Manchester United took hold of the bragging rights in Manchester with a formidable performance against their neighbors Manchester City which takes City totally out of the title race.
Such is the ill-luck of the Citizens, that those behind them namely Liverpool and Southampton who are also rallying for a Champions League spot, won their own fixtures which puts them in an encouraging position attaining that 4th and final Champions league spot.
After 2 losses, one to Manchester United and then a humiliation at the hands of Arsenal, Rodgers Reds seemed to be out of the Champions League contention as they found themselves 7 points adrift of City. City although still in control of their own destiny, will have to pick themselves up from the current slump they are in if they are to play European football next season and if Pellegrini wants to avoid the sack.
With the scrutinized Sterling putting the Reds ahead in the 9th minute with a wonderful solo curler, and Joe Allen getting his first EPL goal, Liverpool comfortably dispatched of a underperforming Newcastle and are now just 4 points behind Manchester City in the race for the 4th place.
Southampton on the other hand, who are now playing for a Europa League position as claimed by Ronald Koeman are on 56 points after that routine win against Hull City which suddenly puts them with an outside chance of claiming a Champions League spot.
Southampton became one of the fabled stories of football where they surprised everyone by going on an outstanding run in the first half of the season which saw Koeman’s team rise as high as third in the table, toe to toe with the big boys in spite of losing crucial players in the summer transfer window.
But what sets the big boys apart from the others is their depth, which plays an important part in keeping a consistent winning run, whereas Southampton ran out of steam at the end and surrendered their position to others and are now in 6th position, where many expected them to be.
The best part about the English Premier league is that it never ceases to surprise us and with City’s flailing form and Liverpool who seem to be finding their feet after a tough period and Southampton picking up vital wins under the radar, maybe we are in for a race for the 4th position in this already exhilarating Premier League.