Manchester City and liverpool are set for another Premier League title showdown however who seems likeliest to join them at the top four this year?
The 2019/20 term might still be in its infancy but as matchday eight approaches, themes have already emerged to suggest an scrap under the two between heavyweights captured in transition or struggling to balance attacking threat with all defensive grit.
Will Manchester United fight to make the top six best ? Are Leicester the deal in the fight for Champions League football? With the support of both pundits and stats that are key, we take a look at the battle that is ancient, and you can have your state.
Manchester United and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw Monday Night Football but a once-fearsome fixture involving the prominent forces of football served up fare in Old Trafford.
United have, in actuality, produced their worst start to a Premier League year – eight points from seven games sees them only squeak into the top half going into the weekend – and also their stuttering form extends back into last word; a drag of just 17 points from the last 16 matches is the third-worst from the league, even excluding this years newcomers.
The chances on Ole Gunnar Solskjaers negative have slipped significantly since the beginning of the season. They were 5/4 with Sky Bet before there was a ball pumped, however, to 9/4, are out after just two wins out of seven.
Solskjaer spent large in the summer on Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire but child Dan James – much more of a wildcard recruit than a sure thing – has been a standout performer, scoring a third of Uniteds goals up to now. Considering that a 4-0 opening weekend rout of Chelsea, just Brighton (2), Newcastle (4) and Watford (4 ) ) have scored fewer goals than Uniteds five, using only Brighton and Watford with a worse shot-conversion speed than their 5.8 percent. Together with questions over the place of Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku permitted to depart, the team of Solskjaer is definitely short, together with the manager himself will prioritise goals and imagination.
It is a concern for United moving forward, said Jamie Carragher following the Old Trafford draw, at which 12 of the 16 efforts came from outside the box. For United, who are famous as that group of flying wingers, people getting from the box, targets and always a gigantic goal hazard, its a large worry and that I do not really see it changing. Ole talks about them being more clinical but have they actually got the players with the capability to be more clinical?
Sky Sports Jose Mourinho, speaking after the dismal defeat to West Ham, stated he felt United werein trouble to get not just into the top four but also the top six, while Gary Neville has surrendered the gulf but encouraged them to prioritise long-term strategy. Top four along with winning a trophy could be a prosperous year, he explained on his latest podcast. That is where Manchester United are at. That is unacceptable but theyre incapable – after six or seven decades – of moving from fifth, sixth or seventh into first. Being on the ideal track this year is much more significant than fifth, fourth or third.
Like Man Utd, Arsenals deficiencies were highlighted from the Old Trafford stalemate however the Gunners – looking to secure Champions League soccer for the first time in five seasons – have observed their top-four chances shorten from 11/8 to 10/11.
Their prowess – along with their rivals own anxieties – are certainly reasons for optimism. Injuries have averted Unai Emery from fielding together Alexandre Lacazette Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe in the start but Aubameyang has netted seven occasions this season and theyve created more big opportunities than Man Utd and Tottenham up to now.
I think Arsenal have only got the advantage because of the strikers within their team, Carragher said on MNF. I believe that they are going to concede more objects, however Aubameyang is top class. Hes among the greatest strikers in the league, that he had been scorer last season and I wouldnt bet against him being top scorer again. They have Lacazette as well, so that there are only more goals .
There stays A defendant defence: no Premier League side has made errors leading to goals although this expression no negative has faced more shots in total compared to 126 clocked by Opta. Carragher, at a deeper look at the defensive defects of Arsenal, considers Emery has function to do to make sure that his backline is better shielded although david Luiz stays prone to lapses.
A wobble against Aston Villa and A capitulation at Watford have been reminders of a center that was tender and Paul Merson expects fine margins at a nervy race. I would probably say Arsenal will make it but there were two worried football teams on Monday night with a lot of strain on these, he explained. There isnt likely to become a whole lot between Chelsea, United and Arsenal; yet its not likely to be like its been where the top four will be 10-15 points ahead of everyone else.
Tottenham might have pushed Liverpool and City hard last season before finally falling off because the race on two fronts took its toll, however, the mood has darkened dramatically across north London – and that was before Tuesdays 7-2 Champions League humiliation at home to Bayern Munich.
A thrashing, together with Robert Lewandowski and his ruthless, might bite but be deciphered. Yet Spurs have crashed out of cup competition into Colchester, looked devoid of ideas in defeat Newcastle and surrendered leads; in the circumstance of a beginning where Mauricio Pochettino admitted his talented squad is unsettled after a turbulent transfer window, these are troubling times.
