James Milner hopes champions Manchester City can now seize the initiative in the title race.
City are joint top of the Premier League with Chelsea at the start of 2015 after hitting a rich spell of form.
They trailed the Londoners by eight points in November and their indifferent form was raising questions over the long-term future of manager Manuel Pellegrini.
But many doubts have been swept aside amid a run of 13 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Their only blip during the congested festive programme was a 2-2 draw with Burnley and Milner sees no reason why momentum cannot be maintained throughout a tough-looking January.
City travel to Everton on Saturday before hosting Arsenal the following week and then ending the month with a much-anticipated clash against title rivals Chelsea.
“Hopefully we’ll be looking to open up a little gap of our own,” said Milner, who underlined his importance to the side with a vital double in Sunday’s FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday.
“You look at this run (ahead) and people think it is tougher than the games we had over Christmas but – it is an old cliche in the Premier League – there are form teams and out-of-form teams. Every game is difficult.
“You’ve got teams at the bottom who look and think, ‘We’re going to win that game,’ – look at Burnley coming here and how well they played.
“Sometimes it is easier to play against teams who are mid-table and pushing for Europe and are moving it around a lot more. Who knows what an easy game is? It is the Premier League.
“All we can do is concentrate on our games and if we can get the results we want to get, it depends on how Chelsea do.”
Milner feels people were too quick to write City off as Chelsea made all the early running.
But the England international claims there is no satisfaction to be taken from proving them wrong – because the job is not yet completed.
He said: “No, not yet because we are not at the top and you want to be at the top as early as you can.
“We might have been written off but we haven’t won the league. It is all right being in the race in January, but you need to be in there in May.
“But we have been there before and what is said outside the camp is irrelevant to us. We have got that experience. We have been there before.
“We were written off in March or April the first time but we won it, we turned it round. That experience helps.”
Milner’s performance at the weekend emphasised why the club are keen to get him to sign a new contract.
With City trailing 1-0 to the Championship side, midfielder Milner was asked to reprise the centre-forward role he played during December due to injuries.
He responded – on what was his 29th birthday – with the two goals that turned around the third-round tie, with the dramatic winner coming in stoppage-time.
Talks with Milner over a new deal to replace the one that expires this summer have reached an advanced stage, but the player is still to commit.
Pellegrini is hopeful it will be concluded soon but, for now, Milner wants to talk only about events on the field.
And for him, with Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero close to fitness, that might involve another switch of position while central midfielder Yaya Toure is at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Milner said: “We will see what the manager wants to do. Yaya is a big miss for us because of what he has done at the club but we have to deal with that and carry on this run we have been on.”
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European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
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World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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