Boxing Day Premier League

We are exactly mid way through the English Premier League 2017-2018. The players are on the Christmas break right now, and will be back starting tomorrow with the Boxing Day Premier League fiesta.

EPL

Manchester City are the runaway leaders this year. With 18 wins and 1 draw from 19 fixtures, The Blues have scored a mammoth 60 goals this season. They are a clear 13 points ahead of their nearest (and cross city) rivals Manchester United. Most of their players have scored handsomely, taking them to the very top of the leader board.

Following City are the usual suspects - Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs. Man U have had the most clean sheets this year. However, they have choked at crucial junctures (remember the last minute draw against Leicester a couple of days ago). Chelsea too have faltered at will, losing to the bottom scrapers West Ham United and Crystal Palace this season. They don't have a goal scoring striker apart from Morata, and it is hurting them a lot. 

Liverpool, ably blessed by Salah's goal scoring streak could have done much much better. They have an astonishing 8 draws from 19 matches, the most in the Premier League this season. Their finishing ability is being tested and Salah's efforts are being diluted by these draws. 

Arsenal and Spurs are doing well, but once in a blue moon. The best run for The Gunners this season were 3 consecutive wins in late November, with Ozil and Sanchez in good form. Otherwise, they have done well sporadically. Spurs have been winning matches, but losing them against the teams in top flight - having lost to Arsenal, M City and M United. Both Arsenal and Spurs face stiff opposition from themselves to finish in the top 4.

Burnley, who have played only 2 out of the last 5 seasons in the Premier League have done exceedingly well and are placed 7th. Their defense have been impressive and this looks to be the key to their success. Burnley have let in less goals(15) than Liverpool (23), Arsenal (23) and Spurs (18). 2015/2016 title winners Leicester are in the 8th spot. They had a rough start to the season with the matches against the top 6. Since then Leicester have done well with Vardy, Mahrez, Gray and Okazaki working well in tandem. Their performance against the leaders will determine their overall position at end of the season.

Everton are bubbling with energy under their new manager. Watford, too, have scored a decent number of goals to be placed 10th. It will be worthwhile to note that the last placed team - Swansea City (13 points) and the 10th placed team - Watford (22 points) have a difference of only 9 points between them. Any of them could sink into the dreaded relegation zone with a bad streak of matches. Swansea City, with a poor goal scoring record and Stoke City, with the worst defense look to be two firm relegation candidates.  West Brom may fill in the third spot.

All in all, this has been an exciting first half of the Premier League 2017/2018. With 3 game weeks in the coming fortnight, and the world Cup just 5 months away, things promise to hot up. Many predict that M City have the cup in their bag. But then, there have been many a slip between the cup and the lip.