Ides
I have been saying for the last two seasons that Man Utd are on the right track. The way that they finished last season after the lockdown, I was really surprised that more people did not have Man Utd down as their favourites for this season. My gut feeling is that they will beat Liverpool on Sunday and also that Liverpool will slip further down the table. I cannot see Liverpool being as serious contenders this season as many pundits have made out. At their best, I think this current Utd squad is better, man for man. . City still look good and I also fancy Leicester to finish in the top three. I would not be at all surprised to see Liverpool slip to fourth.
It struck me that whilst Liverpool and Man City have been the best two teams in the last few seasons, I think that those people suggesting Liverpool were involved in a renaissance which would have seen them be dominant for the next decade were overlooking the fact that the Premiership had been particularly weak and that the competition for the top places from the likes of Utd, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea was not there simply because these teams were rebuilding. Utd were the first to go in to a decline and look like being the first to recover. Man City have always struck me as the marginally better of the two and I think the fact these two teams have been head and shoulders above everyone else detracts from the reality that league has not been so competitive in the last few seasons. As good as Liverpool have been, you get the impression that they have peaked this season and probably need to re-build or at least refresh the squad. Somehow, they do not seem so relentless as they have looked previously. Utd do look a different prospect. This is a team with younger players who will only get better. I feel that they will win this league this summer much easier than many people imagine and fans will look back to Liverpool's success last season akin to how the Leicester championship is perceived now. It is probably a bit far to argue that Liverpool won't win again for another 30 years but , as a neutral, it really feels as if the tide has turned. I think Utd are unbeaten in something like 11 matches with only a couple of draws. This season's wins are not the exception for them - it is the other matches they should have won. If anyway is going to break the dominance of the exquisite Man City team, it will be Utd. It grieves me to say this but Man Utd seem to have found their identity and got their mojo back. Have to say that when Man Utd are on song, Liverpool are no match for the biggest club in the country. I hope that I am wrong because it makes the game more interesting when other clubs can have a good shout at the title. I just sense that Solskjaer is Utd through and through as is likely to emulate SAF more than anyone. Sunday will be interesting but Utd must surely be favourites on current form.
