Chelsea’s demise and Leicester’s rise creates stunning Premier League title race

THIS is one of the most intriguing English Premier League title races in history and that’s largely due to three factors.

Two of them are the demise of Chelsea and, to a lesser extent Manchester United, which has allowed for a strange looking top four, and the third is the fairy tale that is Leicester City.

In a world of heavyweights always battling it out for the title, Leicester’s story has just been the most amazing and refreshing one. The Foxes have spoiled the party, and they’ve spoiled it in style.

When Claudio Ranieri took over from Nigel Pearson, who saved Leicester from relegation last season, there was some criticism, but he’s brought a successful counter-attacking style. Leicester let the opposition have possession, even when they play the big teams, and they counter-attack with amazing speed.

The spine of the team is very strong, with Kasper Schmeichel, the son of a legend, outstanding in goal. Then they’ve got experienced campaigners Robert Huth and Wes Morgan at the back and one of the best midfielders all season in Kante, complimented by Danny Drinkwater in the middle of the park. Not to mention the attack of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, which has just been scintillating.

They’re a team that Ranieri has got believing in themselves. But in the last four or five games it’s been their defence, not their attack, that has shone. Whereas a month ago it was all about Vardy and Mahrez, at the moment it’s all about Schmeichel, Morgan and Huth.

They’ve got a great culture and work ethic in that team, which has taken them to extraordinary heights - only second on goal difference to Arsenal at the top of the table.

Everyone is waiting for the Leicester bubble to burst, none more so than Arsenal and Manchester, the favourites to take out the title.

Arsenal just play amazing football - the Arsene Wenger philosophy and style has never been more evident than with this current team. The wait for the Premier League title has been excruciating for the fans, but this could be their time. They’ve got an amazing squad full of talent, finesse, movement and pace. Players like Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, now Joel Campbell, and to think Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla are still to return from injury.

The squad looks like it has the depth to deal with Champions League and FA Cup, but dare I say the Premier League will be Wenger’s prime target.

Then on the other side you’ve got City, who have a lot of flair themselves in players like David Silva and Sergio Aguero, but they have more power than Arsenal and that power comes principally through Yaya Toure. They’ve got a strong spine as well, but the problem for City is if they want to win the title, they need to keep Vincent Kompany fit. The stats of goals conceded are amazing when he plays and doesn’t play.

Then they’ve got fantastic supporting men in Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling so, like Arsenal, it’s a squad able to deal with all competitions.

The only other team I would suspect is capable of challenging for the title are Tottenham, but they are the dark horses. Mauricio Pochettino has got a very young team and there’s a revelation in there with Dele Alli.

I have to mention Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, the clubs who have surprised by their various failures this season.

Chelsea, unbeatable last year, are now in all sorts of turmoil. They’re not playing for each other and it looks like it’s going to take a massive transitional period at the end of the season to change it around.

For United, it’s just a lack of style. For the team that plays at the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, fans demand not only winning, but winning in style. That’s what United’s success under Ferguson was built on and what’s happening this season is just not good enough.

As for Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers should never have been given the cheque book a second time. They allowed it to happen and now you have the disaster of another season gone, at best Europa League spot, and another rebuilding for years ahead with Jurgen Klopp now in charge.

My top four prediction? Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Leicester.

Premier League weekend team news

SATURDAY (3.0pm unless stated)

Tottenham (4) v Sunderland (18) - Live BT Sport 1, 12.45pm
Tottenham have an unchanged squad. Mousa Dembele returned from an ankle problem in Wednesday night’s loss to Leicester, but fellow midfielder Ryan Mason remains out with an ankle injury. Clinton Njie has been struggling with a knee problem, while Alex Pritchard is nearing fitness after four months out with an ankle problem.

New signing Dame N’Doye will not be available for Sunderland as he awaits his work permit. The 30-year-old striker completed his loan move from Turkish side Trabzonspor on Thursday, but cannot be included in Sam Allardyce’s squad until the paperwork is completed. Fellow new boy Jan Kirchhoff will be among Allardyce’s pool of defenders along with Billy Jones, who suffered a cut to his head at Swansea in midweek, while midfielder Jack Rodwell could return from a hamstring problem.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 2 Tottenham 2
Last five league matches: Tottenham W W W D L; Sunderland L L L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Harry Kane (Tottenham) 14; Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) 12
Match odds: H 30-100 A 9-1 D 17-4
Referee: Mike Dean

Bournemouth (16) v Norwich (15)
Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie is rated as 50/50 by manager Eddie Howe to be available against Norwich after suffering a dead leg in the midweek defeat to West Ham. Striker Lewis Grabban is in line to face his former team having left the Canaries on Monday. Defender Tommy Elphick has started training again following a serious knee injury but will not be rushed back. Forwards Callum Wilson and Max Gradel also both continue their long-term rehabilitation.

