SUNDAY SAW arguably the primary four teams in the race for fourth compete in the Premier League.
While Arsenal and Man City both had wobbles this weekend, you get the sense they will be the main title rivals to table toppers Liverpool based on what they achieved previously.
Assuming they occupy the top three come the end of the season, that leaves one more spot up for grabs to guarantee Champions League football — although a fifth-place finish could also potentially seal entry to Europe’s premier club competition depending on how well English teams perform in Europe.
Of the rest, Chelsea, Man United, Tottenham and Aston Villa will aspire for a top-four finish.
At the same time, others cannot be ruled out. Newcastle have had an inconsistent start but secured an impressive win over Arsenal in Saturday’s early kick-off.
And even the unfancied Nottingham Forest sit third after 10 games, having survived a relegation battle last season.
Based purely on today’s results, it is tempting to say Spurs are in the strongest position in the race for fourth.
Having trailed Aston Villa 1-0 at half-time, the North Londoners’ much-improved second-half performance saw them prevail 4-1.
But Ange Postecoglou’s men are surely the most unpredictable of the contenders, summed up by the fact that Crystal Palace secured their first win of the season against them last weekend, but Tottenham followed that up by dumping Man City out of the League Cup on Wednesday.
Most people were tipping Spurs for a top-four finish after they won 4-0 at Villa at a key stage last season. It left them two points behind Unai Emery’s men with a game in hand. But Tottenham had to settle for fifth, after losing six of their final 11 matches.
Villa overachieved by securing fourth last year and repeating that feat might be a struggle.
As impressively organised as they were in the first half, once the hosts equalised, they capitulated similarly to West Ham two weeks ago at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Midlands club remain just one point off third-place Forest and have earned some impressive results this season, most notably the defeat of Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
However, there are signs the strain of balancing European and domestic commitments is starting to catch up with them.
Having started with four wins from five, the Birmingham-based outfit have only won one of their last five Premier League fixtures.
The frustration of today’s setback was exacerbated following second-half injuries to Matty Cash and goalscorer Morgan Rogers.
Villa also lost two key players in the summer, with Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz joining Al Ittihad and Juventus for £50 million (€60 million) and £42 million (€50 million) respectively.
The jury is still out on whether the likes of Ross Barkley, Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen will be good enough recruitments to compensate for Villa’s losses and help them retain their Champions League status.
Given that they are six points off fourth, Man United are ostensibly the least likely of the teams mentioned to challenge for the spot.
The Red Devils’ return of 12 points from 10 games is their worst start to a league campaign since the 1986-87 season.
They also had a managerial change in November of that year, when Alex Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson and ultimately guided the club to an 11th-place finish.
So swiftly turning a club like United around won’t be easy — even a managerial legend like Ferguson struggled at this task initially.
Ruben Amorim won’t complete his move to Old Trafford until 11 November and is unlikely to have ample funds to avail of, with predecessor Erik ten Hag having already spent heavily on players.
Yet the outgoing Sporting Lisbon coach is among the most highly-rated young managers in Europe for a reason, with some pundits previously tipping him as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Man City.
Past managers including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have overseen a swift upturn in fortune after taking over, even if they have not maintained a winning run in the long term. Therefore, it would be foolish to dismiss Man United in the race for fourth.
But at the moment, Chelsea appear the strongest of the teams outside the big three of Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal.
Many critics felt ditching Mauricio Pochettino in the summer was a backwards step after the Blues had shown significant signs of improvement towards the end of last season.
Still, new manager Enzo Maresca has adapted impressively since moving to the club from Leicester City.
The Londoners are just a point off Forest in fourth and looked the better team at Old Trafford this afternoon, showing good character to rescue a point after going behind to a Bruno Fernandes penalty in the 70th minute.
Much has been made of their gargantuan squad of expensively assembled players — a factor that undoubtedly hindered Pochettino and caused some unrest in the dressing room.
But Maresca has shown the necessary ruthless attitude, casting aside unwanted players like Raheem Sterling and showing relative consistency in selection so far.
