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Will Relegation Decide Who Wins The Premier League Title?

Published by Ian John on April 10, 2009

In many of the past few seasons, the team that has won the league title out of the ‘big four’, Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United (Liverpool are also in that group though they have yet to win a Premier League title), the winner of the league has tended to be the team out of the four who has had the best record against the other title challenging sides. The league had tended to boil down to a ‘mini-league’ in effect, with the winner of that tussle between the four, seemingly guaranteeing them the title.

This season could well be different. Currently, Liverpool have the best record out of the four teams and by quite some way. However at present they still are a couple of points behind Manchester United, who still have a game in hand over the reds and with Chelsea still hot on both their heels, and given the huge confidence boost they will have from their stunning 3-1 victory at Anfield in the Champions League last week, it seems that this season more than any other in recent times, could well see the league title winners being decided by how they perform in the forthcoming week against the teams in danger of relegation.

Indeed this has already been partly the case this season. Liverpool’s two league defeats of the campaign came against Tottenham, who were then bottom of the table, and Middlesbrough who were second from bottom when they defeated Liverpool 2-0 a few weeks back. With all the top three, as well as Arsenal, Aston Villa and Everton fighting for the final Champions League place, having games against many of the sides facing relegation, it seems likely that the results of these games will be the deciding factor in the league this season.

This weekend sees a perfect example. In Saturday’s early morning kick off Liverpool face Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers side who are one of the many sides embroiled in a relegation battle. Rovers are currently five points above the drop zone, but will know that defeat at Anfield and other results going against them will see them dragged back towards the foot of the table. Liverpool, after their midweek Champions League debacle against Chelsea at Anfield, will know that nothing less than a good victory against Blackburn will be enough. Leaders Manchester United face Sunderland and while it is obvious that the Red Devils need the points for their title chase, Ricky Sbragia’s Sunderland are in equal need of the points to keep themselves three points above the drop zone, especially when it is fierce rivals Newcastle United who are directly beneath them. All sides in those clashes are desperate for the three points for their own reasons.

United face a run in involving clashes with Portsmouth, Hull, Sunderland and Bolton. Liverpool will face Tottenham, Hull, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United. It seems likely that these games will go al ong way towards deciding the destination of the title. While the glamour games remaining, such as Arsenal taking on both Liverpool and Manchester United and the Manchester derby may appeal more to the TV viewer, it is entirely likely that the denouement to the English Premier League season will unfold in these clashes between the teams at the top and the teams trying to avoid relegation.

Even more intriguing is the fact that whilst United have an excellent record against the lower sides, Liverpool’s two defeats this season (against Tottenham and Middlesbrough) as well as many of their disappointing home draws, have come against teams in the lower half of the table. That, their supposedly easier run in and the fact that they hold at least a one point advantage, seems to make a compelling case for United to lift the title. However the signs recently have been that United are not in the form they were. Even the 3-2 victory over Villa, while compelling, was hardly convincing. Defeats and Fulham and at home to Liverpool, plus the home draw with FC Porto in the Champions league have left the Red Devils looking far from invincible. Liverpool on the other hand were flying, until Chelsea’s excellent 3-1 victory at Anfield in the week. How will they respond?

All the teams at the bottom will be battling for their lives and with so many games that matter over the coming weeks, it looks like being one of the most exciting culminations to a season in a very long time.

Sit back and enjoy it!

Picture Credit : **El Diego 10 ** at Flickr.com

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