Summary: Oliver Kay of The Times joins at a key point of the season as the transfer window closes and the league approaches its final, most important third of the season where only two of the top 12 teams in the table were able to collect three points at midweek. Surely this was a key checkpoint as questions still linger for what was once thought two major contenders in Manchester City and Chelsea who stumbled with what seemed almost predictable draws and an Everton team which continues to pass the important tests and finds itself undisturbed by key transfers going out and remains as healthy as could be best expected. Also in the focal point are Arsenal and Liverpool who battled to a somewhat predictable draw at the Emirates and left even more questions than answers, but of little doubt is Manchester United at the top with two unyielding talking points: an air of inevitability and the ongoing questions about first team goalkeeper David De Gea who continues to produce as many doubts as he does victories, not for this league title, but maybe what he might reveal in the key stages of the Champions League. Oli has some key insight into what his future may bring and provides a bit of insight from Old Trafford into what has been a problem for United this season, the ability to allow cheap goals that could haunt them in Europe. Also in focus here is the ongoing dress rehearsal for Rafa Benitez at Chelsea and two very valuable points squandered at Reading and whether a tipping has been reached for the Blues already, whether David Moyes has the squad to break through into that top four at last and what next for an Aston Villa team that appears headed for free fall if not relegation in the end. We also check in on the problems for Manchester City who continue to stay close to United, but just seem to lack that ability to find the goals when they matter against smaller clubs. Loads covered here in terms of trends and patterns that have emerged this season and whether they might just define a rather uneven season in the weeks and months ahead.
