da supremo： The January transfer window is over and all the rumours and speculation and conjecture will now have to wait until the summer. Let’s be honest, we all love a transfer story and the last month has been a real rollercoaster as Premier League squads shake themselves out into various forms.
da luck： Stories have been plentiful around the top five clubs in the table with big stars such as Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez linked with moves away, as reported by The Guardian and The Sun over the last six weeks.
Now all of that is over and eyes are focused on the pitch as teams do battle for glory and silverware come May.
Chelsea might be eight points clear but an extended run of form can really put any of the teams behind them into a position to strike given how competitive the league is and how wildly momentum and points can swing from one way to another.
With the squads now settled, these are the FIVE players we think will be most important in determining who wins and who loses come the end of the season…
Diego Costa
There’s no doubt that Diego Costa was affected by the transfer speculation surrounding him in January, even falling out with staff at the club and being dropped for a visit to Leicester.
Antonio Conte, to his credit, managed the situation expertly and guided his player through the upheaval. The striker returned the next week at home to Hull on 22 January and netted his 15th goal of the season, which makes him the current joint-top scorer with a certain other London club superstar, Alexis Sanchez.
The title race is pretty simple when you get down to it, if Chelsea can keep Costa motivated, fit and in-form then they’re very, very likely to be lifting the trophy in transfer
y more tranfer speculation, bust-ups or absences, though? Well, it could be up for grabs despite that commanding lead…
Alexis Sanchez
With Alexis Sanchez having still not signed a new Gunners contract, there have been questions asked about his long-term future in an Arsenal shirt.
That’s not stopped him being arguably the Premier League’s most effective player this season, though. With 15 goals and seven assists, no player has directly contributed to more goals in the league than the Arsenal attacker.
That kind of form is enough to make sure that Arsenal maintain their winning streak. If they can take maximum points from their next five or so games then it could put significant pressure on Chelsea.
Perhaps it all comes down to the match this coming weekend when the Blues host the Gunners at Stamford Bridge. If Sanchez can inspire Arsenal to victory that day then the title race is most certainly on.
A poor performance from the striker? Well, it could be curtains…
Sadio Mane
Liverpool have had an absolutely rotten January and you could argue that’s been in part due to the absence of Sadio Mane.
The 24-year-old attacker has been missing since 2 January when he scored during a 2-2 draw with Sunderland and the Reds have been dire ever since. His return from the Africa Cup of Nations must be a hugely welcome sight not just for Liverpool supporters but his team-mates and manager, too.
With nine goals and four assists this season he’s been one of the Anfield side’s most effective players, generally giving them an edge in the final third that opponents struggled to deal with.
Whether he can inspire the Reds to close the nine-point gap on Chelsea remains to be seen, but if anyone in Klopp’s squad can, it’s him.
Christian Eriksen
Tottenham are on an absolute hot streak right now and central to that has been influential playmaker Christian Eriksen.
The Danish international has a massive eight assists so far in the Premier League this season and with five goals also to his name, he’s one of the division’s most consistent midfielders.
Spurs are unbeaten in their last nine matches and have won eight of those, a creditable draw away to Manchester City. They also ended Chelsea’s winning run at White Hart Lane.
If they can keep that form up they have every chance of influencing final destination of the Premier League trophy this season, even if not becoming kings themselves.
Kevin De Bruyne
No player in the Premier League has more assists in the Premier League this season than Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian attacking midfielder has contributed nine for his side this term and also added three goals to that too.
Manchester City may be a vast twelve points behind Chelsea but they are due to play three of the top five in the closing stages of the campaign and could play a massive hand in deciding where the trophy ends up in May.
The man most likely to influence those games is De Bruyne, making him perhaps one of the most decisive players in the entire league over the coming months.
The playmaker has been the driving force of City’s best spells of the season so Pep Guardiola needs to get him playing if they are to secure Champions League football next term.