Teams Without European Commitments with the Advantage

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The 2020/21 English Premier League season is different to many that have gone before due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the break in the 2019/20 season, which saw the season finish late, plus the late finish of the Champions League and Europa League, it has been a quick turn around for Premier League clubs without a proper preseason.

Furthermore, due to the 2020 European Championship being played in the summer of 2021, there is no additional time for the English Premier League to use and games must be completed to give time for the players and nations involved to get ready for the tournament.

What does all this mean in terms of the Premier League title race?

It could mean we have one of the closest title races, involving the greatest number of teams we have seen in the history of the Premier League. Following the 12th round of matches in the Premier League, there are 10 teams who still have a decent chance of finishing top of the table.

For example, Aston Villa are currently in 10th place on 18 points and that leaves them seven points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur, who are top of the Premier League. However, Aston Villa have two games in hand and should they win both matches they will be just a single point behind the leaders.

Manchester United and Manchester City also have a game in hand on the teams above them and if they were to win that game, they would be 2 points and 3 points behind the leaders, respectively.

Some of the other teams in the mix include defending champions Liverpool, Leicester City, Southampton, Chelsea, West Ham United, and Everton.

You only have to look at the sluggish performance of Liverpool at Fulham on the weekend to get an understanding of how European football could have a major impact on the Premier League title race this season.

Fulham have been showing signs of improvement as the season has developed but it was clear they had the greater energy and desire from the first whistle of the match against Liverpool on Sunday. Fulham could easily have been 3 goals up before Liverpool were awarded a fortunate penalty due to handball following a direct free kick.

Chelsea and Manchester City will return to Champions League action in February plus Manchester City have the League Cup to contend with and that could add an additional two games to their fixture list, not including the upcoming quarter-final.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will also be involved in European football as they contest the Europa League. This comes with its own problems in terms of the Premier League as Europa League games are played on a Thursday night, meaning Premier League matches have to be played on a Sunday.

Could this leave the door open for one of Leicester City, Southampton, Everton, or West Ham United? Of those four teams, Leicester City and Southampton have looked the most equipped to mount a serious title challenge this season.

Could The Foxes be about to win their second Premier League title or will The Saints Go Marching in to lift the trophy for the first time?