After 19 matches, it is evident this season’s Premier League title is the most tightly contested in years, with only nine points separating first from eighth.
This piece looks into the prospects of the top eight challengers for the title, as well as their respective performances against the other title contenders.
Apologies to the fans of clubs ninth and below, as ninth place Southampton trails eighth-placed Newcastle by six points.
Arsenal
(Won 13, Drawn 3, Lost 3, For 37, Against 18, +19 – 42 points)
Top 8 home performances
Won against Tottenham, Liverpool.
Drawn against Everton, Chelsea.
Top 8 away performances
Won against Newcastle.
Lost against Manchester United, Manchester City.
Why they will win: Despite concerns about their squad depth, Arsenal have demonstrated the ability to constantly churn out results, winning the games they should.
Their only losses come on the opening day debacle against Aston Villa, and at visits to both Manchester clubs.
With Mesut Ozil providing plenty of service for Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski, Arsenal does have the impetus to stay on top.
Why they won’t win: Their squad still looks thin in regards to coping with a tilt at the Premier League and Champions League titles, as well as a looming FA Cup campaign.
Arsenal fans desire nothing more than silverware, and the club has not been better placed in a decade to deliver it.
Top 8 performance analysis: With 11 points from their seven games against the other contenders, Arsenal have shown the mettle to deliver results.
Trips to both Merseyside clubs as well as to White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge await, and Arsenal’s goal will be to deliver at least draws to ensure they don’t give their rivals further advantage.
Tip: Third place.
Manchester City
(Won 13, Drawn 2, Lost 4, For 54, Against 21, +33 – 41 points)
Top 8 home performances
Won against Newcastle United, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool.
Top 8 away performances
Lost against Chelsea.
Why they will win: Possess the deepest squad to perform well across all respective competitions, and gone is the rancour and bitterness that came to define the Roberto Mancini stewardship.
Manuel Pellegrini has brought a general calmness to Eastlands, and this has shown in their home performances, where they have put all comers to the sword, taking maximum points.
Why they won’t win: If there are doubts, it is their ability to generate results away from home, especially against the lower ranked sides in the league.
City have been undone with losses at Chelsea, Cardiff, Aston Villa and Sunderland. With trips against all their top 8 rivals (except Chelsea) awaiting in the second half of the season, more lost points could lose them the title.
Top 8 performance analysis: Simply breathtaking with 18 out of a possible 21 points.
They have scored 25 goals at home against the other contenders, and the only question mark is if they can replicate these results on the six trips they will have to make from January against their rivals.
Tip: Champions.
Chelsea
(Won 12, Drawn 4, Lost 3, For 35, Against 19, +16 – 40 points)
Top 8 home performances
Won against Manchester City, Liverpool.
Top 8 away performances
Drawn against Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal.
Lost against Everton, Newcastle United.
Why they will win: Despite having no performing striker, and a defence that poses more questions than answers, Chelsea have shown the old Jose Mourinho trait of eking out points and results.
With cash to splash in January, the Special One may add some striking prowess to finally rid himself of the blank feet of Fernando Torres and Demba Ba, which may capitalise on the chances his world class midfield have been creating.
And Mourinho is still yet to lose a league match at Stamford Bridge.
Why they won’t win: However much cash they spend, City will have more.
If they can’t add a new striker, they will have to rely on Samuel Eto’o, Torres and Ba to lead their lines for their silverware charges, names that don’t match their rivals’ striking talents.
Top 8 performance analysis: Chelsea have performed well, winning their sole two home games, and getting points at Old Trafford, White Hart Lane and the Emirates.
However, their two away losses at Everton and Newcastle would irk Mourinho.
With most of their rivals visiting the Bridge in the second half though, Chelsea have the opportunity to rectify this record, but looming for them is a trip to the Etihad.
Tip: Second.
Everton
(Won 10, Drawn 7, Lost 2, For 31, Against 18, +13, 37 points)
Top 8 home performances
Won against Chelsea, Newcastle United.
Drawn against Tottenham, Liverpool.
Top 8 away performances
Won against Manchester United.
Drawn against Arsenal.
Lost against Manchester City.
Why they will win: With only two losses, Everton have been the hardest team to beat.
They have shown remarkable consistency, combining their determined defence from the David Moyes era while embracing Roberto Martinez’s attacking philosophy.
Central to this has been Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, who have fired with important goals and a willingness to pile forward while remaining defensively solid.
Make no mistake, Everton can win this title.
Why they won’t win: Everton can win it, but that doesn’t mean it’s likely to happen.
With only an FA Cup campaign looming, Everton should not have many distractions from their league campaign, and can successfully gain Champions League qualification next season.
However, Everton are still managed by a man whose team was relegated last season, and their squad remains thin on the ground if anything happens to the likes of Lukaku, Barkley or Gareth Barry.
Top 8 performance analysis: Everton have been outstanding against their rivals, with 12 points out of 21, and only a loss at the Etihad to speak of (they are hardly exclusive in this regard).
They’ve won at Old Trafford, and beaten Chelsea and Newcastle at home.
Trips to Stamford Bridge and their grudge match at Anfield await to test their resolve further.
Tip: Fifth.
Liverpool
(Won 11, Drawn 3, Lost 5, For 44, Against 23, +19, 36 points)
Top 8 home performances
Won against Manchester United.
Top 8 away performances
Won against Tottenham.
Drawn against Newcastle United, Everton.
Lost against Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea.
