Now that every team has played 3 games and players are flying all over the world for the annoyingly timed International Break, here is a closer look at the early favourites to lift the Premier League come May.
The Favourites
Manchester City
Manchester City are the early leaders of the Premier League thanks to goal-difference. Three wins from three at home to Sunderland, away at Stoke and back home again for West Ham have made Manchester City the early favourites. City have looked dominant in the first halves of these games, with a cumulative score of 5-0 when going into the half-time break. However, City have conceded in the second half in each of the games and appear to have failed to kill teams off when it appears they are in control.
Sunderland, Stoke and West Ham have all fought to the bitter end against City but Guardiola’s side have shown they not only have silky skills but also a certain mental toughness which has helped the team stand strong and pull through all of these games. Perhaps the scariest part of Manchester City’s early form is that this has been accomplished without Kompany and three new signings, Gundogan, Sane and Bravo.
Top Performer – Raheem Sterling. The 21 year-old already has 2 goals and 2 assists and looks a different player under Pep Guardiola. He will continue to prove doubters wrong this season.
Top Scorer – Sergio Aguero (3).
Final Position Prediction – 1st.
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Manchester United
Manchester United have also won each of their first three games under Jose Mourninho’s leadership. They trail Manchester City by goal difference alone (sound familiar?). The new signings of Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have helped United to wins over Bournemouth, Southampton and Hull City. United looked commanding in the first two games of the season, winning both comfortably thanks to three goals from Ibrahimovic. However, Mourinho’s side struggled against plucky Hull City for 92 minutes and needed a late, late goal in dare I say it, Fergie time, from 18 year-old Marcus Rashford to take all 3 points back to Manchester. If it weren’t for their noisy neighbors, Manchester United would be considered the likely winners for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson left.
Top Performer – Eric Bailly. The centre-half has been in commanding form to start the season. Pogba misses out only because he missed the first game.
Top Scorer – Zlatan Ibrahimovic (3).
Final Position Prediction – 2nd
Chelsea
Chelsea is the third team to have won each of their first three matches and like the two Manchester clubs, also have a new manager in Antonio Conte. They were unconvincing in the first two games against both West Ham and Watford and needed late goals from Diego Costa in order to get the three points. The fact that Costa was even on the pitch in both games was a miracle in itself, many arguing he should have been sent off. Chelsea fans won’t care though, as they got the precious wins they needed. For the third match of the season at home to Burnley, Chelsea were superb. Hazard looked back to his form of the 2014/15 season as he scored his second goal of the campaign. Chelsea certainly look dangerous and will challenge both Manchester clubs right to the end of the season.
Top Performer – Eden Hazard. Hazard didn’t score his first goal of last season until April. He already has 2.
Top Scorers – Hazard (2), Diego Costa (2).
Final Position Prediction – 3rd
Arsenal
Arsenal scarcely deserve to be called a favourite; they have just 4 points from the opening 3 games. A 4-3 defeat to Liverpool and a 0-0 draw against Leicester were early blows to Arsenal’s title hopes but they bounced back with an incredible first-half display at Watford to win 3-1. Arsenal fans will be telling themselves that titles aren’t won in August and will be hoping the reported new signings of Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez will be enough to see them mount an extended challenge for the title.
If Arsenal can play like they did in the first half at Watford they will surely be a force to be reckoned with. The problem is, it seems Arsenal have many of the same problems they have had for years. It is difficult to see Arsenal being more consistent than both the Manchester clubs and Chelsea which would be necessary to see them lift the title, but the sheer quality of players like Cech, Koscienly, Sanchez and Ozil should see them finish in the top 4. Again.
Top Performer – Laurent Koscienly. The french centre-back is one of the best in the league and has shown that to start the season. His only problem is the same as the rest of the Arsenal squad, consistency.
Top Scorers – Chambers, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Cazorla, Sanchez and Ozil all have 1 goal each.
Final Position Prediction – 4th.
Next: Manchester City not keen on Denayer loan move
The Outsiders
Tottenham
Tottenham have had a decent start to the season, with 5 points from 3 games. Given that two of those games were against Everton and Liverpool, it can be deemed a solid base to build upon. Mauricio Pochettino’s side did tremendously well to finish third last season but they will need to have an even better season to finish in the top 4 again. It should be noted that Tottenham have been without Dembele in central midfield so far, his return could be crucial in lifting Tottenham.
With the added pressure and fatigue of playing in the Champions League this season, Tottenham may find it difficult to repeat the exploits of last season, especially if Harry Kane continues his abysmal form. The striker continued his run of never scoring a goal in August and Spurs fans will be hoping the international break will get Kane back up and running; otherwise it looks set to be another season spent looking up the table at their North London rivals.
Top Performer – Toby Alderweireld. One of the most consistent center-backs in the Premier League has started in good form again. An honourable mention to Rose, whose improvement under Pochettino has been clear.
Top Scorers – Lamela, Wanyama and Rose all have 1 goal each.
Final Position Prediction – 5th
Liverpool
Liverpool were superb against Arsenal (for a 20 minute period), absolutely shocking against Burnley and very patchy against Tottenham. They simply do not have the defensive stability required to threaten the very top of the table. But if the attacking talents of Firmino, Coutinho, Mane, Lallana and Wijnaldum start every game, then they will certainly be enjoyable to watch. Klopp must try to find a balance as having Henderson as the only holding midfielder. What he did against Spurs, is not going to work. Top 4 is within reach for Liverpool this season but they will have to improve in order to finish above two of the teams mentioned above.
Top Performer – Saido Mane. Mane looks to be the perfect Klopp player so far. If he can become more consistent than he was at Southampton, his £34m fee will be justified
Top Scorer – Philippe Coutinho (2).
Final Position Prediction – 6th