Premier League Title Race: Which Team Is Best Equipped To Go All The Way This Season?

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 (1^st – 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 (2^nd – 20 pts):

In his 20^th 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 (3^rd – 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.

Chelsea (4^th – 19 pts):

With just two losses, against Arsenal and Liverpool, in the League this season, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea have been impressive at times. Back to back wins against Leicester City, Hull City and Manchester United will give the Blues plenty of confidence going ahead in the season and having being knocked out of the League Cup this week by West Ham, they can solely concentrate on winning the Premier League title. Kurt Zouma and John Terry are back, giving more cover to the 3-man defense that has worked for the side recently while Eden Hazard and Diego Costa have been in sublime form, keeping Chelsea honest in front goal. However, Conte will know that his squad needs a few additions before they are title contenders and will hope that the current squad can keep up the good work at least until January.

Tottenham Hotspur (5^th – 19 pts):

Still unbeaten in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping to put on another title run this season after missing out on silverware in the previous campaign. They were held to a draw in the last two games and it is clear that they are missing a goal scorer who can convert the half chances to give them all three points. Injury to Harry Kane early in the season has disrupted their form and Pochettino will have to make sure that his side keep up the form and keep winning till the England international is back to stay in contention in the title race. They have a strong lineup with some decent depth and if they can find consistency even in tough time, this might easily be their year.

Manchester United (7^th -14 pts):

Having lost some precious ground with a bad run of form recently, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are slowly drifting away from the League title. Though it still early days, Manchester United will need to put in some good performance and find some consistency if they are to challenge for silverware. The manager has not been able to settle into a fixed starting lineup with most of his first teamers badly out of form but it will not take long for players of such quality to step up and help the side to some victories. At the moment, United are still looking for some fluency and are a long way away from lifting the title this season.

 

Note: The article was written before the 10th week of the Premier League