Hotting Up

After another absorbing but controversial weekend of premier league action, the stakes are increasing and the league is hotting up. Whether you support Leicester or Chelsea, every side needs to up their game in order to reach the required goals. This stage of the season is crucial. Teams scrap for precious points as players play for their futures and managers try to convince owners that they are the right man for the job.
I will start with the top. Chelsea currently occupy top spot on merit. The blues have played some dazzling football and have rarely looked like slipping off top spot. They did have  rare bad day on Saturday though with a 1-1 draw with Burnley not what Jose Mourinho would have expected from his star-studded side. I believe that they will win the title. Players like Eden Hazard and Diego Costa have stole the headlines, but defensive enforcer Nemanja Matic has been a revelation this year.
Close behind them in second are Manchester City, the holders of the premier league. This season has been a mixed bag for City, with a few uncharacteristic performances this year. However, they are by no means out of the title race, and with quality like Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva, can harm any team in the world on their day.
The top 4 race is also an intriguing battle. It looks like Southampton, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham look the most likely sides to claim the crucial spot. I think Liverpool will claim it. They are just starting to gain momentum and their 0-2 win at Southampton yesterday sent out a message to the rest of the league saying they mean business. United are a team that still haven't settled down under Louis Van Gaal. Players like Robin Van Persie and Falcao are mis-firing and the way they are playing, I can't see them holding down a top 4 place.
The relegation battle is also really starting to hot up. Every team from 20th placed Leicester to 12th placed Everton are still needing points to ensure safety. Leicester, Burnley and Hull all picked up crucial points on the weekend that could have a major influence on the final standings.
I was especially impressed with Leicester in their 2-2 draw at Everton on Sunday, where they could have taken all 3. They showed promise in every area with Matty James having another solid performance in midfield. David Nugent also made a difference when he came on. He deservedly got his goal and worked hard for the cause. If they can carry on that level of performance then there is no reason why they can't stay in the division.
A team I have been impressed with throughout the season is Burnley. They struggled at the start of the season, but after a fantastic win over Southampton, they have produced some cracking performances. Danny Ings has been a reliable source of goals and keeper Tom Heaton has been outstanding. Manager Sean Dyche has done brilliantly on a very low budget. I genuinely think that they will stay in the league.
Obviously I haven't had time to cram every team into this blog, but many other teams have a lot to play for. The premier league is likely to throw up many more surprises and brilliant matches before the end of the season, and I can't wait to see the action unfold.