1/3 of all games played and it seems Arsenal, Man. City and Liverpool are very close not only on where they are at the table, but also regarding performances throughout the 13 games.
Do you think this will be a tight race all the way to May?
If not which team do you expect to fall out of the title race and why?
(fair to say Villa and Spurs are also up there but IMO both lack squad depth and cannot see them as title challengers come May)
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arsenal arent involved in any race. they are complete frauds. Should have been utterly destroyed by brentford, and that isnt the only time this season that they have gotten lucky
Away wins at Brentford in the past year. Arsenal, 2. Rest of the league, 2. Away clean sheets at Brentford in the past year. Arsenal, 2. Rest of league, 0.
Away wins at Brentford in the past year. Arsenal, 2. Rest of the league, 2. Away clean sheets at Brentford in the past year. Arsenal, 2. Rest of league, 0.
I think you’re forgetting that West Ham beat Brentford away 1-0 in the FA Cup so no you ain’t right. I assume you are using cup games seen as the game before it was a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
The 1-1 was at Emirates I believe. Arsenal beat Brentford 3-0 at Brentford last fall (I believe)
Its probably not going to be much of a race as City will probably runaway with it once De Bruyne and Stones are fit. But I’d still back us over you lot.
We’re not in the europa league. We’re already receiving the Man City treatment from other teams regularly, we won’t have to adjust to both of those things as the season progresses.
Brentford 1.11 xG - Arsenal 1.52 xg. This is being utterly destroyed?
This is largely pointless because everyone commenting is screwed up by there biases.
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Man City - Most people won’t say anyone other than City because the recent history makes it seem silly to suggest that City won’t do it. I get that, but people forget this isn’t the same city team that has won 5 of the last 6. Yea, they are still extremely good, and are arguably the still the favorites. However, key players are getting older or have left. Is the motivation the same after so many wins. Personally, I don’t think this is the best city team, and I think there rivals for the title are much better than they have been in the past. Streaks don’t last for ever.
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Liverpool - This one is weird. Lot of people still have the the awesome Liverpool team from 18/19 to 21/22 in there head, but its contradicted by the poor Liverpool team of most of last season. Their offense is still great, but where they struggled was Defense and Midfield. There is definitely improvements in midfield, but I’m not sure about defense and I don’t know if these improvements are enough to take them over 38 games.
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Arsenal - Obviously I’m biased. Lets get that out of the way. The team has been different in 23/24 then it was last season, but still on 30 points after 38 games. The question is if this is the new normal or is this a case of the team needing to settle so that it can take a step up from here. I’m a fan, so I tend to look at it as Arsenal haven’t played their best for a variety of reasons. So when they pull it all together they will really make a push for the title.
I also think people have a tendency to underestimate Arsenal, and back up that opinion with revisionist history. For example, before the 21/22 season rivals and pundits thought it would be another 8th-6th year, but when we narrowly missed 4th it wasn’t all about Arsenal bottling it instead of them doing a lot better than originally expected. Before the 22/23 season, rival fans and pundits had us at most at 4th. but when we narrowly missed the title everyone talked about us bottling the league rather than the doing better than originally expected.
So while, I can see why people might think this is the new normal and arsenal will struggle. I also think a lot of people think this because they have this idea that Arsenal have a recent history of failure rather than consistent improvement.
- The others
- Spurs - have done a lot better than I expected, but are no where near the finished product they need to be to really challenge for a title. If they keep investing and improving they could be dangerous in a year or two. Hopefully Levy and Co will screw this up.
- Aston Villa - Feel kind of stupid for even including them but they are 4th at the moment. There December is kind of brutal. I’m sure they will finish in the European places. Maybe squeak into CL with 5th or a EL win.
- Man United - there organization is to much of a mess for them to really challenge. That said, last season showed that they can be very good for stretches. I could see them playing spoilers.
- Newcastle - There current 7th is harsh, I bet they will move up with a relatively weak December. I think 4th or 5th is very much in the cards for them, but not strong enough yet to challenge for the title.
- Chelsea - They are 14 points back already. Obviously they are logically out of the title race this year. I think they will do better than their current 10th, but lets face it. They’ve been a shit show from the top for a season or two. A lot of people assume they will eventually get there shit together, but I don’t know why.
- Brighton - Very good team still, but I think there days as a team punching above there weight are coming to an end. However, they could play spoilers.
Now that I’ve likely pissed off everyone. I’ll stop.
agree with you almost all the way through. chelsea have been showing improvement though they look like they’re starting gel (although the baseline is low), could see them start to click and cause some problems for higher placed teams
People who assume Chelsea are going to come good are basing it on two things. Recent history and Money spent, and both of those things don’t necessarily matter.
