As the first Premiership fixtures of February approach, the table is becoming increasingly stretched, with a massive forty-nine points separating the teams at the top and bottom. January transfer activity is complete so teams must stand or fall with their revised squads, but its look like being a three horse-race for the title, and a blanket finish for relegation, with almost half the table in potential jeopardy.
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Tottenham entertain Manchester United at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon, looking to reverse the form of the recent FA Cup meeting at Old Trafford. The Red Devils ran out comfortable 3-1 winners, despite going behind to an early Robbie Keane goal. It was United’s ninth win in their last ten games, and continued their dominance over the Londoners. Spurs last beat Man Utd in 2001, a run of 14 games, but they did recently end an equally long jinx held by their neighbours, Arsenal, showing records are there to be broken.
Spurs’ coach, Juande Ramos, has had his first opportunity to mould his own squad in the January transfer window. The Spaniard has clearly focused on problems in defensive areas, signing Alan Hutton and Jonathan Woodgate to help plug the worse home defence in the Premiership (joint with Fulham). Woody made an immediate impact with a man-of-the-match performance in the 0-0 midweek draw at Everton. The home crowd will hope for a continuation of recent home form, AS Tottenham have won four straight at the Lane scoring 15 goals.
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Manchester City have survived 12 games at their Eastlands Stadium this season without being beaten. That run includes the visit of Liverpool and rivals Man Utd, neither of whom managed to score. Arsenal will provide another severe test of City’s resolve when they visit on Saturday. Though their unbeaten home record remains intact, the Laser Blues’ form has dropped of late, drawing the last three at the City of Manchester, and failing to beat bottom club Derby on Wednesday night. That blip has coincided with a dip in form of key playmaker Elano, who has suffered from minor injury, and becoming a marked man.
This is the kind of high profile game that the Brazilian should relish, up against the likes of Cesc Fabregas, one of Europe’s best attacking midfielders. Similar to Elano, Fabregas has had a quiet start to 2008, but did get on the score-sheet Tuesday night against Newcastle, signally a return to form. The Gunners have gone eight Premiership games unbeaten and Emmanuel Adebayor is on fire scoring six goals in as many games. However, bettors should bear in mind that Arsenal lost this fixture 1-0 last season.
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