As the league progressed to the final match before Christmas, the overall situation had become quite clear. The distinction between the strong and the weak, the stable and the chaotic, was now fully on display.
Take the 17th round of the Premier League, for instance.
While Liverpool missed a penalty away from home to draw 0-0 with Wigan Athletic, and Chelsea was held to a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United crushed Fulham 5-0 on the road. Meanwhile, Manchester City defeated Stoke City 3-0 at home.
The Manchester duo remained the most competitive teams in the Premier League this season.
