“The Premier League is as open because it has ever been.”
After serving to West Ham to a shocking on Monday, Jarrod Bowen’s phrases summed up England’s high flight completely.
Earlier than the match, the Hammers have been being talked about as in a relegation combat. Now they’re simply eight factors off second place and eyeing Europe.
Aside from runaway leaders Liverpool, the race for Europe within the Premier League has by no means been tighter.
There is only one level separating second to fifth – the smallest the hole has ever been at this stage of the season. The earlier low after 12 matches was two factors, which had solely occurred three different occasions.
Trying additional down the desk and the hole between second to tenth is simply 5 factors, which is the joint lowest after 12 matches. It has occurred solely twice beforehand.
The hole between second to West Ham in 14th is simply eight factors – which has been matched solely as soon as beforehand – though the Hammers are actually 4 factors away from the underside six.
Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott instructed Sky Sports activities: “Everybody is thrashing everybody. You simply cannot predict any outcomes now. The league is extra unpredictable than ever.”
Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher added: “That win has created a gaggle of six on the backside and possibly three of these six will now go.
“That was a nasty one for Newcastle. A win and they might have been proper within the combine. There are such a lot of groups so shut collectively, who shall be taking a look at these European locations.”
What number of groups qualify for Europe?
English golf equipment are assured 4 locations within the Champions League subsequent season however shall be hopeful of gaining an additional spot, given to 2 international locations with the strongest performances on this season’s European competitions.
There shall be then two English groups within the Europa League subsequent marketing campaign. One place given to the fifth or sixth-placed groups – relying on what number of groups qualify for the Champions League – and one for the winner of the FA Cup. That place will revert to the league although if the FA Cup winner has already certified for Europe.
The winners of the Carabao Cup would then qualify for the Europa Convention League however, once more if they’ve already secured a spot in Europe, that spot could be for the subsequent highest-ranked staff within the Premier League.
As you’ll be able to see there’s lots to play for.
Why is Premier League so tight?
How lengthy is a bit of string? It’s a type of questions that feels unattainable to reply definitively however one factor you’ll be able to say is lots of groups have been inconsistent.
Between second to twelfth, Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal, Brighton, Fulham and Newcastle are the one sides who’ve gained back-to-back video games greater than as soon as all season, whereas 9 of them have in some unspecified time in the future gone three video games and not using a win.
Most of the groups we’d expect to be difficult for a Champions League place have underperformed this season.
Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Manchester United all have fewer factors at this stage than they did final marketing campaign.
Aston Villa, within the Champions League this season, have one win in seven however are nonetheless solely 4 factors off second. Chelsea, in third, have two wins in six, and fourth-placed Arsenal have one in 5. Manchester Metropolis have misplaced their previous three and stay second.
In the meantime, it will be truthful to argue that Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Fulham are overachieving in contrast with many individuals’s expectations, with their factors tally considerably higher than at this stage final season.
Simply 5 groups have gained three matches in a row – Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
As we enter the busiest interval of the season, there shall be lots of groups nonetheless fancying their probabilities of making a push for Europe.