Norwich will be without midfielder Gary O’Neil, who is suspended following his red card in the midweek defeat at Stoke. Full back Ivo Pinto is not expected to be in the squad as the Portuguese defender continues to settle following his transfer from Dinamo Zagreb. Manager Alex Neil reported no fresh injury worries, with fit-again winger Matt Jarvis pressing for a recall having come off the bench at the Britannia Stadium, along with Nathan Redmond.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Bournemouth W D L D L; Norwich W L W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Junior Stanislas & Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) 10; Nathan Redmond & Jonny Howson (Norwich) 4
Match odds: H 17-20 A 16-5 D 5-2
Referee: Robert Madley

Chelsea (14) v Everton (11) - Live Setanta Sports 1
Eden Hazard remains out with a groin injury, but could return for the January 24th clash at Arsenal. Striker Radamel Falcao has been out since October with a thigh problem and is continuing his rehabilitation.

Midfielder Tom Cleverley is rated as 50-50 to be fit. The England international has missed the last two matches with a calf problem and will be assessed late on. James McCarthy, who has featured just once in the last seven weeks, is edging closer to full fitness after a groin problem but will not be considered and neither will right back Seamus Coleman.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Everton 0, Everton 3 Chelsea 6
Last five league matches: Chelsea W D D W D; Everton L W L D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Diego Costa & Willian (Chelsea) 8; Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 19
Match odds: H 3-4 A 7-2 D 11-4
Referee: Mike Jones

Manchester City (3) v Crystal Palace (8)
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini will select from the same squad that drew 0-0 with Everton on Wednesday. Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demechelis will continue in central defence in the absence of captain Vincent Kompany (calf) and Eliaquim Mangala (hamstring). Striker Wilfried Bony is also still out with a calf issue and midfielder Fernandinho will miss out with a muscle problem. Playmaker Samir Nasri remains a long-term casualty after undergoing hamstring surgery in November.

Connor Wickham is expected to return to Alan Pardew’s starting XI. The striker played 45 minutes after coming on as a substitute in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa having recovered from a calf injury. Pardew is, however, still without Yannick Bolasie, owing to a leg injury, and Dwight Gayle remains a doubt, despite returning to training following a hamstring problem.

Last season: Crystal Palace 2 Man City 1, Man City 3 Crystal Palace 0
Last five league matches: Man City L W D W D; Crystal Palace W D D L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) 12; Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace) 5
Match odds: H 4-11 A 7-1 D 4-1
Referee: Jon Moss

Newcastle (19) v West Ham (5)
New signings Jonjo Shelvey and Henri Saivet are in the Newcastle squad and could be handed debuts after completing moves from Swansea and Bordeaux respectively. They could be joined in the 18 by fellow midfielder Rolando Aarons (foot) and striker Emmanuel Riviere (knee) after both played for the club’s under-21s on Thursday evening. Defender Steven Taylor (hamstring) is back in training, but midfielder Siem de Jong will be sidelined for up to two weeks after being rushed to hospital with an eye injury suffered in training. Striker Papiss Cisse could miss eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a groin injury.

Andy Carroll will miss West Ham’s trip to his former club. The striker suffered a hamstring injury at Bournemouth on Tuesday night and will be out for four to six weeks, joining Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho (both thigh) on the sidelines. Victor Moses is fit after six weeks out with a hamstring problem while Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate have shaken off the knocks which kept them out midweek.

Last season: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Newcastle D L L L D; West Ham D D W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle) 8; Dimitri Payet & Michail Antonio (West Ham) 6
Match odds: H 11-8 A 19-10 D 12-5
Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Southampton (12) v West Brom (13)
Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama is back in contention for Southampton after suspension but Ronald Koeman was not giving anything about whether he will start. The Saints manager has no fresh injury worries ahead of the game but Gaston Ramirez is still out with a hamstring injury and Florian Gardos remains on the sidelines with a knee problem.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis may make “one or two changes” after monitoring his players’ fitness levels in a light training session on Friday. The Baggies stayed in Southampton after their 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Tuesday and Rickie Lambert will be back in contention after missing that game through illness. Jonas Olsson will be one of the players Pulis monitors before the game as he has just come back from a hamstring problem and James Morrison will be unavailable after coming off after playing only seven minutes on Tuesday due to a similar injury.

