Up to next international break...

We are entering a phase of the season that could be looked at as setting up for the run-in, with the March international break taking us to the business end of the season. The return of the Champions League is also upon us in this period.

Our schedule to then is:
West Ham (a) - Sun Feb 11th 2pm
Burnley (a) - Sat Feb 17th 3pm
Porto (a) - Wed Feb 21st 8pm
Newcastle (h) - Sat Feb 24th 8pm
Sheffield United (a) - Mon Mar 4th 8pm
Brentford (h) - Sat Mar 9th 5.30pm
Porto (h) - Tue Mar 12th 8pm
Chelsea (h) - Sat Mar 16th 12:30pm (will be postponed if Chelsea are still in FA Cup)

Of our rivals, Liverpool have the bonus of no Europe in this period. They do have at least 2 domestic cup ties. Their next run of fixtures is pleasant - Burnley (h), Brentford (a), Luton (h) before the League cup final and FA Cup 5th round. They then go to Nottingham Forest before the big one - Manchester City at home. They are scheduled to face Everton in the last game before the break, but are likely to be in the FA Cup 6th round.

Man City have Everton (h), Chelsea (h), Brentford (h), Bournemouth (a) in a run of games you expect them to continue their winning run. They also have the kindest of CL draws away at Copenhagen, and a visit to Kenilworth Road in the cup. Then it gets a bit tastier - a home Manc derby, the home CL 2nd leg and a trip to Anfield. Like Liverpool they should have a 6th round FA Cup game as they head to the break - could they draw each other for 2 meetings in a week?


All 3 teams will expect to pick up close to maximum from those fixtures. The title won't be won in this period, but it definitely could be lost. For us there could be a big chance to put the pressure on when the other 2 face each other, and then a week later if we do actually play Chelsea and the others are in the FA Cup 6th.


Of course Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Manchester United will all be looking to pick up points on us, but hopefully we can at least maintain the current gap downwards.