Manchester City and liverpool are all set for the following Premier League title showdown but who seems likeliest to join them in the top four this year?
The 2019/20 term might still be in its infancy but as matchday eight approaches, themes have emerged to indicate an intriguing scrap under the two involving heavyweights caught in transition or fighting to balance attacking threat with all defensive grit.
Will Manchester United fight to make the top six leading ? Are Leicester the deal in the fight for Champions League football? With the help of both pundits and stats, we take a look at the conflict, and you may have your state.
Arsenal and manchester United played a 1-1 draw on Monday Night Football but fare was served up by a once-fearsome fixture involving the forces of soccer in Old Trafford.
United have, in fact, made their worst start to a Premier League year – eight points from seven matches sees them just squeak into the upper half going into the weekend – and their stuttering form stretches back into last word; a haul of just 17 points out of the last 16 matches is the third-worst in the league, even excluding this years newcomers.
The chances on Ole Gunnar Solskjaers negative have shrunk significantly since the start of the season. They were 5/4 with Sky Bet prior to a competitive ball was pumped, but, to 9/4, are outside after only two wins out of seven.
Solskjaer spent large in the summer on Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka but child Dan James – much more of a recruit compared to a sure thing – was a standout performer, scoring a third of the goals of United so far. Since a 4-0 coming weekend rout of Chelsea, only Brighton (2), Newcastle (4) and Watford (4) have scored fewer goals than Uniteds five, with only Brighton and Watford using a worse shot-conversion speed than their 5.8 percent. With lingering questions over the place of Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku permitted to leave, Solskjaers team is short, with the director himself admitting his own recruitment plans will prioritise goals and creativity.
This is a worry for United heading forward, said Jamie Carragher following the Old Trafford attraction, where 12 of the 16 efforts came from outside the box. For United, that are famous as that group of flying wingers, folks getting from the box, targets and always a large target hazard, its a large stress and that I dont see it changing. Whoever talks about these being more clinical but have they actually got the gamers with the ability to be clinical?
Sky Sports Jose Mourinho, speaking after the dismal defeat to West Ham, said he believed United werein trouble to get not simply into the top four however, also the best six, while Gary Neville has surrendered the gulf but urged them to prioritise long-term strategy. Top four along with winning a trophy could be a successful season, he stated on his latest podcast. That is where Manchester United are at. Thats unacceptable but theyre incapable – following six or seven years – of moving into first from fifth, sixth or seventh. Being on the perfect track this year is more significant than fifth, fourth or third.
Like Man Utd, Arsenals deficiencies were emphasized from the Old Trafford stalemate but the Gunners – appearing to seal Champions League football for the first time in five seasons – have noticed their top-four chances shorten greatly from 11/8 to 10/11.
Their prowess – along with their competitions worries that are own – are reasons for optimism. Injuries have averted Unai Emery from fielding Alexandre Lacazette Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe collectively but Aubameyang has already netted seven occasions this year and theyve created more possibilities than Man Utd and Tottenham so far.
I believe Arsenal have only got the edge because of the strikers within their team, Carragher said on MNF. I believe they will concede more goals, but Aubameyang is top class. Hes among the best strikers in the match, he was scorer last year and I would not bet against him top scorer. They have Lacazette as well, so that there are only more goals .
A suspect defence remains: no other more Premier League side has generated more mistakes while this term no negative has ever faced more shots in complete than the 126 clocked by Opta, leading since the appointment of Emery. Carragher, in a look at the defensive defects of Arsenal, considers Emery has function to do to ensure that his backline is much better shielded although david Luiz stays prone to lapses.
A twist against Aston Villa and A capitulation at Watford have been reminders of a centre and Paul Merson anticipates margins at a race that was nervy. I would probably say Arsenal will create it there were just two nervous soccer teams Monday night with a lot of strain on these, he said. There isnt likely to be a lot between Chelsea, United and Arsenal; it isnt going to be like its been where the top four will be 10-15 points before everybody else.
Tottenham might have pushed Liverpool and City hard last year before finally falling off as the race on two fronts took its toll, but the mood has darkened dramatically across north London – and that was before Tuesdays 7-2 Champions League humiliation at home to Bayern Munich.
A one-off thrashing, together with Robert Lewandowski and his team-mates ruthless, might sting but be more tolerable. Yet Spurs have crashed from cup competition to Colchester, seemed devoid of ideas in defeat to Newcastle and repeatedly surrendered leads; at the circumstance of a beginning where Mauricio Pochettino admitted his talented squad is unsettled after a turbulent transfer window, all these are troubling times.