- Recent history - If Roman Abromovich or any of his team were still in place, then pointing to the history is a decent point. Abromovich’s team showed that they could do it, But that leadership is gone. We don’t know if Boehly and company can do it. And lets face it, They’ve done a lot of weird things. Maybe they are geniuses and we just don’t see it yet, but its just as likely if not more likely that they are making mistakes.
- Money Spent - There is no denying that success in world football is highly correlated with Money Spent and Chelsea have spent a ton. However its not a perfect correlation. While you have examples like Man City who spend a lot of money really well and become absolutely dominant., you also have examples like Man United who spend a lot of money poorly. Sure, ManU has won a few cups in the last 10 years, but I don’t think many people consider them a success given the money they’ve spent, the players they’ve signed and the managers they’ve hired.
With Chelsea its to early to tell if they’ve spent the money well or not. If they did, then they could be a powerhouse in a short time. At this point it looks like they could have some hits, but it also looks like there are at least a few misses.
I fully expect Chelsea to climb back up to the European spots this season, but this thread is about title contenders. Until they show that they know what they are doing from an executive level, its going to be hard to say that they are title contenders.
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With KdB coming back for city and Arsenal and Liverpool losing key players to the Asia Cup and AFCON I think City will pull away. However as an arsenal fan hopefully it’s close
Who’s the key player that arsenal is gonna lose on Afcon and Asia cup? Partey is already injured and likely for the rest of the season. I can only think of tomiyasu.
I’ve not seen Partey being out for the season if he’s fit though he’ll definitely go. And there’s no replacement for Tomiyasu because Timber being injured leaves the entire back line one injury from crumbling, that’s key in mind.
No lol
Its gonna be Arsenal and City until the very end again. But, as usual I would say Manchester City. Liverpool will also stay close.
When has been it Arsenal and City until “the very end” before?
I think the quality of the majority of teams has improved this year for sure. We’ve got the big 6 who are all getting the required points so far (maybe not Chelsea but I do think they’ll get better). Then Brighton, Newcastle and Villa to throw in the mix too.
I also think West Hams start has gone a bit under the radar as well.
The bad teams are BAD this season (Burnley, Luton and sheffield) but the teams above them seem to have improved massively.
Also shoutout to Gary O’Neil at Wolves, I think he’s doing a superb job at Wolves.
At this point villa has clearly shown they at the moment have completely replaced chelsea in big 6
Remember the memes about Leicester replacing us in the big 6? Let’s give it more than a few months before we make this claim.
For the moment based on last year and this years form, in the context of this season and next villa should be expected to place higher. Their manager is incredible and they have fully backed him and it has fully worked. Long term sure chelsea will return but in the context of now
Too soon to say that
Fuck off. Villa are a better side on all fronts than man utd, Chelsea and spurs.
Ùp the Villa!
Genuinely interested in how villa are a better side than tottenham on ‘all fronts’.
City aren’t winning shit with Doku. Biggest downgrade ever.
Bruh, what are you talking about? Doku’s been solid! And young! Gonna be a stud.
Downgrade from who? He rotates with Grealish who played that position heavily last season. Foden has been covering KDB’s position while he’s been out on injury so he wouldn’t play that position anyways.
He’s got 2 goals and 5 assists having played in 10 matches (not even a full 90’ in all 10 either). That seems pretty solid to me.
this year will be an 82/84/85 final with a serious upset in the 3rd to 8th places
the gap has been closing at the top
Sounds like 2007/08 all over again.
Kdb comes back and city doesn’t drop a point for the rest of the season let’s be realistic
It sucks but city only ever gets somehow twice as good after Christmas
nah, it’ll be Liverpool and City up until April and then City will win it, as per usual
God I hate Arsenal but I hate Man city winning even more. They have the best chance to take them down so 🔴🔴
Another Chelsea fan told me that , I’d rather anyone else win at this point … Except spurs obviously
Asinine. Arsenal winning means more. Man City winning means nothing to anyone but Man City fans.
And they call it a rivalry 🤣
What the fuck
Thanks bro, I feel the same about you guys and yet, I sat at a pub and cheered for you to beat City in the champions League a couple years back so I feel the pain. As long as City loses
And this sums everything up about the “Chelsea-arsenal rivalry”!
There’s no such thing as the Arsenal Chelsea rivalry
This fuckwit doesn’t speak for any actual Chelsea fans though.
Chelsea-Arsenal love in shocker. Didn’t see that coming.
If the news that allison will be out for 2 months is true then I don’t see Liverpool challenging for the tittle anymore this season and I’m saying this as a Liverpool fan ;)
Kelleher is no slouch. A good run of games could see him blossom.