Last season: West Brom 1 Southampton 0, Southampton 0 West Brom 0
Last five league matches: Southampton L W L L W; West Brom L L W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 9; James Morrison & Saido Berahino (West Brom) 4
Match odds: H 8-11 A 19-5 D 13-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson

Aston Villa (20) v Leicester (2) - Live Sky Sports 1, 5.30pm
Captain Micah Richards could return for Villa after recovering from an ankle injury. The defender was an unused substitute in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace with boss Remi Garde unwilling to risk him. Carlos Sanchez (hamstring), Gabriel Agbonlahor (back) and Jack Grealish (tonsillitis) have returned to training and are in contention but Alan Hutton (hamstring) is out and Jordan Amavi remains sidelined with his season-ending knee injury.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri could stick with the same side which won 1-0 at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. Jeff Schlupp is out with a hamstring injury but is expected back by the end of the month while Matty James is closing in on a return after a long-term knee injury.

Last season: Leicester 1 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 2 Leicester 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D L L W; Leicester W L D D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Scott Sinclair (Aston Villa) 6; Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 15
Match odds: H 23-10 A 6-5 D 23-10
Referee: Roger East

SUNDAY

Liverpool (9) v Manchester United (6) – Live Sky Sports 1, 2.05pm
Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren will not be fit to return because of a hamstring injury sustained at Stoke earlier this month, while none of the other players on a lengthy injury list are close to fitness. Striker Daniel Sturridge, who has been out since the start of December with a similar problem, is still not ready to make his comeback.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is a major doubt for Manchester United. The German missed Tuesday night’s draw at Newcastle with a knee injury and despite making good progress is expected to remain on the sidelines. Phil Jones could return from his ankle problem but Antonio Valencia (foot), Luke Shaw (leg), Marcos Rojo (shoulder) and Michael Carrick (knee) are all definitely still out.

Last season: Liverpool 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 3 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool L W W L D; Man Utd L L D W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Christian Benteke (Liverpool) 7; Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 11
Match odds: H 13-10 A 21-10 D 23-10
Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Stoke (7) v Arsenal (1) – Live Sky Sports 1, 4.15pm
Xherdan Shaqiri will once again be missing for Stoke. The Swiss playmaker sat out Wednesday’s win over Norwich because of a hamstring strain but there is hope he can feature against Leicester next weekend, while Geoff Cameron (ankle) is highly doubtful for the Gunners’ visit too. Marko Arnautovic (hip) is fine to feature and while Stephen Ireland (hamstring) and Phil Bardsley (groin) could also be in the squad, Marc Muniesa is still missing.

Arsene Wenger is yet to decide whether to hand Mohamed Elneny his Arsenal debut after the Egyptian midfielder joined the Gunners on Thursday. Wenger also has a decision to make over Alexis Sanchez, admitting he would be taking a risk by playing the Chile forward who is fit after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Jack Wilshere (leg), Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck and Santi Cazorla (all knee) are definitely out.

Last season: Arsenal 3 Stoke 0, Stoke 3 Arsenal 2
Last five league matches: Stoke L W W L W; Arsenal W L W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Marko Arnautovic & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 7; Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 18
Match odds: H 3-1 A 10-11 D 5-2
Referee: Craig Pawson

MONDAY

Swansea (17) v Watford (10), Live Sky Sports 1, 8.0pm
Swansea have won their appeal against Kyle Naughton’s red card in the 4-2 defeat at home to Sunderland so he should feature against Watford. Angel Rangel would deputise if the appeal proves unsuccessful, but Alan Curtis has a fully-fit squad to choose from as he attempts to win for only the second time as Swansea manager.

Watford will have defender Nathan Ake available again following suspension. Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores could freshen up his side following what was a third successive Premier League defeat at Southampton on Wednesday night, when defender Craig Cathcart, midfielder Ikechi Anya and Colombia forward Victor Ibarbo all came off the bench. Defenders Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) remain unavailable.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Swansea D W D L L; Watford W D L L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Andre Ayew (Swansea) 7; Odion Ighalo (Watford) 13
Match odds: H 6-4 A 2-1 D 21-10
Referee: Michael Oliver