The Tide is Turning, and it looks Red

What more can soccer fans ask for? Last summer saw a huge change in the English Premier League: the league's - and world's - best player, Cristiano Ronaldo, left a rampant Manchester United side in order to pursue warmer weather, beautiful women, and a spot in Armani photo shoots (the man from Portugal, of course, stole the limelight from David Beckham for the fashion giants). In doing so, Ronaldo shifted the power from Sir Alex Ferguson and the Red Devils to Roman Abramovich's billions of dollars invested down in London at Chelsea.

And so the season started exactly as anticipated. Chelsea got off to a blistering start to the season on the back of Didier Drogba's excellent form, and the Blues looked unstoppable. Numerous 4-0 victories, wins over their closest rivals, and the level-headed approach brought by Carlo Ancelotti left the club comfortably at the top of the table.

Every Premier League fan knows one thing: come the turn of the new year, the flipping of the calendar is symbolic of a light switch being flipped at Old Trafford. Indeed, Manchester United has gotten over its post-Ronaldo hangover and January has seen the club propel up the table. Wayne Rooney in particular has given the Premiership a much needed boost in the absence of he-who-must-not-be-named, and the English striker shot to the top of the goalscorers' chart with a majestic four goal performance against Hull City.

To add further pressure to the early lead that Chelsea built up, Arsenal - another team in red - has thrown its hat into the ring as potential league champions. Arsene Wenger has always been frugal yet tactical in his approach, and at long last his youthful Gunners are looking to push all the way until May. For the first time in many years, England's top flight is a three horse race. Even below that, the race for fourth is hotter than ever with a rejuvenated Tottenham side fighting hard with Liverpool, Aston Villa, a dangerous Manchester City, and a revived Everton.

Can fans ask for anything more exciting?

Brian Lofrumento writes full time for Premiership Talk (www.PremiershipTalk.com)