So – Who’s the Title Favourite Now?

By: Rob | January 11th, 2009

So, after Chelsea were absolutely demolished by Manchester United this afternoon, the question has got to arise, who do you think, now will take the championship in May?

A recap of the situation if you like. Liverpool, after Rafa doing a Keegan, and then stuttering against Stoke sit top of the league on 46 points, with 21 games played.

Chelsea are sitting in second place, on 42 points, having played 21 games.

Manchester United sit third, on 41 points, having played 19 games. They play twice again before Liverpool play, meaning if they win those games, they will be sitting top of the league. At least untill Liverpool play again.

Is it two early to call it a two-horse race?

Today, Chelsea looked dreadful. Actually, no. Credit where its due, they looked okay in the first half, as good as Man Uniited. But once Vidic scored, they went to pieces, it suddenly seemed as if they believed they couldn’t get back into the match.

What has happened to Chelsea? You couldn’t imagine that happening under The Special One.

Chelsea are now 4 points off Liverpool, and if we assume for a second United win their two games in hand (after todays performance, its difficult to see how they won’t), 5 points off United.

Unless they get back to ruthlessly winning games, Chelsea will be nowhere near the title, and Big Phil will be gone.

I actually now think United are the favourites. They’ve been in this position again and again in recent times, and they know how to climb up the table in the second half of the series. Rafa is going to have to do one heck of a job to keep his team focused on the league and keeping in the mix.

Liverpool have done all the hard bits really well this season – they beat Man United at Anfield and the beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (a result which seems to have killed Chelsea’s season). But with Fernando Torres seemingly prepetually injured, and Robbie Keane being somewhat dissapointing, they are relying too much on their midfield bailing them out, and they have suffered a few 0-0’s this season because of that. They can’t afford to keep giving points up like that.

Liverpool also have to hope that the current Steven Gerrard controversy doesn’t disrupt the side too much as it will begin to drag on.

We’ll see, but right now, I think United are favourites.