Five teams, one point – so who is ready to take charge of tightest Premier League race?
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Updated 28/10/2016 at 19:56 GMT
Sure, it’s October and we’re only nine games into the Premier League season. But with just one point separating the top five, it’s an ideal time to weigh up each side’s chances of going the distance.
Who is ready to take charge of tightest Premier League race?
Image credit: Reuters
Who do you think will win the Premier League?! Vote at the bottom…
Manchester City (1st, 20 points)
Strengths: City possess the best striker in the Premier League (Sergio Aguero), the best creative player in (Kevin De Bruyne) and the best young player (Raheem Sterling). They have a clear system under Pep Guardiola – something that can’t yet be said about their neighbours.
Weaknesses: The defence. John Stones appears incapable of navigating a match without a high-profile error, while Claudio Bravo is extremely unstable under pressure. With Guardiola seemingly reluctant to trust Vincent Kompany – and the Belgian scared to trust himself, asking to be substituted in a Manchester derby – the backline is lacking a leader.
Title chances: Favourites… if they fix the defence.
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Manchester City's Vincent Kompany in action
Image credit: Reuters
Arsenal (2nd, 20 points)
Strengths: Arsenal arguably possess the strongest midfield and goalkeeper (Petr Cech) in the Premier League. With almost everyone predicting another spring collapse, the Gunners are flying under the radar – but are benefitting from Alexis Sanchez starting in attack and Theo Walcott’s rejuvenation as a wide man.
Weaknesses: Arsenal’s climb to joint-top has been aided by a healthy dose of luck. They were fortunate to get a last-gasp penalty to beat Southampton, before Laurent Koscielny’s offside-handball winner against Burnley. That won't continue indefinitely. Meanwhile, they continue to be plagued by talk of a fragile mentality. As soon as you expect them to push on, they crumble.
Title chances: November will reveal more about the Gunners’ quest. Games against Tottenham and Manchester United are sandwiched between two Champions League ties. Currently, though, they are doing enough to stay in the hunt.
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Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez (C) runs with the ball under pressure from Middlesbrough's Dutch midfielder Marten de Roon (R) and Middlesbrough's Uruguayan midfielder Gaston Ramírez (L)
Image credit: AFP
Liverpool (3rd, 20 points)
Strengths: Liverpool have a mediocre squad, but Jurgen Klopp is eking out every drop of talent, transforming a previously leaky defence into a rarely penetrable wall and helping Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Fiminho flourish into match winners.
Weaknesses: Have they got enough firepower? They can’t solely rely on midfielders to score the goals and it remains to be seen whether Klopp is convinced by Daniel Sturridge.
Title chances: Liverpool are already benefitting from a lack of European action – an absence that almost drove them to the title under Brendan Rodgers in 2013-14. They’ve already ticked off trips to the Emirates, White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge, emerging with seven points. In with a real sniff.
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Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Roberto Firmino
Image credit: Reuters
Chelsea (4th, 19 points)
Strengths: The Blues are yet to concede since switching to a 3-4-3 formation midway through their dismal showing at Arsenal. Eden Hazard is returning to his dazzling best, while N’Golo Kante provides adequate cover to an unstable defence.
Weaknesses: Can a three-man backline, even with the assistance of two wing-backs and Kante, keep out the better teams – particularly when David Luiz and Gary Cahill are in that trio?
Title chances: Will also benefit from being out of Europe. However, they’re yet to prove their new system works against quality opposition – Arsenal were 3-0 up and cruising when Conte first made the tactical tweak – so at this moment you would still have to say the title is beyond them.
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Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates scoring their third goal
Image credit: Reuters
Tottenham (5th, 19 points)
Strengths: Spurs have a young, hungry team who are buying into Mauricio Pochettino’s high-pressing philosophy. They boast the strongest defensive pairing in the Premier League (Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen) and have Victor Wanyama destroying everything in the midfield.
Weaknesses: Tottenham don’t score enough and desperately need an in-form Harry Kane back.
Title chances: They may be the only unbeaten team, but they have the joint-most draws in the top-flight (four). Much depends on Kane’s recovery, as does their ability not to repeat their crumbling antics from last season.
Who will win the Premier League title?
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