The Sunday Times - UK (2021-12-19)

12 December 19, 2021The Sunday Times

Football

E

ven as we gaze across a foot-

ball landscape scarred by

postponements owing to the

Omicron crisis, it is impossi-

ble to ignore how the Premier

League has blossomed this

season. The title race is far

from a fait accompli, we have

the added nuance of there being a

three-pronged challenge and the stan-

dard is exceptional.

Even the teams in the bottom half

are contributing entertainment and

moments of joy and excellence. No

other league in Europe can come

close to the high marks afforded in

this division’s half-term report. We

cannot be sure who will win the title,

reach the Champions League or be

relegated. Even the teams stuck in the

middle are fascinating. No club lacks a

compelling narrative, not one

manager is dull.

There are various reasons why this

is a special campaign. Football in

empty stadiums reminded fans what

they were missing and the role they

play in forging outcomes. Across the

land there is a fresh sense of urgency

and a desire to be heard from the

stands. The manner in which fan-

power prompted a fast U-turn on the

leading clubs’ backing for a Super

League has also reinvigorated sup-

porters and created a slightly more

egalitarian texture to the relationship

between owners and customers.

There is a fin-de-siècle element to

all of this. The two leading managers

have spoken about what comes next

for them and we cannot rule out one

of either Jürgen Klopp or Pep Guardi-

ola leaving on a high this summer and,

although it feels counterintuitive, we

find ourselves analysing how their

probable replacements are faring.

Steven Gerrard and Patrick Vieira

have brought intrigue to the start of

their first attempts at coaching in the

Premier League and while neither

Aston Villa nor Crystal Palace will be

at the sharp end come the denoue-

ment, their progress is fascinating as

both clubs took risks in making the

appointments.

To sack the hugely popular Dean

Smith took guts and to hand a Palace

team in need of a rebuild to an

unproven coach might have ended up

looking naive. The most audacious

appointment of course was that of

Rafa Benítez, the former Liverpool

manager, by Everton whose half sea-

son has almost spiralled out of con-

trol. Will that unlikely point gained at

Stamford Bridge on Thursday spark a

renaissance?

ALYSON

RUDD

Even what we thought we knew for

sure is by no means certain. Newcas-

tle United must be heading for the

trap door and yet they could spend so

big in January as to claw their way out

of trouble. Newcastle used to be the

team neutrals wished well given the

club’s long-suffering, passionate fan

base but, for many, the Saudi-led take-

over and associated human-rights

concerns means the club’s relegation

would be ironic and not unwelcome.

Norwich City have perked up

slightly since sacking Daniel Farke in

November but it has been annoying to

see how little they learnt from their

previous season in the Premier

League. If anything, they have coped

much worse and certainly performed

less attractively. That disappointment

has been assuaged by the manner in

which Brentford are navigating their

first campaign in the top flight for 74

years. Thomas Frank’s team have a

palpable strength of personality and

somehow are coping well since the

injury suffered seven weeks ago by

David Raya, who is so crucial to their

style of play as well as being a goal-

keeper in form.

The response to injury has been a

Even teams stuck

in the middle are

fascinating. No club

lacks a compelling

narrative, not one

manager is dull

WE’RE BLESSED BY SEASON

A proper title race, invested fans

and compelling managers – second

half of campaign should be a classic

ARSENAL

Unlike last Christmas when

Mikel Arteta’s future looked

in doubt, Arsenal are peaking. Back

in the top four and playing with

vigour after bold call to strip Pierre-

Emerick Aubameyang of the

captaincy.

Star man Emile Smith Rowe

Must improve Aubameyang

Predicted league finish 6th

ASTON VILLA

Steven Gerrard has made a

strong start but supporters

are still not fully over the decision to

sack Dean Smith, given his start to

the season was disrupted by injuries.

Of the players bought with the Jack

Grealish windfall, Leon Bailey is the

biggest disappointment and Danny

Ings has been slow to find his

goalscoring form.

Star man Matty Cash

Must improve Bailey

Predicted finish 11th

BRENTFORD

Evidence they would grapple

adroitly with their first

Premier League campaign came

with victory over Arsenal to kick-start

the season. There have been hiccups

since but they keep fighting no

matter what unfolds.

