Predicting EPL 2016-17 Champions, Top 4, Relegated

[zudomiriku]

Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Manchester City are favourites to win the Premier League... but does not see Chelsea as title contenders

* Sir Alex Ferguson did not name Chelsea in his list of title contenders
* Ferguson believes five teams are capable of winning the Premier League
* Former Manchester United boss thinks Jose Mourinho's men have a chance
* Ferguson praised Pep Guardiola, saying his skills are beyond debate

Despite battering Manchester United into submission, Chelsea are not title contenders according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The former United boss believes there are five 'potential candidates' to win the league this season, but did not name Antonio Conte's men in the the quintuple of clubs.

The wily Scotsman did concede that Manchester City are favourites for the title, but said the Red Devils are certainly in the reckoning if they gain some consistency.


Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester City are favourites for the Premier League title

'I think there are five potential candidates,' he said. 'Manchester City as favourites, Tottenham and Liverpool, but also United are still there if we get some consistency soon.' Ferguson told German outlet Kicker.

'Even when you are trailing by six, eight points, it's still possible to catch one or two teams.

'The rivalry and the experience of Guardiola and Mourinho makes for an exciting competition. And you shouldn't forget Arsenal. The team is more sturdy. They've got better and more aggressive. I'm impressed with the young boy Alex Iwobi.'

Ferguson went on to critique the current crop of Premier League managers and dished out of significant praise to Guardiola, Mourinho and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who he believes to have 'fantastic potential'.

'Guardiola's skills are beyond debate, Antonio Conte is getting Chelsea on track, but Mourinho can also rival Guardiola - he's won the Champions League with two different clubs and titles in three different countries.

'For my money Mauricio Pochettino has fantastic potential. Spurs have a good mix of youth and experience. Top players like [Harry] Kane or [Eric] Dier were injured but they're still in a good position.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3880378/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-thinks-Manchester-City-favourites-win-Premier-League-does-not-Chelsea-title-contenders.html

[penk22_]

Next match GW21 big 6 yang masih berpeluang juara :


Manchester United
Liverpool (Home) Jan 15
Man City (Away) Feb 26
Chelsea (Home) April 15
Arsenal (Away) May 6
Spurs (Away) May 13

Chelsea
Liverpool (Away) Jan 31
Arsenal (Home) Feb 4
Man City (Home) April 5
United (Away) April 15

Liverpool
United (Away) 15 Jan
Chelsea (Home) 31 Jan
Spurs (Home) 11 Feb
Arsenal (Home) 15 Mar
City (Away) 18 Mar

Man City
Spurs (Home) 21 Jan
United (Home) 26 Feb
Liverpool (Home) 18 Mar
Arsenal (Away) 1 April
Chelsea (Away) 15 April

Arsenal
Chelsea (Away) 4 Feb
Liverpool (Away) 4 Mar
City (Home) 1 April
Spurs (Away) 29 April
United (Home) 6 May

Spurs
Chelsea (Home) 4 Jan
City (Away) 21 Jan
Liverpool (Away) 11 Feb
Arsenal (Home) 29 Feb
United (Home) 13 May

[zudomiriku]

GW 21 kalo United bisa menang vs Pool & City kalah vs Everton, kita bisa makin nempel nih ama papan atas sembari berharap Chelsea, Arsenal & Spurs juga 'terpeleset'

[penk22_]

Next Match GW22 big 6 :

[zudomiriku]

Manchester United and Manchester City are out of the Premier League title race, claims Jamie Carragher

* Manchester United and Manchester City are 10 and 12 points behind Chelsea
* Both sides failed to win at the weekend and have fallen further adrift
* Jamie Carragher believes the league title has become a four-horse race

Jamie Carragher believes the Premier League title chase has become a four-horse race after the weekend's results.

On Sunday Manchester City were thrashed 4-0 by Everton while Manchester United were held at home by Liverpool.

The results left the two Manchester clubs 10 and 12 points behind league leaders Chelsea respectively.


Jamie Carragher believes the league title has become a four-horse race

And the Sportsmail columnist believes that Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have too much to do now to turn their sides' fortunes around.

Speaking on a special edition of Monday Night Football on Sky Sports 1, the former Liverpool defender said: 'I think four (teams can win it).

'I don't think the Manchester clubs can.

'I think two or three games into the season we felt they were the two who would battle for the league.

'They're 10 and 12 points behind. City have still got to go to Chelsea. Goal difference is almost double for Chelsea, which is an extra point, so I only see Arsenal and above who can win the title.'

Next week sees City host Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening, with United traveling to Stoke earlier in the day.

Carragher's former club host Swansea, while Arsenal and Chelsea are at home to Burnley and Hull on the Sunday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4126278/Man-United-Man-City-title-race-Carragher.html

[zudomiriku]

Manchester United are out of the Premier League title race... but Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been their driving force, says Nemanja Vidic

* Jose Mourinho's side salvaged a late 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday
* Manchester United are now 12 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea
* Serbian centre half Nemanja Vidic spent nine seasons at Old Trafford

Manchester United are out of Premier League title race and must now target a place in the top four, according to club legend Nemanja Vidic.

