As we approach the halfway point in the English Premier League season, the question which will be invariably asked is, who will win the league this season? After the surprise victory for Leicester City last year, it seems that the established order has been restored. This is the case because all the 'big boys' are back up the top. But who will emerge victorious come what May 2017?
Now although Manchester United and Tottenham may feel slighted, I am only going to focus on the current top four. According to Sky Bet, Chelsea are the outright favourites at 8/13 on. Next are Liverpool and Manchester City, both at 5/1, with Arsenal at 11/1. Let us delve further and assess the chances that each side has.
Chelsea
Chelsea are the favourites to win the league this season and it is hard to argue against that. As stated on BBC, after their victory against Bournemouth, Chelsea recorded their 12th win in a row. But the thing is, I just do not see them losing. With a six point gap between themselves and Liverpool as reported on the Fotmob website, that is likely to be continue with a game against Stoke at home on New Year's Eve.
Although harder games will come in the next few weeks, unless something remarkable happens between now and May, I think it is fair to say that the Sky Bet predictions will be correct.
Liverpool
It is fair to say that no other team in the league this year has made more progress than Jurgen Klopp's team. With forty-five goals scored already, Liverpool are not only unbeaten at home but they sit pretty in second as we enter the New Year. The coming of age of players such as Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino is testament to Klopp's impressive man management. But do they have it in them to win the league this season? One may say no and the reason is the goalkeeping situation. It is fair to say that both Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius have flattered to deceive so far.
It is as a result of this that led Jamie Carragher to claim that Liverpool should sign Joe Hart. If that were to happen, they may have a better chance, but at the moment Liverpool should settle for a top four finish and go again next season.
Manchester City
After winning the first six league games this season including a 2-1 victory away at neigbours Manchester United, may thought that City would steamroll the league. They have arguably the best manager in the world, a team full of stars and the money to solve all problems. However recently it has just not happened. Despite returning to form with three consecutive league wins, their frailty in the past couple of months have left many concerned.
They are capable of staging an assault on the league this season, but they will have to resolve their defensive problems. Claudio Bravo is simply not good enough, John Stones continues to make mistakes and it will clearly take time for it all to come together. Although it may be just beyond them, the fact that they possess the quality to string some wins together is why the Sky Bet prediction is probably par for the course.
Arsenal
Where do we begin with Arsenal? The times when they regularly challenged and won the Premier League are maybe long gone and although they have an exciting squad, I just wonder whether they have got the stomach to go all the way. I still think something is missing from them; a Patrick Vieira type of player who will galvanise his side when the chips are down.
They do not have that. They do have a good spine in the team but it is not enough. They have the ability to go on a winning streak but they also have the ability to slip up and lose. Although they may come close, the Sky Bet prediction is probably about right.
Whoever does will the league this season, what we do know is that it will be the most exciting in years. Although Chelsea are currently the clear favourites, the fact that the league is so unpredictable points to the fact that anything may happen and as a result, any of the top four stand a good chance of ending the season victorious.