And what stands out about Chelsea compared to most other teams competing for fourth is their squad depth.
Today, for example, they had the luxury of introducing Marc Cucurella (a Euro 2024 winner with Spain), Enzo Fernandez (a 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina) and Mykhailo Mudryk (a €70 million signing potentially rising to €100 million) from the bench.
Meanwhile, the likes of Joao Felix (five years ago, signed by Atlético Madrid for €126 million, the fourth highest sum ever paid in football at the time), Benoît Badiashile (signed for €37 million last year) and Christopher Nkunku (signed for €62 million last year) were unused subs.
The London club have spent recklessly since the Todd Boehly era began, but by the law of averages, they have managed to make some astute purchases.
Cole Palmer is the Premier League’s most impressive attacking midfielder this season, they have a solid-looking backline and much-maligned striker Nicolas Jackson is belatedly showing why the club signed him for £32 million (€38 million) on an eight-year deal from Villarreal.
And perhaps most significantly, the Blues will get better the more matches they play.
Of Chelsea’s starting XI against Man United on Sunday, their oldest player was 26-year-old goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. All the outfield players were 24 or under.
While this lack of experience partially explains why it is too early to see them challenge clubs like Man City and Liverpool, Chelsea’s youthful vibrancy suggests a club with better days ahead.
“Interesting” choice to have back so soon. At this rate they’ll be having Stan Wright back to set the tone before the double headers
@Eddie Hekenui:
Sounds very like a Jim comment, you sure you logged into the right account…
@Eddie Hekenui: No harm getting a man in to give a pep talk who’s played 126 times for Leinster, represented his country 56 times, went on two lions tours achieving 11 lions caps and who’s been in and around the squad for 4 champions cup wins and 4 league titles. Having him speak how much the shirt and competition means to him is a great motivation for the younger players. His off the field endeavors are shameful but on the field he only ever gave 100% in blue, green and red.
@Ian Verdon: it doesn’t matter what he’s won. Taking a piss on a punter at a busy bar counter is disgusting. And he’s got for at this. He did the same at a house party where he used a laundry basket to the same effect.
@Kevin O’brien: indeed it’s animalistic, sick, disgusting, and I know of another couple of off the field stories re SOB. He wasn’t brought in to talk about them though. He was brought in on purely rugby matters and in terms of a rugby player and what he’s a achieved he’s a great person to give a pep talk. He wasn’t giving them a pep talk on how to represent oneself off the field. I am not defending what SOB did it was the lowest of the low.
@Ian Verdon: all in the timing Ian, thought Leinster would have liked to put a bit of distance between the incident before calling him back in, obviously not though. I’m sure there are plenty of other ex Leinster players hanging around who could’ve done with the few bob. I mean you couldn’t imagine them having Stan Wright in for a pep talk could you? Each to their own though, if Cullen or whoever invited him in thinks it’s no big deal then I guess it’s no big deal but it probably doesn’t say much about the internal attitude towards his misdemeanour.
@Umpaloompa: I wish I was Eddie…
@Umpaloompa: this comments section always reminds me of that movie Split, lads blatantly having conversations with themselves. All quite amusing if you set your expectations appropriately.
@Pseud O’Nym: yeah looking at the above it’s looks like someone has posted in one account, and replied to someone using a different account.
Not the first time it has happened for that particular poster too coincidentally……
@Jim Demps: i agree 100% the timing isn’t ideal. But in terms of on the field exploits there’s not many better examples Leinster could’ve brought in imo. His record speaks for itself. Stand Wright played 94 times for Leinster but I don’t think he made the same impact on the field and to the province has sob did. My biggest qualm with it is there wasn’t a serious and public apology made by sob or the club in the wake of the incident. Off the field he has had many a drink related incident and as a player in the spotlight it’s the whole package not just the on the field stuff one must adhere to.
@Eddie Hekenui: From what I’ve read elsewhere, O’Brien has been rehabbing his injury with Leinster during the Summer rather than with London Irish.
