With
The number of realistic contenders for the final two or three qualification spots has shrunk from seven to these four teams, and there are just three points separating
The fixture computer might have thrown up two perfect final-day matches to settle the race, too.
Leicester vs. Man United and Chelsea vs. Wolves are likely to have so much riding on them on
And by then, it will be clear if fifth place will be enough to secure a place in the
A look at how the teams are shaping up for the run-in:
At the turn of the year,
Its 14-point gap to fifth place has shrunk to three points, however, after winning just two of 11 games either side of the league’s suspension. Jamie Vardy’s goals have dried up, too, with the striker now joined on a league-high 19 by Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“We’ve clearly got the talent, but at this stage of the season, it’s about more than that,” Rodgers said after the most recent setback, a 2-1 loss at Everton that kept
CHELSEA (4th place, 54 points)
Results in the past week have summed up Chelsea’s inconsistency this season, with a win over Manchester City followed by a loss at relegation-threatened West Ham. Even in its first game after the restart, Chelsea played poorly in the first half against Aston Villa and fell behind, only to rebound with a strong second-half display in a 2-1 win.
The imminent arrivals of striker
Doubts persist, though, over the team’s defensive fragility, especially at left back, while
Finishing the season with matches against
United hasn’t lost in any competition since
Given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s next five games — starting with next-to-last
“It’s been a while since we have been on a run like this,” Solskjaer said Friday. “We are feeling confident, we are feeling in good form, and we should be.”
The last two results have been 3-0 wins over Sheffield United and
United’s defence has been equally impressive, with eight shutouts in its last 13 league outings.
“We are capable of creating chances and scoring goals,” Solskjaer said, “but the foundation for any team is at the back.”
When
The only one of the four contenders to win three straight games since the restart, Wolves also has kept clean sheets in every game.
They have a clear, tried-and-tested method, too — keep things tight in the first half and score the goals after halftime, usually through top scorer
Espirito Santo’s preference for a small, tight-knit squad means every player knows his role and there is minimal rotation. In short, Wolves is a well-oiled machine.
“The boys are in high spirits,” Espirito Santo said ahead of a home match against Arsenal on Saturday, his 150th game in charge of the team, “so let’s keep on working.”
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
___
© 2020 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved., source