Star man Ivan Toney

Must improve Shandon Baptiste

Predicted finish 9th

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

The loss of Ben White to

Arsenal could have

disrupted the

continuity of

Graham Potter’s side

but instead they have

progressed,

accumulating more

points to show for their

attractive style. They look

to have escaped the

relegation battle.

and inherited a threadbare squad.

He needed to get everything right

and has not. Injuries, tactics and

recruitment need to improve.

Star man Jordan Pickford

Must improve All of them

Predicted finish 14th

LEEDS UNITED

Have lost momentum from

last season, as well as Patrick

Bamford and Kalvin Phillips for key

periods. Squad is not deep enough.

It could be Marcelo Bielsa’s last

season at Leeds.

Star man Raphinha

Must improve Junior Firpo

Predicted finish 15th

LEICESTER CITY

Defence and defensive

injuries remain Brendan

Rodgers’s biggest concern, although

the returns of Wesley Fofana and

James Justin are imminent. In attack,

they remain potent with the fifth-

best goal production in the division.

Star man Youri Tielemans

Must improve Caglar Soyuncu

Predicted finish 8th

LIVERPOOL

A run of eight successive

victories has been an

emphatic response to their sole

defeat of the season, by West Ham

United in early November. Jürgen

HOW THE PREMIER

LEAGUE LOOKS AT

THE HALFWAY POINT

WORDS BY PAUL JOYCE, TOM RODDY,

ALYSON RUDD, MOLLY HUDSON,

MARTIN HARDY AND IAN WHITTELL

Star man Yves Bissouma

Must improve Aaron Connolly

Predicted finish 12th

BURNLEY

As robust and well drilled as

ever, but goals have been a

problem. They do, however, know

how to fight in the relegation scrap.

They need Ashley Barnes back fit

and Chris Wood to start scoring

again. It could go to the wire and

their final game is at home to

Newcastle United.

Star man Maxwel Cornet

Must improve Wood

Predicted finish 17th

CHELSEA

The early frontrunners in the

title race. Thomas Tuchel’s

effective machine, boosted but not

reliant upon the summer signing

Romelu Lukaku, have suddenly

stumbled. An impenetrable defence

appears replaced by impostors.

N’Golo Kanté and Mateo Kovacic’s

absence through injury is key but

off-field issues, with contracts, also

contribute to a disappointing end to

a memorable year.

Star man Reece James

Must improve Lukaku

Predicted finish 3rd

CRYSTAL PALACE

A new era came with

surprising ease. Patrick

Vieira immediately removed Roy

Hodgson’s cautious approach and

brought excitement to Selhurst Park

after a summer of smart

recruitment. Could be higher up the

table had they not squandered

winning positions.

Star man Conor Gallagher

Must improve Luka Milivojevic

Predicted finish 13th

EVERTON

Little that has

transpired

should come as a

surprise. Rafa

Benítez was an

unpopular choice

as manager

PREDICTED LEAGUE TABLE

1 Liverpool

2 Man City

3 Chelsea

4 West Ham

5 Man Utd

6 Arsenal

7 Tottenham

8 Leicester

9 Brentford

10 Wolves

11 Aston Villa

12 Brighton

13 Crystal Palace

14 Everton

15 Leeds

16 Southampton

17 Burnley

18 Newcastle

19 Watford

20 Norwich

defining feature of the campaign so

far. Mikel Arteta seemed destined for

the sack after an abject start but his

key players have gradually returned

so that the Arsenal we see now are

much more in keeping with his vision.

Chelsea are the most well stocked

of clubs but even Thomas Tuchel’s

side are beginning to feel the strain as

players suffer injury or test positive

for Covid. Leeds United are a shadow

of last season’s whirling dervishes not

least because of a raft of injuries.

The teams occupying the top-two

places have been relatively unscathed

and, as if mindful of the need to pay

thanks, have responded with gasp-in-

ducing performances. Liverpool are

the most entertaining side in the

country, boasting in Mohamed Salah a

forward in unstoppable goalscoring

form. Manchester City defy conven-

tion by shifting formations and scor-

ing for fun without a recognised cen-

tre forward and have this unerring

ability to respond to any criticism

with a mesmeric, otherworldly

display.

If the second half of the season is

half as fascinating, we will feel

blessed.

Left to right: Ronaldo, Son

Heung-min, Mason Mount

and Grealish will target a

strong second half