I’d agree though that having O’Brien make a speech to the team pre-Europe doesn’t come across as the best idea. The players still playing for the club should be the ones driving the message, not players who have just left. Sometimes it’s better to put a full-stop on things and move on.
@Pseud O’Nym: haha i was just thinking the same. I don’t be in the comments sections much on rugby articles so dont know if this alway the craic…are they even trying to be subtle???
@Jim Demps: funny all the muster lads jumping in the give their few cents. Cullen and Leinster in general know how to breed a winning mentality. Something Munster could learn a thing or two from. It’s also funny that Jim was on here defending Dylan Hartley a few weeks back for both his on field and off field antics yet you’re ready to hang a fellow Irish man given any opportunity.
@Rocky Raccoon: who are all the Munster lads? Eddie doesn’t follow anyone and Ian is a leinster fan. Not hanging anyone here, just thought they’d put a bit of distance between the incident and inviting him back in. I do realise that public criticism of our blue overlords isn’t allowed though so sorry about that.
@Jim Demps: apology accepted. Just don’t make the same mistake again.
@Ian Verdon: No doubting him as a player. He was one of my favourite players to watch and always gave his all to whatever cause he was playing for and maybe it was an incredibly inspiring speech that’ll set the tone for the season. Leinster can, will and should do what they like but it just doesn’t sit well with me having him back and highlighted as someone inspirational so soon after such a disgraceful episode that he’s failed to address. I really dislike how he personally has handled this affair and think Leinster have failed to meet the high standards they set for years in recent months. Maybe it’s just a by product of rugby becoming more commericialised and clubs are now driven by sponsors, pr agencies, executives and so on but for me the best way to deal with these things is own it, apologise and move on.
@Eddie Hekenui: i agree but tbh knowing of other non publicized off the field antics sob has been involved in it doesn’t surprise me he hasn’t made a proper apology. On the field he’s a legend off the field with alcohol on board I’ve heard his behaviour at times is poor(we’re all guilty of this but most of us aren’t in the public eye). I agree Leinster could’ve done more to have a more vocal stance against what sob did and Wright but we’re not privileged to all the inner workings of what goes on in the modern game like you said. In terms of pure rugby tho sob’s career and dedication to whatever jersey he’s had on is second to none and if I was a young player I would be lapping up any on the field advice or experiences he’s had.
@Ian Verdon: Yeah I’ve heard a fair few stories about O’Brien and alcohol but he’s far from alone in that regard when it comes to rugby players in Ireland. For me the provinces are a bit unique in professional rugby in that they are responsible for all rugby in their region and thus should hold themselves to a higher standard than other clubs.
@Eddie Hekenui: yeah i do like that uniqueness. I feel it’s Leinster backing of one their own which is the wrong way of going about it. If they had come out with a formal apology themselves along with Sob and then got him in to give this rugby prep talk I think it would be less of an issue. Neither party did and that’s disappointing being a Leinster fan. In terms of getting in a former player though to give a rugby prep talk there’s not many better I could think of. I like to keep to strictly rugby on here as much as possible so my og was with that in mind. I am not defending sob in any of his off the field actions whatsoever.
@Ian Verdon: Yeah I really enjoy how the provinces are all encompassing. It’s part of what drives the bond between club, fans and the players coming through. All the provinces have to be careful to manage that and realise it’s about more than just the professional arm. To be fair getting O’Brien in to talk is a really minor thing and my comment was made in jest after more than a few beers
@Ian Verdon: For what it is worth most people may have no issue with him being brought in to do a pep talk but his off field antics have been out of order and down right basically ignorant and boorish.
We all have done things that we may not have been proud of over time but this lad has a “Ill don’t give a fxxk” attitude just because of his perceived hero status in a pampered professional sport.
Not much been said about it since the world cup but the whole furore about not picking Dev for WC in hindsight seems to have been really unnecessary and probably was disruptive and a negative distraction for the team. Why did Joe bother. Kleyn hardly played and made no impact when he did.
