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LONDON. — The English Premier League football takes an unprecedented six-week break in the middle of the season as the World Cup in Qatar takes centre stage.
With this weekend’s action finished now, the English Premier League does not return until December 26.
The World Cup starts on Sunday, November 20 with the final on Sunday, December 18.
So how does the English top flight look now, who has the most players going to Qatar and who needs this break?
HOW IT LOOKS AT THE TOP
Arsenal are leaders by five points from Manchester City, the first time they will be top at Christmas since the 2007-08 season.
Their 37 points from 14 games marks their best-ever start. All seven teams to win 12 of their first 14 games have won the English Premier League title.
Another good omen for the Gunners is the team that topped the table on Christmas Day have been champions in 10 of the last 13 seasons.
The bad omen for Mikel Arteta’s side is the last five times they have been top on December 25 they have failed to stay there come the end of the campaign.
You have to go back to 1947-48 for the last time they were top on both days.
Gunners legend Ian Wright said on BBC Match of the Day: “They have been in control of most of the games they have played this season, very confident. The aim was top four.”
Of course, teams will have played fewer games on Christmas Day than usual, so City will still fancy their chances of making up the deficit on the Gunners in the remaining 24 games.
Newcastle are in unfamiliar territory — sitting third, seven points behind Arsenal.
This is the first time since 2001-02 that they have occupied one of the Champions League spots on Christmas Day. They were top that season but finished fourth.
Magpies icon Alan Shearer said: “They are so organised and there is an understanding as a team of each other’s jobs — when to press, when to sit off, and their reaction when they lose the ball.
“What a job Eddie Howe is doing at Newcastle. Great times, they go into the break in third position and another really impressive performance.”
However, Shearer said his old side will not win the title this season.
Tottenham, one point behind Howe’s side, complete the top four. Manchester United are fifth, with Liverpool sixth on 22 points.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea have not won in five English Premier League games and have dropped to eighth. They will probably relish the chance to have a break and go again.
Wright added: “Chelsea fans’ main worry is the constant changing of the formation. Seventeen goals in 14 games is not good, no team in the top half have scored fewer.
“They do need to give Graham Potter time — (Liverpool’s Jurgen) Klopp had time, we’ve seen what Arteta is doing with time. So hopefully he will get that time.”
AND AT THE BOTTOM
Probably any team below Chelsea can consider themselves to be in the relegation equation.
There are just six points separating Fulham in ninth and Nottingham Forest in 18th.
Wolves are bottom — four points adrift of safety – so what are their odds of survival?
Only six teams have ever been bottom at Christmas and stayed up — with half of those in the first three English Premier League campaigns.
Leicester City, in 2014-15, were the last team to avoid relegation from that position – before winning the title the following season.
But as the in-form Foxes showed just before this break came, a few good weeks can take you up to mid-table as they now stand in 13th place.
WHAT COULD CHANGE OVER THE BREAK?
Two teams have made managerial changes just before the break — but could more happen before December 26?
Julen Lopetegui took over from Steve Davis as manager of Wolves yesterday — so these next few weeks will be effectively like his pre-season.
Southampton, who are second from bottom, also have a new manager, with Nathan Jones taking charge of their final game before the break, a 3-1 loss at Liverpool.
The bookmakers’ favourite to lose their job next is Everton boss Frank Lampard. The Toffees have lost their last three games to sit one point above the relegation zone.
Police were forced to intervene on Saturday after the 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth to calm some fans as the players went over to the away section at the final whistle.
“As good as the fans are for us, with the welcomes they gave us last year and the plaudits they gave us after the Crystal Palace game, you have to accept that they have a right to voice their opinion. And they have travelled down to Bournemouth to do that,” Lampard told BBC Sport.
The other boss under pressure is David Moyes at West Ham, who are only above Everton on goal difference.
Moyes admitted fans had the right to leave early and boo in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Leicester. Of the pressure on Moyes, captain Declan Rice said: “It’s nonsense. If you look at what he’s done for this club, how he’s brought us back from where we’ve been.”
A few weeks ago Brendan Rodgers at Leicester and Leeds’ Jesse Marsch were under immense pressure, but good form means neither should be worried now. — BBC Sport
Online Reporter