Jose Mourinho's side salvaged a late 1-1 draw with arch-rivals Liverpool thanks to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 84th minute equaliser on Sunday.

United are now 12 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea and Vidic, who spent nine years at Old Trafford, believes Mourinho's men are out of the running.


Former United defender Nemanja Vidic has hailed Ibrahimovic's impact at the club. Jose Mourinho's side are now 12 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea in the title race

'Realistically we are out of the title race,' Vidic told ESPN.

'That's my opinion. But, in recent weeks, the way we have played is encouraging. If we keep playing like that then the top three is our target.'

Sunday's draw with Liverpool brought an end to a nine-game winning streak for United, which has been spearheaded by veteran striker Ibrahimovic.

The 35-year-old Swedish star arrived at United on a free transfer in the summer and has netted 19 times, in all competitions, during the current campaign.

For Vidic, who won five Premier League titles during his time with the Red Devils, Ibrahimovic has been United's talisman this season.

'He is the one who has been driving Manchester United forward in recent weeks,' added the former United centre half.

'Other players have to step up with the goals if they want to keep winning matches. He is playing really well this season.

'First of all, his motivation at 35 years of age is incredible. I think he's keeping himself fit. He's professional. And his scoring is a great record.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4125630/Man-United-title-race-says-Nemanja-Vidic.html

intinya nasib United berada ditangan Ibra

[penk22_]

Next match gameweek 24 big 6 :



Manchester United
Man City (Away) Feb 26
Chelsea (Home) April 15
Arsenal (Away) May 6
Spurs (Away) May 13

Chelsea
Arsenal (Home) Feb 4
Man City (Home) April 5
United (Away) April 15

Liverpool
Spurs (Home) 11 Feb
Arsenal (Home) 15 Mar
City (Away) 18 Mar

Man City
United (Home) 26 Feb
Liverpool (Home) 18 Mar
Arsenal (Away) 1 April
Chelsea (Away) 15 April

Arsenal
Chelsea (Away) 4 Feb
Liverpool (Away) 4 Mar
City (Home) 1 April
Spurs (Away) 29 April
United (Home) 6 May

Spurs
Liverpool (Away) 11 Feb
Arsenal (Home) 29 Feb
United (Home) 13 May

[penk22_]

Next match gameweek 26 big 6 :

[zudomiriku]

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho bemoans his side's busy run of fixtures...but how does their schedule compare to their rivals'?

* Manchester United face at least nine matches in the next six weeks
* Jose Mourinho claimed that 'nobody cares' about the interests of English clubs
* Sportsmail compares the upcoming fixtures of the top six in the Premier League

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has launched another attack on the football authorities over his side's congested fixture list.

In the wake of United's 1-0 Europa League win in Saint-Etienne, Mourinho hit out at the decision to stage their FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea just three days before the first leg of the Europa League last-eight.

He said: 'Imagine we play Chelsea on Monday (March 13) and go to the second match in Europe in Russia, Turkey or Greece? I think once more the interests are going in front of the clubs and English football's interests, and nobody cares about it.'


Jose Mourinho claimed 'nobody cares' about English clubs' interests after the win in France

Mourinho ruled out playing a weakened side at Stamford Bridge. But after injuries to Michael Carrick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in France, the former Chelsea boss accepted he will have to rotate to minimise the risk of depleting his squad further.

'I have to make some rotation but some of the boys will have to play in all these consecutive matches,' he said. 'If situations like the Mkhitaryan one or the Carrick one happen, they happen.'

But does he have reason to moan? Just how bad is United's upcoming run of games? As the race for trophies and the top four heats up, Sportsmail compares the fixture lists of the Premier League's top six over the next six weeks.

Manchester United

United are the only Premier League side still fighting on four fronts, having lost only one of their last 25 matches.

But their 4-0 aggregate victory over Saint-Etienne means they face at least nine matches in the next six weeks, beginning with Sunday's EFL Cup final with Southampton at Wembley.

They also have postponed matches against Manchester City and Southampton which have yet to be rearranged.

United's impressive form has seen them climb to within two points of the top four. And with none of their next five league games coming against another side in the top six, the next two months represent a realistic opportunity for Mourinho's side to climb further up the table.

But with United having struggled to turn dominance into victories for much of his first season in charge, Mourinho has more than a backlog of fixtures to worry about.

MAN UNITED FIXTURES

26/2 - Southampton (EFL Cup final)
4/3 - Bournemouth (H)
9/3 - Europa League, last-16, first leg
13/3 - Chelsea (A, FA Cup)
16/3 - EL last-16, second leg
19/3 - Middlesbrough (A)
1/4 - West Brom (H)
4/4 - Everton (H)
8/4 - Sunderland (A)

Fixtures to be rearranged:
Man City (A)
Southampton (A)

Chelsea

Everything has clicked into place for Antonio Conte in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are eight point clear at the top of the table and their run of fixtures over the next six weeks gives their Italian manager another reason to smile.

Though Conte's side host both Manchester United and Manchester City in the coming weeks, three of their next seven fixtures are against sides currently in the bottom seven.

