The Premier League requires at least 10 games to determine the teams’ prospects for the season, but oftentimes that’s not enough to do so. The ten-game mark usually is a bellwether for what could soon follow, and the picture tends to clear after five more games.
The Premier League has reached the 15th round of a season that promises to be among the most unpredictable and surprising in the competition’s 23-year history. Four teams sit within two points of league-leading Manchester City. Another four teams can move into the Champions League places with a win.
The ongoing struggles of defending champion Chelsea have opened the European gates for any number of teams to crash through. Second-place Leicester City bears the hopefuls’ standard thanks to its refreshing manager Claudio Ranieri and red-hot striker Jamie Vardy, who is enjoying a record, 11-game goal-scoring streak.
The Foxes are showing how belief and firepower can help a team progress rapidly. Liverpool has positioned itself to do the same over the next five, 10, 15 games or more.
Liverpool vs. Newcastle
The Reds travel north to Newcastle on Sunday, riding a four-game winning streak in all competitions. Recent victories have put the Reds into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League and the semifinals of the Capital One Cup, but the most exciting aspect of their fine form is the prospect of Premier League success in 2015-16.
Liverpool has shot up to sixth place in the Premier League standings. Just two points separate the Reds from fourth-place Tottenham, and Jurgen Klopp’s team is keen on making up for its early struggles in the month of December.
Sunday’s Newcastle game trip presents Liverpool with a good opportunity to extend its winning run. Newcastle sits 19th in the standings with 10 points, and manager Steve McClaren reportedly is on the brink of losing his job less than halfway through his first season in charge.
McClaren’s Magpies could catch the Reds off guard if their focus slips, but Klopp is unlikely to allow his team to overlook them. Expect Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho to return to the starting 11 and provide a constant menace to a Newcastle team that has conceded the most goals (30) in the league. Daniel Sturridge, fresh off a two-goal performance against Southampton, also could play significant minutes.
However, Emre Can won’t be available for Liverpool. He is suspended as a result of the yellow card he picked up Wednesday in the win over Southampton.
Premier League Round 15 schedule (home teams listed first; all kickoff times ET):
Saturday Dec. 5
Stoke City vs. Manchester City, 7:45 a.m.
Arsenal vs. Sunderland, 10 a.m.
Manchester United vs. West Ham, 10 a.m.
Southampton vs. Aston Villa, 10 a.m.
Swansea City vs. Leicester City, 10 a.m.
Watford vs. Norwich, 10 a.m.
West Brom vs. Tottenham, 10 a.m.
Chelsea vs. Bournemouth, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6
Newcastle vs. Liverpool, 11 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 7
Everton vs. Crystal Palace
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@TEAMtalk
