Premier League latest.

 Premier League latest.

For the last four seasons the Premier League has been dominated by the same pencil lines, graphs and watercolours, a fusion of the picturesque and stunningly attractive that have proved to be both bewitching and a study in technical virtuosity. Manchester City have won the Premier League by such a convincing margin year after year so much so that you wondered whether they'd ever be toppled from their lofty perch. 

There was a point during this remarkable period of dominance when even Sir Alex Ferguson's treble of trophies with Manchester United seemed just a picnic in the park compared to the lavish feast being served up at Old Trafford. City were exceptional, untouchable at times, classical, ornamental, a model of go ahead innovation, reinvention and sheer poetry in motion. Pep Guardiola must have thought he'd discovered a revolutionary art form and may have been tempted to open up his own gallery. 

But this weekend City are languishing in fourth place in the Premier League after quite the most ordinary season by their exalted standards. Their fall from grace and horrendous decline after reaching the dizzy heights of excellence must have come as a terrible shock to their system. Up until this season their superlative successes had been  achieved by the most simple methods and an attacking philosophy that bordered on the supernatural and transcendental. City must have thought that everything had come far too easy for them and that their exquisite passing game had been created by them and nobody else. 

This weekend though, Manchester City were dwelling on what might have been since the road has been considerably bumpier with innumerable rocks and boulders in their way. Their defeat at Bournemouth towards the end of last year would have been unthinkable a couple of seasons ago let alone in the context of this season. But the Premier League does punch you in the solar plexus when least expected and even City were revealed as mortal and fallible. 

Now City find themselves scrambling for consolation prizes in Europe and a place in the Champions League may be a painstaking struggle if they don't watch themselves. This season is following a script that even they couldn't have imagined possible. The team at the top of the Premier League at the moment once owned the intellectual property on trophy winning rights. They used to be held in the highest esteem by impartial observers and world renowned as a major force in the game and now they're back in charge again. 

Liverpool are now 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League and heading in much the direction that Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and, more recently, Jurgen Klopp had taken the club. Liverpool have almost won 20 League titles both in the old First Division championship and Klopp, in the Premier League himself, during the Covid 19 season when none of the fans were allowed into stadiums and you could have heard a pin drop on Merseyside. 

Now though Dutchman Arne Slot has been instrumental in the revival of Mo Salah's career and the lethal Egyptian striker can do no wrong this season. Once again, Liverpool's football has resembled the most perfect geometry lesson, angles mastered in a matter of seconds, passing through the lines as if the whole exercise had been performed with their eyes closed and the loveliest of movements both in and out of possession. 

Yesterday Liverpool, ironically, had far too much class and footballing intelligence against Manchester City, a complete reversal of roles and a reminder of what can happen when you take everything for granted. Salah celebrated another record breaking goal and even his striking partner Darwin Nunez must have been glowing with envy after that embarrassing miss in front of goal at Aston Villa which might have put the Anfield side out of sight. 

However Arsenal, Liverpool's closest contenders for the Premier League title, are now effectively out of the chase for domestic silverware. Arsenal were beaten by London rivals West Ham United 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium which to some of us came as a pleasant surprise if not a miracle. Jarrod Bowen lunged forward with a low diving header from close range from an excellent Aaron Wan Bissaka cross. Arsenal have normally dictated the pace of games on their own pitch and there was an effortless spontaneity about their passing football that left most neutrals purring with delight. 

Now though Arsenal are beginning to resign themselves to their fate once again, admirable ambassadors for the finer points of the game but just agonisingly short when it matters most. There are now very real grumblings of unrest and dissent at the Emirates although this is certainly not the end of the world. You remain convinced that sooner rather than later that Mikel Arteta will find the consistency and attacking firepower that will get the Gunners over the line eventually. 

Behind Arsenal are both Nottingham Forest and Chelsea and the Premier League is gearing itself for the most hair raising sprint for the line. A certain Brian Clough must be somewhere just willing the present day Forest to re-capture the end of the 1970s. The Premier League is perhaps well out of their comfort zone and reach but Nuno Espirito Santo has to be slapped on the back heartily for this season's sterling endeavours. There are no Tony Woodcocks, John Robertsons, Archie Gemmells, Kenny Burns and Gary Birtles to give this current day Forest jet propulsion but Forest have been entertaining for most of this season. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of Merseyside, Liverpool's fiercest rivals Everton, are bracing themselves for greener pastures. Goodison Park once played host to 1966 World Cup group games and by the time the Z-Cars theme had reverberated around Goodison, the old ground reminded you of an old pop concert venue. But times are changing although the manager has returned from whence he came all those years ago. David Moyes has now revved up engines at Everton once again and next season Everton will be performing in new surroundings. 

When the club were given planning permission to build their beautiful new Bramley Moore Dock ground, it almost felt as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. The Everton Stadium hasn't quite the same ring and resonance as Goodison but it shouldn't be too long now before Everton fans are chanting and rhapsodising about their team from this very modern example of footballing architecture. 

And so it is that the Premier League begins to look like a throwback to an intriguing reincarnation of the 1980s. Then Peter Reid, Kevin Sheedy and Paul Bracewell were the cogs and wheels behind the attacking machinery of Graham Sharp and Gary Lineker. Everton even won the old First Division championship but mid table respectability will be their only salvation this season. Football can be the funniest of games.