And last season's failure to qualify for Europe means their route to a second title in three seasons is relatively uncongested.

Antonio Conte's side will have a week to prepare for United following their trip to London rivals West Ham.

And though the FA Cup quarter-final takes place on a Monday night, their next match - a trip to Stoke City - is not for another five days.

CHELSEA FIXTURES

25/2 - Swansea (H)
6/3 - West Ham (A)
13/3 - Man United (H, FA Cup)
18/3 - Stoke (A)
1/4 - Crystal Palace (H)
5/4 - Man City (H)
8/4 - Bournemouth (A)

Fixtures to be rearranged:
Watford (H)

Manchester City

After their whirlwind Champions League clash with Monaco, Pep Guardiola's side have a week to prepare for a crucial run of games.

With this weekend's clash with Manchester United postponed because of the EFL Cup final, City don't play again before the end of the month.

Their next game is against Huddersfield Town in an FA Cup replay next Wednesday, after which they resume their resurgent Premier League campaign against Sunderland.

Should they overcome Championship Huddersfield, Pep Guardiola's side will face Middlesbrough in the quarter-finals ahead of a potentially season-defining three-week period.

City travel to Monaco for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in mid-March, a match immediately followed by league meetings with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Three consecutive victories have taken Pep Guardiola's side up to second in the table. But visits to the Emirates and Stamford Bridge in the space of four days could have a massive impact on the race for the top four.

MAN CITY FIXTURES

1/3 - Huddersfield (H, FA Cup replay)
5/3 - Sunderland (A)
11/3 - Stoke (H) or Middlesbrough (A, FA Cup)
15/3 - Monaco (A)
19/3 - Liverpool (H)
1/4 - Arsenal (A)
5/4 - Chelsea (A)
8/4 - Hull City (H)

Fixtures to be rearranged:
Manchester United (H)

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs are the only side who face a busier schedule than United and the next six weeks could be pivotal for Mauricio Pochettino and his all-action side.

The Argetine's playing style was called into question last season after his thin squad appeared to run out of gas in the final weeks of their title push.

A year on, Spurs are still fighting on three fronts and Pochettino must find a way to negotiate a packed fixture list.

If Spurs overturn their first-leg deficit in Thursday's Europa League clash with Gent, they will play ten games in the next six weeks.

The only crumb of comfort for Pochettino and his players is that none of those matches come against another side in the top six.

SPURS FIXTURES

23/2 - Gent (H - Europa League)
26/2 - Stoke (H)
5/3 - Everton (H)
9/3 - Europa League, last-16, first leg
12/3 - Millwall (H - FA Cup)
16/3 - EL, last-16, second leg
19/3 - Southampton (H)
1/4 - Burnley (A)
4/4 - Swansea (A)
8/4 - Watford (H)

Fixtures to be rearranged:
Crystal Palace (A)

Arsenal

The knives are out for Arsene Wenger among some Arsenal fans after last week's 5-1 humiliation in Munich.

And though victory over non-league Sutton United ensured the Gunners remain in the hunt for silverware, the next seven fixtures could make or break their season.

Defeat to Lincoln City in the FA Cup would almost certainly be the final nail in Wenger's coffin at Arsenal.

And upcoming matches with Liverpool and Manchester City could prove crucial in the race for European football.

A miracle against Munich aside, securing a place in the top four is Arsenal's best hope of maintaining Wenger's impressive record of Champions League qualification.

But with Arsenal are only two points ahead of Manchester United in sixth, there is little room for further slip-ups.

ARSENAL FIXTURES

4/3 - Liverpool (A)
7/3 - Bayern Munich (H)
11/3 - Lincoln (H, FA Cup)
18/3 - West Brom (A)
1/4 - Man City (H)
4/4 - West Ham (H)
8/4 - Crystal Palace (A)

Fixtures to be rearranged:
Southampton (A)
Leicester (H)

Liverpool

A disastrous start to 2017, which saw Liverpool win only two of their 11 matches since the turn of the year, has heaped the pressure on their league campaign.

At the start of January, Jurgen Klopp's side were in both domestic cups and being touted by some as the only team capable of toppling runaway leaders Chelsea.

Six weeks on, they have slipped out of the top four and both the FA and EFL cups. The next six will define Klopp's first full season in charge.

Liverpool have fewer fixtures in the upcoming months than many of their nearest rivals. But their next seven games include clashes with top four rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, as well as the small matter of the Merseyside derby.

Klopp's side have been impressive against the big sides this season, however, and the visits of Bournemouth and Burnley - both of whom have beaten Liverpool this season - could tell us more about how Liverpool have recovered from their slump.

LIVERPOOL FIXTURES

27/2 - Leicester (A)
4/3 - Arsenal (H)
12/3 - Burnley (H)
19/3 - Man City (A)
1/4 - Everton (H)
5/4 - Bournemouth (H)
8/4 - Stoke (A)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4252320/How-does-Man-Utd-s-fixture-list-compare-rivals.html

[penk22_]

Klasemen sementara setelah City main 2x di pekan ke 27 kemarin, gagal salip Spurs..