How the table reads after the weekend for Man C, Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool, Totts, Newcastle.

 

 

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By Bulldog Drummond

With Manchester City playing first, Arsenal will know by kick off what they have to do to keep the gap between the two sides at eight points.

In terms of the last six games, both clubs are on similar form – Arsenal have won all six, Manchester City have won five and drawn one.

In terms of the last six home games, again both clubs are performing at the same level: four wins, one draw and one defeat.  The only difference is that Manchester City have a goal difference that is one goal better than Arsenal across these games.

But Arsenal are playing Leeds, while Manchester City are against Liverpool, so we need to ask if that is likely to make any difference.

Arsenal have secured one more point at home compared with Manchester City, but have played one more game at home.

 

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Arsenal home	14	11	2	1	38	17	21	35
2	Manchester City home	13	11	1	1	43	13	30	34

 

Looking at Manchester City v Liverpool based on home and away form, that looks not just like a victory but an easy victory – maybe 4-1.  The only thing in Liverpool’s favour is their form in the last six games wherein they are the third-best-performing team.

 

Premier League Form (Last 6)

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Arsenal	6	6	0	0	19	5	14	18
2	Manchester City	6	5	1	0	14	4	10	16
3	Liverpool	6	4	1	1	13	1	12	13

But looking just at the last six games at home for Newcastle and away for Manchester United this looks a fairly close run thing.

 

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
8	Newcastle home	6	3	2	1	5	4	1	11
7	Manchester Utd away	6	3	1	2	8	12	-4	10

 

All of which gives us a feeling of a draw – one point each for Newcastle and Manchester United

Which just leaves chaotic Tottenham.  Tottenham have a ground with no name and are playing away at Everton who have a ground half built.

 

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
13	Everton home	6	3	0	3	5	8	-3	9
9	Tottenham away	6	2	1	3	11	12	-1	7

 

That one also looks like a draw to me, although given the sudden state of chaotic unpreparedness Tottenham find themselves in, I rather think they might come a cropper and lose by the odd goal.  And given these two teams it probably will be a very odd goal, perhaps with a dog running onto the pitch and nodding the ball in the net.  The ref will allow it and so it will be a draw.

So using this highly scientific approach I have

• Wins for Arsenal and Manchester City
• Draws for Newcastle, Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham.
• Defeats for Liverpool and Leeds,

Leaving the table looking, after all games are completed, like this…

 

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	Pts
1	Arsenal	29	23	3	3	72
2	Manchester City	28	20	4	4	64
3	Manchester United	27	15	6	6	51
4	Tottenham Hotspur	29	15	5	9	50
5	Newcastle United	27	12	12	3	48
6	Liverpool	26	12	6	8	42

 

When the results come in, it may well be a good idea to sit down so that you don’t trip over the furniture in amazement (or uproarious laughter) at my correct (or incorrect) predictions.