C
Chris Maduewesi
Guest
With just two games to the end of the season,you cannot categorically state who will end up as champions without risking bottling your opinion.
Up until last weekend,Liverpool were the clear favourites in fact everybody's tip to win an elusive title for the first time in the past 24 years.
Everybody seemed to be echoing the rhythm that the title was headed to Merseyside,to the Kopites but in just under seven days,the DJ has now changed tracks;the floor has now been opened for more teams to have a shot at the title,with little time left for just one person to dictate the tempo.
Chelsea turned to be the proverbial piper who dictated the tune,defeating Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday to send the league down to the wire.
Whatever you make of the approach deployed in achieving that result,it simply boils down to the Machiavellian principle: the end justifying the means.
Did it work for Chelsea? yes it did! Did Chelsea play to their strengths? Yes they did!(Five senior players out injured,of course Chelsea had to rejig their tactics) Did Chelsea get all three points in the game? Sums up the discussion,they got three points and has inadvertently thrown themselves back in contention for the title.
The implication of the win for Chelsea on Sunday is that three teams now have a very good chance of winning the league;and with just two matches left,it is a perfect pitch for the league.
And as it is up on the table,so it is down the rung of the ladder where it has not yet been ascertained which team will go down.
About six teams could still end up in the last three,if results don't go their way with relegation looming large.
Having established that it is squeaky bum time(like the English would say) let's look at the games that looks like it has the biggest appeal.
Everton vs Manchester City:
This could turn out to be the biggest game for Manuel Pellegrini's team this season. Lose it and it is assuredly goodbye to the Premier League title,win and they would be on dreamland.
City are the biggest beneficiaries of Chelsea's 2-0 victory at Anfield,they did the job against Crystal Palace and they now have their destiny in their hands.
But this weekend they will be coming up in what is a perfect litmus test for them to win the title. They are away at Goodison park where they have only won once since 1992.
Everton are know to be their bogey team and it has never been easy for them there. How City will approach this game is left to be seen.
Roberto Martinez's side are four points off the pace in the battle for fourth place,which now effectively seems Arsenal's to lose,so it looks like they wouldn't be chasing the game with much fervour.
Bearing in mind that all the top teams who visited that ground this season,had their scalp scrapped,it is difficult not seeing the unthinkable happen here,however City should be able to see out the game and get all the three points needed to win.
With the return of David Silva back from an injury,City should have enough in their tanks to get the desired three points.
Nigerian Bulletin's Prediction : Everton 2 - 3 Man City
BBC's Mark Lawenson: 0 - 2
Chelsea vs Norwich
It is important to see how Jose Mourinho and his troops responds to their ouster from the UEFA Champions League to Atletico Madrid.
Coming from the height of two top performances in a space of three days,it must have weighed heavily on the squad,more so because the loss to Atletico would have been very crushing on their self esteem.
In the aftermath of the game,Eden Hazard criticised his side's tactics and as was expected,Jose Mourinho blasted him. You sense that there is a sense of disharmony in the squad,but not what they need now as they could end champions if things go their way.
If Liverpool drops points and Manchester City does not win all their games,then the tide swings to Chelsea. So they are still genuinely in for it.
However,they are going to face a Norwich team side who are neck-deep in the relegation fight,just one point above the drop zone.
Let's say Sunderland's victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was a blip,it will be difficult seeing the Blues cocking it up at home in successive weeks.
But with the teams fighting relegation,you don't know what to expect,an upset could be on the horizon.
Nigerian Bulletin's prediction: Chelsea 3 - 1 Norwich
BBC's Mark Lawrenson 2 - 0
There are quite a handful of games to look forward this weekend,Aston Villa vs Hull should be interesting as it involves the teams battling relegation,while West Ham vs Tottenham should also.
The other game to draw huge attraction should be that of Crystal Palace vs Liverpool which will be played on Monday.
Palace has proven to be the giant-killers and in Tony Pulis they have found some belief in their abilities.
How Brendan Rodgers adapts with a new tactics to break down Palace is left to be seen,but certainly it won't be that easy.
Will Palace be the team to effectively end Liverpool's title hopes?