Can’t we get Ramsdale on loan. Anyone but Kelleher!
I love Kelleher but he has been dreadful in his last few opportunities for Ireland and Liverpool.
The year we won the league we literally had Adrian in goal for 3 months….
Also some teams is hampered more by Afcon than others (Salah for you guys, Onana for United etc (not implying United will be challenging for the title)).
Again we’ve survived that before in seasons where we’ve lost the title by a point, during Afcon at our best we’ve won every game with people like origi and minamino while losing Mane and salah. Now we’ve got Jota, Nunez, Gakpo and Diaz holding down the fort while only losing salah.
Yeah, I am not saying it’s over, just that with a tight season it is kind of unlucky to both lose your GK and best player over the hectic Xmas period.
I think both Arsenal and Liverpool will drop out around Christmas time and then City will win it without breaking a sweat, not dropping any points from January to May.
There’s no basis to think arsenal will be out of the race by Christmas what a silly take
I don’t mean they’ll be out of the race but they will have fallen behind (apologies, I realise that I worded that wrongly). It may only be by two or three points by the new year, but they will drop points in the second half of the season, whereas I don’t think City will.
It depends on injuries. Everything has to go right for Arsenal or Liverpool, whereas City can cope with an injury to just about anyone besides Rodri, so they’re best equipped for the marathon that the season is. KDB is still to come back, Salah and Partey (currently injured) will be going to AFCON, Tomiyasu and Endo will be going to Asia Cup. All signs point to City winning their 4th in a row but it’ll be close. Arsenal took points off City, Liverpool drew with them away, if both can make sure they aren’t just tripping each other up but also presenting a challenge to City then we could have a new champion.
It all depends on Rodri staying fit/not getting the cards he deserves to get. Without him City is a lot worse.
Glad someone sees it. At this level, with these incredibly regimented and meticulously planned systems, being used with the most elite, world class, one-of-a-kind players, injuries define everything. The margins are so fine and everything is so controlled, but injuries (and, increasingly, VAR) are the big thing you can’t control. It’s out of your hands and can ruin everything in an instant
When a team performs below expectations these days it can nearly always be attributed to injuries. They’re an absolute blight on the sport
Håland out would not be ideal either.
Tripping each other up is the worry. At the start of the season I figured City would beat all the contenders and they would take points off each other giving City a big advantage in the title chase. But City has dropped points against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea (not that they’re challenging) so I have sliver of hope. I fear for high line Spurs next week though…
Liverpool haven’t once looked like genuine contenders, no idea where this has come from and they could easily miss out on top 4
Okay I remember your username from your constant shitetakes mate. I literally don’t remember any other than mine and I wasn’t even trying.
Genuine question, are you trying to rile others up or are you just this dumb?
We just went to the best team in the worlds back yard and got a draw and went toe to toe with them. We’ve played pretty much every top 6 team away. We sort out breaking down the low block we will be right up there’ . Should be top if we weren’t robbed by the worst var decision ever at spurs
It’s all about Injuries. City have great depth and don’t tend to run out of steam. I feel Arteta is trying to limit injuries by playing less of an intense play style and Klopp just has his players at 120% at all times which may cause injuries later down the line.
Smart Money is always on City but I’m happy that the top of the league is so tight.
They lost one key player for three games and lost all three games. Their depth seems impressive but might be a bit of an illusion.
However, they do tend to start worse than they end a season so if Arsenal or Liverpool aren’t several points clear by February I think it’ll be going to City.
As a Liverpool fan that 97 point season was heartbreaking. City just went ahead and won their last 14 games.
Liverpool this year reminds me a lot of Arsenal last year. That’s a compliment don’t get me wrong. Arsenal got every point they could early on but in the end had too many injuries and fell apart. I don’t know if that will happen with Liverpool but they certainly do not have the depth of City. And I agree that Arsenal has been sort of playing a slower pace. But we did just get two of our key players back this week. It feels pretty great to somehow be top of the table right now having missed out on Jesus than odegaard. Not to mention that we should get timber back for the end of the season.
Liverpool barely give 100% now, they play a much slower game than they did 5 years ago when they were a counterpressing machine.
We don’t even do a high press anymore we’re more possession based and play a mid block now in games. Haven’t played heavy metal football in ages. Way more controlled we have technically good players now who can control games.
Glad someone sees it. At this level, with these incredibly regimented and meticulously planned systems, being used with the most elite, world class, one-of-a-kind players, injuries define everything. The margins are so fine and everything is so controlled, but injuries (and, increasingly, VAR) are the big thing you can’t control. It’s out of your hands and can ruin everything in an instant
When a team performs below expectations these days it can nearly always be attributed to injuries. They’re an absolute blight on the sport