Why they will win: With 44 goals, Liverpool are only second to Manchester City in their attacking stats, and chiefly responsible for this has been Luis Suarez.
However, he has not been alone, with Daniel Sturridge leading the line ably during the early part of the season, and Philippe Coutinho being instrumental as a number 10.
With Steven Gerrard and Sturridge due to return soon, plus with expected new business, Liverpool have enough firepower to win games.
Why they won’t win: Simply, their defence is weak, having shipped 23 goals.
Despite many central defensive options, Brendan Rodgers has not nailed down a pairing that can keep cleansheets, with set pieces especially an issue.
A defensive midfielder that can provide a better shield than Lucas is essential if Liverpool have any hope at the title.
Also, they must stop dropping points against clubs they are expected to beat, such as Southampton and Hull City.
Top 8 performance analysis: With only 8 points out of 21, Liverpool has flattered to deceive. However, only one game has been at Anfield, in their September win against Manchester United.
With teams to visit Anfield, Liverpool will fancy their chances to get three points and destabilise their rivals’ campaigns.
However, key to this will be to defend better and keep their opposition scoreless.
Tip: Fourth.
Manchester United
(Won 10, Drawn 4, Lost 5, For 32, Against 22, +10, 34 points)
Top 8 home performances
Won against Arsenal.
Drawn against Chelsea.
Lost against Everton, Newcastle United.
Top 8 away performances
Drawn against Tottenham.
Lost against Liverpool, Manchester City.
Why they will win: Once again, Manchester United have shown they can start slowly and make inroads as the season progresses.
They have now strung six straight wins, showing the team is adjusting to David Moyes and his regime at Old Trafford.
With a strikeforce combining Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez, United have the ability to win games of football.
Why they won’t win: Their midfield is extremely weak. Marouane Fellaini looks to be in a square peg in United’s round hole, while injuries to Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher has left Moyes to rely on the likes of Shinji Kagawa, Tom Cleverley and Anderson to harness his team’s momentum.
New faces are needed in January if United are to not miss out on the Champions League.
Top 8 performances: United have only gained five points from their rivals, despite having four home games.
Old Trafford is not the fortress it was under Sir Alex, and teams will fancy going there and grabbing three points.
They can rectify this with visits by Liverpool, City and Spurs still pending.
Tip: Sixth.
Tottenham Hotspur
(Won 10, Drawn 4, Lost 5, For 22, Against 24, -2, 34 points)
Top 8 home performances
Drawn against Chelsea, Manchester United.
Lost against Newcastle, Liverpool.
Top 8 away performances
Drawn against Everton.
Lost against Arsenal, Manchester City.
Why they will win: It is amazing that after sacking a manager, and shipping countless goals against City and Liverpool, that Spurs are only three points off Champions League placings.
That demonstrates they have capitalised in games they are expected to win, and if Spurs are to even remotely challenge for the top four, let alone the title, they will need to continue this trend.
Why they won’t win: The team has been far too inconsistent and underperforming.
Their heavy investment during the off season makes it unlikely that they will buy new players in the transfer window, and Tim Sherwood is a rookie manager handling a club still reeling from Gareth Bale’s departure.
Their inability to win against their rivals makes it essential they continue to plunder points from teams in the bottom half.
Top 8 performance analysis: Three points from seven games tells only part of the story of Spurs’ sorry woes against their rivals.
They’ve only managed to score three goals, while shipping 16. This despite four games at home in the first half of the season, and Arsenal, Everton and City will all lick their lips at facing Spurs this season.
Tip: Eighth.
Newcastle United
(Won 10, Drawn 3, Lost 6, For 29, Against 24, +5, 33 points)
Top 8 home performances
Won against Chelsea.
Drawn against Liverpool.
Lost against Arsenal.
Top 8 away performances
Won against Tottenham, Manchester United.
Lost against Manchester City, Everton.
Why they will win: Newcastle have shown their ability to win games they are not expected to, with three points gained against Chelsea, United and Spurs in the first half of the campaign.
With their heavily large French contingent, the Magpies have managed to combine some aesthetically pleasing football and grind out results.
Why they won’t win: Newcastle have been the hallmark of inconsistency, beating Chelsea, United and Spurs, and drawing with 10 men to Liverpool, but losing against Hull, Sunderland and Swansea.
At present, Newcastle United appears a team stuck in the middle, equally capable of winning games they have no right to and losing ones that leaves their fans scratching their heads.
Consistency is required if they are to make the Champions League.
Top 8 performance analysis: Excellent with 10 out of 21 points, considering all the sides would be considered superior to them.
Awaiting them are visits to Anfield, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates, which will test their resolve further.
Newcastle’s aim should be to double this count by season’s end, while improving their form against sides they are expected to beat.
Tip: Seventh.
Final washup:
Manchester City (Champions)
Chelsea (Champions League)
Arsenal (Champions League)
Liverpool (Champions League qualifier)
Everton (Europa League)
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur
Disclaimer: This writer is a Liverpool FC fan
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Manchester City have chalked up another big win in their hunt for an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title, with Phil Foden continuing his…
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Despite the short nature of his tenure as a professional manager, Arne Slot has established himself as arguably the most impressive manager outside of…
Everton won the Merseyside derby 2-0, with Toffees supporters taunting Liverpool after the game at their home ground Goodison Park.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have blasted a hole in Liverpool's Premier League title challenge as Everton powered their way to a priceless derby…
The real concern comes down to football's growing trend of big corporations taking up slices of the world game at the expense of smaller teams.
