With an average of 20 games played, the EPL is officially into Q2 of the season. A couple of months ago, I always answered any question of Liverpool winning the EPL with the response, "wait till Christmas"... well, it has come and gone, and Benitez is winning from the terrace! Steven Gerard's potential jail term aside - and who are we kidding? It ain't gonna happen - Liverpool looked like the genuine article against Newcastle over the weekend.
So, are they favorites now? Perhaps not... but just perhaps. With Big Phil Scholari looking like exploding on the byelines - blaming everyone from his keeper to his housekeeper, I speculate that all is not well teamwise in Stamford Bridge. Manchester United on the other hand are winning while playing poorly with 2 games in hand and 7 points off the pace for the moment. It is Sir Alex who will probably hold the key to Rafa Benitez's season, and it will begin with the United-Chelsea game next week. A draw will see Liverpool move 5 points clear - if they win their own match.
With Stevie G, Alonso and Mascherano anchoring the midfield, Liverpool will not be easy to dislodge, unless they start slipping up soon.
Conclusion... I think for the first time in a long while, Liverpool are genuine contenders and may just be 2 weeks away from being tagged as favorites.
For the best of the rest, I am impressed with Aston Villa, but the size and quality of the squad may see them fall short by Easter. I think Everton have done well - I predicted that David Moyes' men would top Spurs and I think that assessment remains. If they manage to get a good striker inn the transfer season, they may just up with playing UEFA soccer again.
Hull is wonderful placed to stay in the Premier League, but treating their players like school boys that they are not will end up biting the club in the buttocks in terms of final places.
Leading candidates to demote... let me name 3. WBA, Stoke and Newcastle.
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