@Kevin McCarthy: the same can be said for picking Robbie henshaw. That was a pointless decision and one wonders what is actually going on with him? “illness” is a good cover up to miss two weeks in a row
@Kevin McCarthy: Fair point. On the other hand there are plenty of people now saying that one of the big problems was that Joe was picking on what players had done in the past as opposed to form. Leaving Dev behind was one example where Joe did make a selection decision based on form.
@Kevin Ryan: ahhhhhhh toner is 34 with a huge injury profile, get over it.
@Kevin O’brien: Right so, give us the highlights of this huge injury list Toner has?
@Kevin O’brien: Huge injury profile? What are you on about?
@Cian Nolan: he came off vs England in the 6N and didn’t play again. Had you forgotten or what? He struggled with an ankle injury. Right up to selection for the plane to Japan.
@Kevin O’brien: id say you’ve injured your self more typing bs than toner been injured.
O Brien is probably the best 7 Ireland and
Leinster have ever produced.
@Brian Leonard: seeing as Fergus Slattery is from Leinster and Ireland, SOB is probably not the best 7. Rugby Union existed b4 you jumped on the bandwagon.
@Brian Leonard: David Wallace the best no.7 ireland ever produced. Without doubt.
@Kevin O’brien: definitely not
@John Buckley: What did the best 7 of all time Richie McCaw say about O Brien. The best 7 he ever faced.
@Brian Leonard: Where did he say that? I’ve only ever seen him say George Smith. He’s certainly sung his praises but never to that level as far as I know
@Brian Leonard: you are unbelievably ignorant of rugby players that played b4 you jumped on the bandwagon. Michael Jones was a far superior 7 to McCaw so he isn’t even the best 7 to ever play for NZ. Even if McCaw said that, how does it matter make SOB better than Slattery.
@John Buckley: I haven’t jumped on any bandwagon. I’m entitled to my opinion ya lug
@Brian Leonard: yes, even an ignorant moron, like yourself, can have an opinion
@John Buckley: I’m ignorant???? Your funny ya muck savage
@Brian Leonard: Any link to McCaw talking about O’Brien as the best 7 he ever faced? That be interesting to read as McCaw played against a who’s who of great 7′s and saw some great 7′s performances 1st hand.
@Brian Leonard: anyone who thinks McCaw is better than Michael Jones is an ignorant moron who knows nothing about rugby union
@John Buckley: that’s your opinion John and am I calling you ignorant for your opinion. No because I ain’t a big onion like yourself
So O Brien is fully rehabilitated already and is being put forward as an example for the Leinster young guns. Hmm.
@Phil O’ Meara: on a rugby pitch there’s very few better examples.
Seeing kelleher and Doris getting a start is a brilliant step for them. Really hoping they go well and they continue their excellent form. Potential 6 nations squad places for them?
Not a person I would have had in mind as a role model to the younger members of the squad.
@Robb Stark: I disagree. He’s a great role model. He was a great player which is undoubted, who has also made a big big mistake. He can offer advice from all his experiences good and bad. He knows what it takes to be a top world class player but also the pitfalls. He’s a great guy yo have in talking to younger fellas.
@Kevin: we all make mistakes but, I’m sorry, urinating on someone on a night out in a packed bar is just disgusting. It is vile. There is no defending that.
What is worse is that he didn’t even publically put his hand up and apologise. He should have been sacked on the spot.
@Robb Stark: it is indeed vile. And yes it would be better if he publicly apologised. But for me he has seen both sides of success good and bad and can offer advice on both. Would I have picked him to do it? Probably not if I’m honest.
@Kevin: make up your mind ya clown
Perhaps more than any player SOBs absence from this and the last match of the last RWC was the costliest.
Italians won’t roll over and there should be some very entertaining rugby on show today. Crowley has got the very most out of his team and has them playing an attractive style if rugby. Would not be surprised if he ends up somewhere within the All Blacks new coaching set up.