Pochettinos side have won only 3 games from 10 in all contests but their encounter can be traced back to February; because a defeat Burnley, theyve won just 22 points in their past 19 Premier League matches. Newcastle have earned more.
Christian Eriksen was benched in midweek, although at Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose and Serge Aurier, Tottenham fielded a backline made up of players whose futures have all been or remain unclear. Hugo Lloris gaffed against Southampton but no goalkeeper has averted more league goals than the Spurs man because the start of last season (14), according to Optas expected targets on target data. Only four sides have faced over Spurs 112 shots and five factors have already been dropped from winning positions.
Merson, ahead of a gritty 2-1 win over Southampton which seemed a morale-booster, talking, believes Spurs – 8/11 to get a top-four finish – stay the closest challengers to the two top but feels a spark has gone from the dugout and to the pitch.
They are the third-best group in the league, in my view, nevertheless, Merson said. I really dont wish to say eliminate Pochettino and everythings appropriate, but its only gone sour . With everybody, the entire thing needs changing. They are a fantastic team, who are not going to win the jackpot – . It seems a bit like that is being thought by the players. The sparks gone a bit.
Chelseas wait for a first home win in the Premier League ended at the weekend but their youthful negative has galvanised fans regardless of outcomes and a developing sense of optimism has been reinforced in Lille, where Frank Lampards players handed a stern Champions League test, albeit with the support of an older mind in Willian.
Lampard has approached the job of blooding youth with relish in the face of a move ban although they may be in transition and his trust in gift is paying off. Tammy Abraham has scored eight goals this year. He, together with Fikayo Tomori and also Mason Mount are responsible for England call-ups. All but one of Chelsea targets this season are scored or assisted by academy graduates.
A group full of enterprise currently ranks second for shots, shots on goal and chances created from play and these opportunities are good ones too – Manchester City are higher in terms of anticipated aims.
Theres ample area for defensive progress – theyve just kept one clean sheet this season – and that the exertions of a lengthy season could take their toll on players adapting to life in the very top level, however Carragher has witnessed enough to believe Lampards negative – 6/4 to get a top-four finish – may capitalise as their competitions toil.
The 1 team considering [Man Utd vs Arsenal] who will be invited is Chelsea, Carragher said from the MNF studio.
In the onset of the year, I believed Chelsea might struggle to get into the top . It will nonetheless be a fight but, even in these early stages, they have higher quality than that which we have seen from these two teams.
Brendan Rodgers might be playing Leicesters opportunities -we know it is a big request due to all of the other clubs that are regulars there; we are only focusing on our operation levels, he said following a 5-0 beating of Newcastle, however the numbers wed with all the eye evaluation.
Manchester City and Liverpool have obtained Premier League points than Leicesters 31 because Rodgers coming, with a triumph over Tottenham helping them to third at the dining table that was fledgling. The Celtic boss has crafted a hard-pressing aspect with Jamie Vardy and James Maddison thriving in assault, while Wilfred Ndidi and brand new fan favourite Caglar Soyuncu are playing key roles back.
Neville believes the Foxes – together with West Ham – look in good shape to mount a challenge that is top-six. If West Ham and Leicester keep their squads match, theyve a really good likelihood of becoming into that sixth or fifth place, he stated on the Gary Neville tradition.
You would probably swap some of both sides players to the Man Utd club or bench. Theres a possibility there. Arsenal are erratic, Chelsea and Man Utd are young and undependable. We saw Leicester break through at the very top miraculously a few years back; it would not be a wonder to see them break into the upper five or four time.
Roy Keane also sees an opportunity:From what I have seen recently of United and Arsenal, if youre these other teams – West Ham, Leicester – when theres ever a chance for them to put in the top four it will be this year.
Merson is impressed with what hes seen so much – but has words of caution. Rodgers has never been at Leicester annually and he has already improved that group 10-fold, he stated in his latest column. There isnt one player that has gone backward since his arrival but there is quite a way to go, its a huge ask. When Jamie Vardy gets hurt; certain players have to stay fit for these, whos going to come in? Thats the problem over a 38-game year
Who are you backing to create the top ? Use the down and up arrows to form the tables top. Teams readily available for selection are those who have the shortest Sky Bet chances (correct 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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