Will Man City Win Premiership in February?

By Ikeddy ISIGUZO

MANCESTER City are predictable – they win, they win, they win. It no longer appears as if the oppositions are important. They may not play well. They may be at the verge of losing a match or a point, they just win. Chelsea were their most prominent, and most recent victims. Others are in utter panic when they ponder an encounter with City, the defending champions whose dominance is not in dispute.
With the fixtures and the way City are playing, it seems that the available places are outside the top spot. City are winning. Their winning ways are almost becoming legendary. People would be shocked to see them draw a game. They are really dangerous wherever they play, whenever they play.
Chelsea were expected to provide a wedge to City’s ambition in the last game. That did not happen. It was a victory that was tied to the emphatic performance of City this season. City play every game with a competitiveness that other teams cannot afford.
They make winning monotonous.
Ultimate definitions of lack of ambition, settling for anything, and a gross willingness to be nothing are found in Chelsea. Their poor finishing has made Chelsea the butt of jokes in the EPL. You cannot bet on Chelsea. Things are that bad and getting worse. If Chelsea lead or are led, the anxiety levels remain the same until the final whistle. Their supporters are having one of their most unsettling seasons, considering that Chelsea are up there, creating impressions that they can become something, definitely not the champions this season. The ambition of the defending European Champions League kings could be contained in remaining in the top four by the end of the season.
The statistics are more shattering in their definition of the team once thought capable of challenging for the title. Chelsea after Tuesday’s flop against lowly Brighton became the worst performers by points in the top 10. They gained only six points from the available 15 points in their past five games. No team in that class threw away more points with such shocking ease.
Brighton have become a Chelsea blight. They shared the points with Chelsea on 29 December after a 91st minute Welbeck strike. Chelsea led when Lukaku scored in the 28th minute. Some of their followers had commenced the celebrations only for their new year to be dented. Chelsea put up a replay of that game on Tuesday with minor changes in details.
Chelsea jumped to the lead in only 28 minutes. The premature celebrations that ensued ceased by the 60th minute when Brighton cancelled the deficit. Chelsea had no meaningful response to their plight, stretching Chelsea’s winningless records in EPL. The last time Chelsea won a game was on 26 December against Aston Villa in a 3-1 romp that Chelsea scored all the goals. Two penalties for Chelsea, which Jorginho tucked in and Lukaku’s effort, rescued Villa’s 28th minute opener which was an own goal from Reece James.
So bad have Chelsea become that Southampton, 12th on the log had more points than Chelsea from five matches, eight points. Imagine that while Chelsea could not win in five matches 15th placed Leeds United won two matches in that period!
Man City have widened the gap. Pep Guardiola pushes his modesty too far when he suggests that the title has not been won. February fixtures can make City’s EPL title quest unassailable by the end of the month. Just take a look at City’s challenges into February – Southampton (on Saturday), Brentford, Norwich, Tottenham, Everton.
The first leg results show how rampant City have been. They won 3-0 over Everton, drew scoreless with Southampton, thrashed Norwich 5-0, beat Tottenham 1-0, and Brentford by the same margin. In the five games, City lost none and took 13 points out of the possible 15.
Southampton’s 3-1 loss to Wolves is not the sort of preparation required to meet City.
Other games that could cause minor ripples in the top 4 are Arsenal against Burnley, Liverpool and Brighton, and Chelsea’s tie with Tottenham.
Enjoy your packed weekend of games.

*Fixtures*
*Friday 21 January*
20:00 Watford v Norwich
*Saturday 22 January*
12:30 Everton v Aston Villa
Brentford v Wolves
Leeds v Newcastle
Man Utd v West Ham
17:30 Southampton v Man City
*Sunday 23 January*
14:00 Arsenal v Burnley
14:00 Crystal Palace v Liverpool
14:00 Leicester v Brighton
16:30 Chelsea v Tottenham