First is first and second is nowhere, as the saying goes, so Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp fill need to find a way to motivate their Chelsea and Liverpool players ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. Unless Manchester City suffer an unprecedented collapse in the title race over the second half of the season, runners-up spot is the best either can hope for.
Since the start of the Premier League in 1992-93, no team has gone into the New Year with an eight-point lead like City’s and failed to win the title. Pep Guardiola’s men went eight clear of Chelsea — and nine of Liverpool — by winning at Brentford on Wednesday, so only the most optimistic of fans will believe their team can stop City defending the title.
– Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
– Don’t have ESPN? Get instant access
But as Guardiola insisted after the victory at Brentford, there are still 54 points to play for. Liverpool, who have played one game fewer than City and Chelsea, have 57 points up for grabs, so maybe there is a grain of hope.
Yet if City are to be challenged over the final stretch of the season, this weekend’s head-to-head could well be seen as a playoff to decide which team will be best-placed to take advantage should City falter.
If City win at Arsenal on New Year’s Day, they will open up a double-digit lead at the top, so it really is win or bust for both sides. Neither Chelsea nor Liverpool can realistically afford to lose.
But how has it come to this? At the start of the season, the Premier League looked to be shaping up for its most competitive campaign for years.
City, having won the title with a 12-point margin last season, strengthened their squad by signing £100 million winger Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, but missing out on both Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo left Guardiola without a centre-forward, so the champions appeared to have an obvious weakness.
Liverpool looked strong, adding defender Ibrahima Konate to a squad that still…
Source : espn
