Sports chick: Good lord, I’m loving the EPL

With just three games remaining, Liverpool are sitting pretty in the table with 80 points — five clear of second-place Chelsea.

After a thrilling 3-2 win on Sunday against Norwich City, the Reds took a massive leap forward towards grasping their first championship title in 24 years.  

In their 35 games, they have scored 96 goals, which is eight more than third-place Manchester City and 29 more than second-place Chelsea.

What’s different this year? Well let’s start with manager Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers really came to the fore in the 2010-11 season when he masterminded Swansea City’s promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history.

Rodgers took over at Liverpool before the 2012-13 season and before his arrival, the team had scored only 47 goals the previous season.

After a season of gradual improvement, Rodgers is now reaping the benefits of young English talent Raheem Sterling and the lethal finishing of Luis Suarez. Rodgers said after Sterling’s two goals beat the Canaries that the 19-year-old  “is the best young player in European football”. Meanwhile, Suarez notched his 30th goal of the season on Sunday and is the league’s leading scorer.

Suarez, along with homegrown heroes Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge, is shortlisted in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s awards. Considering they finished seventh last season, this campaign has been simply incredible for a side whose objective at the start of the season was to finish in the top four.

It ain’t over yet…

But before the champagne is popped at Anfield, there is plenty of football to play. Hot on their heels with 75 points are Chelsea. Despite a shocking loss to basement boys Sunderland, they are still very much in the mix.

Sandwiched in between the Blues’ Champions League semi-final ties against Atletico Madrid, the title-chasers clash on Sunday in what is shaping up to be an epic battle.

Lest we forget third-placed Manchester City, who sit on 74 points but have one game in hand of the Reds and the Blues.

Whether you’ve been a faithful Premier league fan from childhood or you’re a novice to the sport, you’re in for a thrilling ride to the finish. Will the super-hot Reds keep finding ways to win and end a 24-year drought or will Chelsea and Man City prolong their victory parade? If you’re not one of those watching  Premier League football at Dockies, Robin Hood or Outback, you should be…especially over the next couple of weeks.

Converted

Never in a million years did I think I would be so enamoured with this game.

I’m a girl from Toronto who loves her hockey and NFL. Sure Major League Soccer is trying to invade the North American scene but it can’t compare to the pure undeniable exhilaration of the EPL.

It has everything a sports fan can ask for: controversy, drama, penalties and hostilities.

However, the best part about the game of footy is without a doubt the fans.  

They are extreme to the core and you can’t stop yourself from being drawn into the insanity. Half the time I have no clue what they’re saying, singing or chanting but that only adds to the madness! If you call yourself a sports lover, I suggest you add footy to your list, if you haven’t already. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Follow Bobbi Singh on  Twitter @sportschickca.