Premier League Table Taking Shape
The Premier League table is starting to have a 1979 kind of feel to it — with Liverpool at the top of the standings and Nottingham Forest in second place as the closest challenger.
Liverpool Pads Its Lead
Liverpool padded its lead with a 5-0 rout of West Ham on Sunday, while upstart Nottingham Forest climbed into second place by beating Everton 2-0 to continue its surprising push for a Champions League place.
Nottingham Forest’s Rise
Forest was runner-up behind Liverpool in the English top tier in 1979 – the same year it won the first of two straight European Cups under Brian Clough – but hasn’t finished that high in the domestic first division since then. The club’s long-suffering fans finally have reason to believe that the good times are back under Nuno Espirito Santo. Although the Portuguese manager was the first to point out that his team may not stay in second place for very long.
Liverpool’s Strong Performance
Liverpool could prove a lot harder to overtake, though, as Arne Slot’s team only seems to be growing stronger and stronger. The performance at West Ham was one of its most impressive yet, with five different players getting on the scoresheet — including Mohamed Salah, who netted the team’s third for his league-leading 17th of the season. Salah also had an assist to take his tally to 52 goal contributions in all competitions for the calendar year 2024 — 29 goals and 23 assists.
Salah’s Future
But the Egyptian remained evasive over the speculation about his future beyond the end of this season, when his contract expires. "The only thing on my mind is I want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be part of that," Salah said. "I will do my best for the team to win the trophy. There is a few other teams catching up with us and we need to stay focused and humble and go again."
Manchester City’s Struggle
Manchester City is 14 points back having played 19 games, after beating Leicester 2-0 away. In his 500th game in charge of Man City, Pep Guardiola had some reasons to smile again. City marked Guardiola’s milestone with a win and a goal from Erling Haaland — things that the Spaniard used to take for granted but have been increasingly rare of late for the struggling four-time defending Premier League champions.
Guardiola’s 500th Game
Savinho also netted his first goal for the club in a much-needed win, although the team still looked far from the juggernaut that has dominated English soccer for much of the Spaniard’s reign. "Just relief, that is the word to express how all of us feel," Guardiola said. "It was not the ideal performance but hopefully the victories will give our mood a better position. … Hopefully in the new year we can bounce back a bit from a bad moment."
Tottenham’s Downswing
Tottenham’s roller-coaster of a season had another downturn as Spurs conceded a late equalizer to draw 2-2 at home against Wolves. Ange Postecoglou has come under increasing criticism of late because of his team’s all-attacking style of play and the team’s defensive vulnerabilities were on display again as Jorgen Strand Larsen was afforded space to beat Fraser Forster at his near post in the 87th minute.
Conclusion
The Premier League table is taking shape, with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest leading the way. While Manchester City is struggling, Liverpool’s strong performance and Manchester City’s recent win may give them an edge in the coming weeks. As for Tottenham, their defense remains a concern, and they must find a way to address it if they are to make a push for the top six.
FAQs
Q: How many points ahead is Liverpool of Arsenal and Chelsea?
A: Liverpool is nine points ahead of Arsenal and 10 points ahead of Chelsea.
Q: How many goals has Mohamed Salah scored this season?
A: Salah has scored 17 goals in the league this season.
Q: How many games has Pep Guardiola played for Manchester City?
A: Guardiola has played 500 games for Manchester City.
Q: How many points is Manchester City behind the leader?
A: Manchester City is 14 points behind Liverpool.
