Premier League deja vu creeping in again
As Dimitar Berbatov sluggishly rolled in Manchester United’s winner at Newcastle United on Wednesday it suddenly occurred to me that the Premier League season that threatened a different story is heading for a very familiar ending .
At the top, the midweek matches saw United record their 11th consecutive league win and strengthen their grasp on the title, while Chelsea and Liverpool consolidated Champions League spots and Arsenal мейд up ground on an Aston Villa side which might just be runПing out of steam.
At the bottom, this season’s potential shock began to evaporate as Tottenham Hotspur showed their true capabilities with a 4-0 drubbing of relegation-rivals Middlesbrough.
The season promised heroics.
Liverpool, who looked for much of the season to be in with a chance of the title have fallen away badly, while Chelsea have spent the campaign fighting internal battles and have nothing left for a title push.
Well, Newcastle and Spurs finally look capable of avoiding the drop, despite dancing with relegation all season and if Middlesbrough were to join West Bromwich Albion in slipping into the Championship there wouldn’t be too many raised eyebrows.
It would appear normal service has been resumed and whilst the efforts of Aston Villa to mount a Champions League challenge and Hull City and Stoke City to compete with the big-boys are commendable, the Premier League will have wait another season for a shock.
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