Pochettinos side have won only three matches from 10 in most contests but their encounter could be tracked back to February; because a defeat to Burnley, they have won just 22 points in their last 19 Premier League matches. Newcastle have made more.
Spiritual Eriksen was benched back in midweek, although at Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose and Serge Aurier, Tottenham fielded a backline made up of players whose futures have been remain unclear. Hugo Lloris gaffed against Southampton but no goalkeeper has prevented more league goals than the Spurs man since the beginning of last season (14), based on Optas anticipated goals on target data. Only four sides have faced over Spurs 112 shots and five factors have been dropped out of positions.
Merson, talking ahead of a gritty 2-1 win over Southampton who appeared a morale-booster, believes Spurs – 8/11 for a finish – remain the nearest challengers to both leading but feels a spark has now gone on the pitch and in the dugout.
They are the third-best group in the group, in my view, still, Merson said. I really dont want to say eliminate Pochettino and what is right, but its just gone sour . With everybody, the whole thing needs shifting. They are a fantastic team, that arent likely to win the jackpot – . It seems somewhat like the players are currently believing that. The spark has gone somewhat .
Chelseas wait for a first home win in the Premier League finished at the weekend but their youthful negative has galvanised fans regardless of results along with a developing feeling of optimism was fortified in Lille, at which Frank Lampards players handed a stern Champions League evaluation, albeit with the help of an older mind in Willian.
They may be in transition but Lampard has approached the task of blooding youth with relish in the surface of a move ban and his hope in gift is paying off. Tammy Abraham has scored eight goals already this year. He, together with Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount are accountable for England call-ups. Each one of the top-flight targets of Chelsea this year are scored or assisted by academy graduates.
A team filled with business ranks second for shots, shots on target and opportunities created from play and those opportunities are great ones too – just Manchester City are scoring higher in terms of goals that are anticipated.
Theres ample area for defensive improvement – they have just kept one blank sheet this season – and that the exertions of a long season may well take their toll players adapting to life in the very top level, but Carragher has seen enough to believe Lampards facet – 6/4 for a top-four end – can capitalise because their competitions toil.
The 1 team looking at [Man Utd vs Arsenal] wholl be encouraged would be Chelsea, Carragher stated in the MNF studio.
At the onset of the season, I thought Chelsea could struggle to get into the top four. It is going to nonetheless be a struggle but, even in these early stages, they have higher quality than what weve observed from both of these teams.
Brendan Rodgers might be playing Leicesters chances -we all know it is a big ask because of all the other clubs that are regulars there; were only focusing on our operation degrees, he said after a 5-0 thumping of Newcastle, but the numbers marry with the eye evaluation.
Manchester City and only Liverpool have taken Premier League points than Leicesters 31 because Rodgers arrival, with a win over Tottenham helping them to next in the dining table. A hard-pressing aspect has been crafted by the Celtic boss with James Maddison and Jamie Vardy flourishing in assault, while Wilfred Ndidi and new fan favourite Caglar Soyuncu are playing key roles farther back.
Neville believes the Foxes – together with West Ham – seem to mount a challenge. If West Ham and Leicester maintain their squads fit, theyve a great chance of getting into that sixth or fifth place, he stated on the Gary Neville tradition.
Youd probably swap a few of either side players into the Man Utd team or bench. There is a possibility there. Arsenal are inconsistent, Chelsea and Man Utd are unreliable and youthful. We saw Leicester break at the very top miraculously a few years back; it would not be a wonder to watch them break into the upper five or four this time.
Roy Keane also sees a chance:From what I have seen lately of United and Arsenal, in case you are these other teams – West Ham, Leicester – when there is ever a chance for them to get from the top four it will be this year.
Merson is amazed with what hes seen so far – but includes words of warning. Rodgers has never been in Leicester annually and he has already enhanced that squad 10-fold, he stated in his most recent column. There is not 1 player that has gone backwards since his birth but there is quite a way to go, it is a huge ask. In case Jamie Vardy gets injured certain players need to remain fit for them, whos going to come in? Thats the problem on a 38-game season.
Who are you financing to make the top four? Use the up and down arrows to shape the tables top. Teams readily available for selection are those with the least Sky Bet chances (right at 11am, October 3)
Manchester City – 1/250
Liverpool – 1/100
Tottenham – 8/11
Arsenal – 10/11
Chelsea – 6/4
Manchester United – 9/4
Leicester – 7/2
West Ham – 16/1

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