Tight at the top, edgy at the bottom

THERE are only six weeks and a handful of fixtures left before we bring the curtain down on another enthralling season of the English Premier League (EPL), and what a finale we are in for this time. There are different tussles at the top and bottom halves of the table, with the bigger boys jostling to qualify for next season's Champions League and Europa League competitions, and a host of other clubs desperately trying to stave off the threat of relegation to English football's second tier.

For most of the campaign, it appeared almost certain that the all-conquering Chelsea, under the tutelage of Italian manager Antonio Conte, would claim their sixth league trophy in May.

The Blues have perched themselves atop the EPL summit for several months now, and even held a double-digit lead over their nearest rivals at one point. Then came that shocking 1-2 defeat at home to strugglers Crystal Palace last weekend, and all of a sudden there's fresh life in the EPL title race.