Flight of the Valkyries

I was enjoying a late Saturday afternoon with my special lady-friend, Toots. She was listening to me go on about how Manchester City had lost their fourth game in a row. A fella dripping with dad energy popped up behind Toots, turned around and addressed us.

Well, he tried to address us. Dad Energy got a full look at my handsomeness and lost his breath. It's fine, I'm used to it. More pressing issue was getting the fella's wife to stop unbuttoning my trousers.

Dad Energy got himself together and asked me to confirm that Man City had lost. We had. Let me tell you dear reader, the smile that broke across that man's face was ethereal. Dad Energy is a Chelsea man.

Pep Guardiola said the end of City's title run is "what the people want." As usual, he's not wrong. And I get it. Dominance is boring. The race isn't over for Manchester City. Stones, Dias and Grealish will come back. But the field is ahead and hungry as hell.

Liverpool are running ahead under Arne Slot. The new manager has the Reds playing vibrant, attack-minded football. After winning possession and much like under the gegenpressing (counter-pressing) Klopp, Liverpool appear to fly like valkyries down the field on direct runs to the goal. And the most dangerous bird is Mo Salah who has eight goals and six assists in eleven Premier League games.

The rest of the field offers intriguing possibilities. Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Newcastle and Tottenham are all fun stories waiting to happen. I have a soft spot for Tottenham. The Spurs play bright and direct under Ange Postecoglou. They can get messy though. That's hell on a supporter (lose to Ipswich Town) and all kinds of fun for a neutral.

Back at the bar, Toots used her well-honed fighting techniques and tore Mom Energy's mouth from my shirt. Dad Energy thanked me for my time and begged for a lock of my beard hair. I agreed to both because this dork seemed lit up inside by the thought of a Premier League title. While the Chelsea team he supports is for dum-dums, I can't help but respect the exuberance. The title race is open everybody. Act accordingly.