Not only did Chelsea lose 3-1 at home, but they did so to an awful team – Aston Villa – a remarkable feat in itself. Perhaps even more surprising though was Manchester United’s defeat to Blackburn. United are typically efficient when not at their best, but they were beaten at home to the team at the bottom of the table in a remarkable result.
United’s defeat clearly owed much to the makeshift nature of their team. Though they still had plenty of quality in the final third, with Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez in attack, Nani was having one of those days where he thinks that he will score goals on his own and the midfield and defence was decimated.
With that, Blackburn took advantage, particularly Yakubu, but this was undoubtedly a freak result. United’s defence will improve as they get players back, and Wayne Rooney was also not playing. But for Manchester City, it is perhaps less of a fluke that they lost at Sunderland. They have been finding it increasingly difficult of late to break down tough defences. And they conceded numerous chances against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. Thanks in part to home advantage and Arsenal’s profligacy, they were beaten 1-0, but the 1-1 draw with Liverpool and 2-1 defeat to Chelsea were symptomatic of City’s frailties.
The truth is, this is a team who started the season in astonishingly good form, but it was largely based on the skill of David Silva, undoubtedly player of the season so far. His ability to control the play and carve open defences was key to their start. But then the same was true of Samir Nasri with Arsenal last season. His form waned, as did theirs, and the same seems to be true of City now. Silva is finding it harder to break down tough, organised and energetic defences. And City are conceding numerous chances at the back, as happens when you play as attacking a system as they do.
What it means is that the title race is still intriguing in the new year. City and United are obviously favourites for the league, and the smart money would surely be on Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. But Arsenal and Tottenham can’t be discounted. Though Chelsea are unable to find any consistency, both the North London teams have. Tottenham have taken 39 points from 48. Arsenal 32 from 39. This is the kind of form a team will need to fight back the advantage the Manchester teams have. Neither Liverpool or Chelsea have shown an ability to put together a run like it, and so it seems that the North Londoners will the teams who run the Manchester sides closest. Though the smart money remains on the title going to Manchester, probably Old Trafford, North London will still have its say in the destination of the championship.
