The English Premier League So Far in 2016

The English Premier League is one of the major leagues around the world that does not vacate players to celebrate Christmas. As it is annually done teams from the league competed on Boxing Day and the ensuing Tuesday and after 18 league games Chelsea are leading the table with 46 points with second placed Liverpool on 40 points thanks to their comeback display against Stoke City on Tuesday.

A lot of teams lead the Premier League before New Year but along the line they fall off and see other teams crown champions at the end of the season. This seasons leaders Chelsea shows no signs of closing down because aside the Premier League the team does not compete in Europe and therefore has six to seven days of grace period of rest before playing another game. This has made it easy for them because the other competing teams like Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal all compete in Europe playing midweek football and sometimes playing three games in a week (Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday).

The Good

Antonio Conte has showed class with his 3-4-3 formation, something that Chelsea as a team is not much accustomed to but this has seen him win 12 games in a row and in the process collected 36 points. Chelsea has also been blessed with an injury free season.

The other good that is coming from the league is Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp has brought a winning mentality back to Anfield and second on the log blessed with the capacity of playing a single match in a week, standout performers such as Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino are given Chelsea the much needed competition they need since they all have the same competitions they aim for this season.

The Bad

Jose Mourinho and his team were amazing at the start of the campaign but sub-par performances has seen United trade places on the 5^th to 7^th place on the log in as many weeks. Mourinho had to deal with a lot of rotation in order to see which players really fit his philosophy and luckily for him the last four matches that started with a home win against Tottenham Hotspur has been followed with two away wins at Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion with Monday home’s win projecting Manchester United to sixth place needing 13 points to be at par with Chelsea.

Manchester City and Arsenal have both been a disappointment in the league this season. Manchester City started so well they looked like runaway league leaders till a loss at White Hart Lane sparked a series of losses and draws. Pep Guardiola has been tipped for bigger things this seasons and the last three wins has provided the team with the much needed boost it needs and just seven points below Chelsea and one behind Liverpool.

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger prior to losing to Everton have lost once all season in the league to another Merseyside club in the opening match of the season but another loss to Manchester City meant that Arsenal lost six points and this has left Arsene Wenger and his charges in fourth place and nine points behind leaders Chelsea.

The Ugly

Leicester City won the Premier League in May and seven months on, the added stress of competing in the UEFA Champions League is proven too much to bare for Claudio Ranieri and his charges. This season has seen Jamie Vardy a player who scored from all angles last season score just five goals in the Premier League. Aside that disciplinary measures and injuries have not helped the fortunes of the Foxes this season. If things does not change Leicester City would make a new record in May by becoming the first club in Premier League history to win the league and be relegated the following season.

The year 2016 has been a great year in the premier league and with the Champions League set to resume and FA Cup scheduled to begin in 2017, the English Premier League is set for a new turn that would definitely be filled with surprises come May.