We are set for another epic race to the Premier League trophy this season. The defending champions Manchester City are looking to retain their title , while, Liverpool are desperately searching for their first silverware under Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds and the Citizens are in the first and second position respectively and they are closely followed by Tottenham and Chelsea.
The Blues won the Premier League glory twice in three years but they are unlikely to make it three in four seasons as they currently occupy the fourth position with 37 points, eight points behind Liverpool who are on the summit of the table.
As for Tottenham, the Lilywhites are yet to lay grip on any trophy since 2008 and that didn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon, not this season.
Why Chelsea and Tottenham can’t lay claim for the title this season
Current form
Liverpool have been in awesome form right from the start of the campaign and didn’t look like they would take their feet off the pedal so soon.
17 matches into the season, the Merseyside club are yet to taste any defeat and they’ve been a free-scoring team. Their defensive record is also encouraging as Alisson Becker, who joined the Reds from Roma for £67m in the summer, has conceded just seven goals so far.
Just like the Reds, City are in blistering form as they’ve continued from where they stopped during the previous season.
It took Chelsea’s brilliancy and utmost determination to end their unbeaten record as Maurizio Sarri’s men emerged 2-0 winners at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.
Despite failing to keep their invincibility for most of the season, the Citizens are very much in the race for the League’s ultimate prize as they are just one point off Liverpool in the League table.
Unlike the first two teams in the Premier League standings, Tottenham have blown hot and cold all through the season.
The Wembley outfits were defeated by Arsenal (4-2), Watford (2-1), earlier in the season while their performances haven’t been as convincing as many of their fans predicted prior to the start of the campaign.
As for the Blues, despite the great transformation brought into Stamford Bridge by Maurizio Sarri, the West London club aren’t ready to challenge City for the title just yet.
Recent Trends
As much as it might sounds coincidental and baseless, recent trend in the League suggest that any team who start a new year at the top of the log often proceed to win the League.
Since Leicester City’s unexpected run to the League glory in 2015-16 season, the trend has been repeating itself.
During Conte’s reign at Stamford Bridge, the Blues were on top of the table in January 2017 and they eventually won the Premier League glory.
The same happened to Guardiola’s Manchester City last season, hence, we could see it happen later in the season.
If this trend is going to occur again this season, it means one of Manchester City or Liverpool will be crowned the next Premier League Champions come May 2019