The Premier League last season produced a fairy tale with King Power outfit Leicester City staying strong throughout the season to lift the title. It was a result of the top clubs in the league failing to find any kind of consistency in crunch times. However, this season, the Premier League has become more competitive and has so far lived up to its reputation. With just a point separating the top 5 sides of the League, with 9 games into the season, this campaign of the Premier League is the most competitive in top flight English football since 1981. The 20 points that keep Manchester City at the top of the table are also the lowest points for the league leaders since the 2000/01 season showing how hard it is going to be for teams to lift the title this season. Though there is plenty of quality in personnel on the field and also in the managerial positions and this season can easily go down to the wire on the final day of the season. We have currently completed close to quarter of the season so this would be a good time to take a look at how well equipped the top sides in the league are for this title race:
Manchester City (1st – 20 pts):
The Pep Guardiola effect saw the Etihad outfit put on a show at the start of the season, stealing a lead with an incredible winning run. However, City are now without a win in their last three league games and are in desperate need of some positive results. Their 1-1 draw against Southampton recently exposed their problems at the back and the fact that they have committed the most errors that have led to a shot (6) in the Premier League shows that they need to work on their defense to go all the way. The attack is sizzling and Guardiola will need to work on his side’s discipline if he is to win the title in his debut season in the Premier League.
Arsenal (2nd – 20 pts):
In his 20th season incharge of the Emirates outfit, Wenger seems to have found the strongest lineup his team has had since the incredible run back in 2003. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott are all on fire while Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi have put on a solid partnership at the back to put on an incredible 6 match winning streak early in the season. However, like every other season recently, injuries are taking their toll on the side with the Gunners sorely missing the likes of Granit Xhaka and Santi Cazorla in the stalemate against Boro. They are an in form side in the league at the moment but they will have to find that much-needed consistency that last throughout the season to go all the way.
Liverpool (3rd – 20 pts):
The German maestro Jurgen Klopp has taken one full year but he has finally got the Reds to the top of the Premier League table. They seem to be well equipped in attack with the likes of Coutinho, Firmino and Mane constantly finding the back of the net. The likes of Lallana and Henderson have been in the form of their life this season and the strength at the back of Joel Matip has only made them stronger. James Milner solved the left-back problem to a certain extent while Karius, though has not been comfortable, has removed a liability in Mignolet from goal. They also have a strong bench which is making the goal scoring their last concern but they have shown a vulnerability at the back that needs to be solved if they are win the title this season.