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Could another club challenge Liverpool and Manchester City this season?
Champion Liverpool missed out as four different teams took first place in the Premier League at various stages on Sunday, the latest suggestion that the 2020-21 title race will be wide open.
The Reds were unable to return to the top, as they found themselves tied at a 1-1 draw with their perennial title rivals in recent years, Manchester City, although they briefly rose to the top ‘as things stood’ when they led from the start, after Southampton, Tottenham and finally Leicester took pole position.
It all means that the top six teams are separated by just three points before the international break in November, with Liverpool third and Pep Guardiola’s City tenth, six points behind the pace, albeit with a game in hand.
So an intriguing day unfolded at the top of the table …
From the Saints to Spurs to Leicester Aston Villa’s win over Arsenal in Sunday’s final game means that three points separate the top six teams in the Premier League.
Liverpool started the eighth round of Premier League matches on top, one point ahead of Leicester, but a 1-0 win over Wolves ensured the Foxes currently lead the way.
Following their 2-0 win over Newcastle on Friday, Southampton was in pole position Sunday morning, before being replaced by Tottenham.
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester responded to being ejected from the top four before their start with a sixth straight win in all competitions, despite Jamie Vardy scoring just one of his two penalties.
Their 18 points from eight league games represent the Foxes’ best start to a season in the top flight, a record that previously belonged to their 1930-31 campaign, and the best in any season since 2008, when they were in League One. .
And yes, that includes the 2015-16 season, when Claudio Ranieri’s story makers challenged the odds of winning the Premier League title.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, former Everton midfielder Leon Osman said: “When they won the league a few years ago, they went from game to game.
“They tried to keep winning matches and this team is capable of that. They have the added complication of Europe and they are advancing in some competitions, which is not easy to do.
“In a season that I think will be unpredictable throughout the course of it, Leicester may find themselves in and out of it in March.”
Tottenham headlines briefly for the first time in six years
Tottenham had ended Southampton’s first stint as the Premier League leader in early Sunday’s game, moving to the top for the first time since 2014.
Harry Kane’s victory in the 88th minute ended West Brom’s resistance at The Hawthorns, as José Mourinho’s team managed a narrow 1-0 victory to climb from fifth place and record their longest unbeaten streak with him. former Chelsea and Manchester United manager.
For Mourinho, it was also the first time, excluding the start of his final season at United, when they played first, that the Portuguese had been in first place since September 2017.
“We are at the top of the table, but other clubs have a game on their hands, so let’s see what happens,” Mourinho said.
There they would remain just 33 minutes, this time.
Liverpool keep in touch but City stay behind
Defending champions Liverpool had a chance to become the fourth team to top the table on Sunday, and made the best possible start against long-awaited title rival Manchester City thanks to an early penalty from Mohamed Salah.
However, Gabriel Jesus tied before the break to leave Jurgen Klopp’s team third during the November international break, and 2017-18 and 2018-19 champions City only placed in the top half.
Liverpool and City were the only two teams to finish a day at the top of the Premier League in all of last season, however so far this season we have already had five different teams finish at least one day as leaders: Arsenal , Everton, Leicester. , Liverpool and Southampton.
Reacting to Liverpool’s point at the Etihad Stadium, former Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Based on the evidence from the first half, I would say these two are the teams to beat.
“But based on the second half, you have to say that Spurs and Leicester have every opportunity this season.
“Honestly, I think this season it could be a Leicester or Spurs, someone other than Liverpool or City, to win the title.”
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl urged his team to “feel like anything is possible” this season on Friday. So is everything fitting in for another surprise winner after the recent dominance of Liverpool and City?
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Source: bbc.com
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