State of the English Premier League title race – January 21, 2013
The English Premier League title race is realistically down to two teams, Manchester City and Manchester United. Chelsea have an outside shot but will need both teams ahead of them to slip-up and a great run down the stretch.
Man City gains ground on United
The title race got a bit closer after this weekend after Manchester United’s draw at Tottenham Hotspur. It’s right now at five points and both teams have played 23 matches. United will have a busier schedule with UEFA Champions League matches while City are eliminated from all European competitions. Both teams have fairly easy schedules coming up with matches against weaker sides and at home against the top half teams. Chelsea are the only other team with a shot to lift the trophy but they’ll need both teams ahead of them to drop some points.
Man City – at QPR, v Liverpool, at Southampton, v Chelsea
Man Utd – v Southampton, at Fulham, v Everton, at QPR
Chelsea - at Reading, at Newcastle, v Wigan, at Man City
Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs
All of these teams aren’t mathematically out of the title race but won’t win it. They are all fifteen or more points back of United which is too much to overcome in the final months. This combined with the fact that most of these teams do not have as deep of squads as the top sides and any injuries to regular starters will be tough to overcome.
Table
| CLUB | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Man Utd | 23 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 56 |
| Man City | 23 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 26 | 51 |
| Chelsea | 23 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 25 | 45 |
| Tottenham | 23 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 41 |
| Everton | 23 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 38 |
| Arsenal | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 34 |
| Liverpool | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 34 |
| West Brom | 23 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 34 |
Current Odds
Manchester United – 4/11
Manchester City – 9/4
Chelsea – 25/1
Tottenham Hotspur – 150/1
Arsenal – 300/1
