go and the oppositions win three matches in a stretch. The statistics do not support such possibilities. Unbeaten in 10 straight EPL matches this season, City amassed maximum points from their last 10 games. The points have set them apart. Overtaking them is an overwhelming task many have given up on. City are simply intimidating.
Chelsea have had an untidy season. Their records are appalling with one victory in their past five ties. They lost the first leg of this encounter 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. If they share the points with City, they would be deemed to have done incredibly well.
Without star goalkeeper, the Senegalese Edouard Mendy, who is off to AFCON duties, Chelsea are more vulnerable than they were in the first fixture. How would they survive?
A victory is very important to Chelsea for them to survive another week as number two on the table. Liverpool are breathing down their neck.
City would miss Riyad Mahrez. He too is at AFCON for Algeria.
Arsenal’s efforts to break into the top four would face stiff opposition, in their Sunday game, from Tottenham who are two points behind. Arsenal won four of their last five matches. Tottenham managed three.
It will be tough for Arsenal with five of their top players away to AFCON. Of particular note is the Gabonese striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
A Tottenham victory would take them above Arsenal and not to the top four where West Ham have held on tenaciously.
Before West Ham is a great opportunity to begin racing against Chelsea for the third position. If Chelsea or Liverpool or both slip, Tottenham who are expected to run over Leeds United would be firmer in contending for improved placing in the top four.
The reversed fixture of Liverpool and Brentford is worth watching. On 25 September Brentford scared the full Liverpool squad with a 3-3 score. Will Brentford repeat the feat?
Brentford can upset Liverpool in the absence of their key attackers, Egypt’s Mo Salah, scorer of one of the goals of 25 September, and Senegalese Sadio Mané, who also featured in that game. They are both at AFCON, and so is Brentford’s Frank Onyeka for Nigeria.
Enjoy a weekend packed with matches – one on Friday, seven on Saturday and three on Sunday.
14 January
Brighton v Crystal Palace
15 January
Newcastle v Watford
Burnley v Leicester City
Aston Villa v Manchester United
West Ham v Leeds United
Manchester City v Chelsea
Norwich City v Everton
Wolves v Southampton
16 January
West Ham v Leeds United
Liverpool v Brentford
Arsenal v Tottenham
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