Are There Any Good Teams In Premier League?

 There's not a lot of Liverpool action today but there have been some interesting results, not least Southampton beating last year's champions, Man City, who are still four points clear in second place. City were poor against us and have had some dodgy results this season, and the fact that they're still second has made me wonder, is the Premier League actually any good?

 Currently Man Utd sit nine points clear at the top and if they win tomorrow the title race is all but over before mid February, and they've had some poor results too, as well as some dodgy performances and late wins. There's no denying they've been the best team so far this season, but are they just the best of a bad bunch?

 Utd are top by a distance because they've had good results in the big games, but they've also had luck along the way. They beat City with an injury time deflected free kick after their full back dived to win the set piece, they beat 9 man Chelsea away with an offside winning goal, they beat Liverpool at home with an offside winning goal, they won at Anfield after the home side weren't awarded a clear penalty. This isn't a 'bitter rant' about their fortunes (if it was I'd mention that after all this luck their manager has been fined for actually complaining an official was biased AGAINST them, irony huh?) but rather a way of saying there really isn't much between the teams at the top. 

 Last season both Manchester clubs failed to get out of the group stages of the Champions League, this time round it was Chelsea and City who failed, only Arsenal have got through to the last sixteen in both the last two seasons. Both Man Utd and Arsenal have tough ties this week in Europe and you could make a good argument for them both getting knocked out. Liverpool play Zenit in the Europa League and it wouldn't be much of a surprise if the Russians win over the two legs.

 In terms of entertainment I still think there's nothing that can beat the Premier League, we've got the atmosphere, the drama, the goals, the star players, the historic stadiums, the rivalries and the traditions, but in terms of top quality teams I'm not sure we've actually got one.

 If there was a tournament where the first place teams from England, Spain, Italy and Germany played each other, the second place sides squared off, third place and so on I doubt a single one of the English clubs would win their respective groups. I don't know why the quality has dropped, but I'm pretty sure it has.

 Not long ago it felt like it was a real possibility we'd have four English sides in the semi finals of the Champions League every season, now it feels like getting just one into the quarter finals would be an achievement.

 One thing that I find comforting in the decline of our domestic league is that it feels Liverpool haven't got as far to go to catch up with the teams above us. I don't know why but I really feel everyone, apart from Man Utd (and that might be a different story when Fergie retires) is catchable over the next few seasons. I know we need to concentrate on what's within our control, but if the other teams want to drop their standards and make it easier for us to reach them then we should take full advantage and hopefully before long get back towards the top of the pile.