The Premier League returns: how are the title contenders shaping up?With the top-flight back in action this weekend, we take a look at the top seven’s strengths, weaknesses, squad depth and key players before asking whether they have got what it takes to win the league
The Premier League is back after the international break and, following a breathless start to the season, we assess the top seven sides in the league in search for clues as to which side will lift the trophy come May. Manchester City are the early pacesetters but their defeat at Tottenham Hotspur have given the rest of the clubs hope. It is also worth remembering that seven games into last season, Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United were top, West Ham United third and eventual winners Leicester City eighth …
What have they done right so far?
Manchester City
They won their opening six games and so lead the race by a point from Tottenham Hotspur. The manager may be new but his passing game has been quick to bed in and bewitch opponents. The sight of Pep Guardiola’s full-backs moving into central midfield is a further poser. The 45-year-old has done all of the above while also bombing out Joe Hart, discarding Yaya Touré, blocking Wi-Fi at the training base and banning pizza from players’ diets. It is as close to a revolution as has been witnessed in the division since Arsène Wenger strode into Arsenal in 1996. Jamie Jackson
Tottenham
The 2-0 home win over Manchester City before the international break was a celebration of the qualities that Mauricio Pochettino has instilled and an illustration of what can happen when everything clicks. Tottenham are benefiting from continuity under the Argentinian and the clarity of his high-octane physical approach. The manager worked his players harder than ever in pre-season (mindful of the additional stress of a Champions League campaign) and it is clear that their conditioning is a major plus. Even when they have not been at their best thus far, they have dug out a result and their defensive miserliness bodes well. The summer signing Victor Wanyama has been excellent and Son Heung-min’s resurgence has been a boon. David Hytner
Arsenal
Once they got over the ill-prepared opening day shocker against Liverpool, what Arsenal have found is greater efficiency. That happens to be one of Wenger’s favourite words. It was the source of his greatest frustration last season that the ratio between decent chances created and actual goals to change games was not efficient enough. The deployment of Alexis Sánchez at centre-forward has encouraged a far pacier and mobile attacking tempo. Arsenal have scored three goals or more in half of their games in all competitions. The blueprint of how they can be at their best – as shown when they blew Chelsea away – is there. Amy Lawrence
Liverpool
Jürgen Klopp improved Liverpool as an attacking force by the turn of the year but their threat has improved again this season with 18 goals making them the joint highest scorers in the Premier League. Liverpool have looked extremely impressive on the front foot while the players’ willingness to buy into the manager’s methods is reflected in them leading the way in terms of chances created, shots, passes, sprints and distance covered. They have also successfully navigated what appeared a tricky start to the season on the road because of redevelopment work at Anfield – collecting seven points from visits to Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Andy Hunter
Everton
Ronald Koeman has started his Everton reign by focusing on the glaring weakness that his predecessor, Roberto Martínez, could not correct and contributed significantly to his downfall – defending as a team. Everton conceded an average of 1.45 goals per game last season and leaked goals from set pieces but have so far shipped only five in seven league games under the Dutch coach. Only Tottenham Hotspur have conceded fewer. The team are more solid, more disciplined and, thanks to Idrissa Gueye’s impact, better protected than in recent seasons. When Yannick Bolasie influences a game, they also have a better supply line to Romelu Lukaku. Andy Hunter
Manchester United
This is an interesting question as the quest for a 21st championship has so far been uneven and unconvincing. The best thing – probably – is that United remain “only” five points from the top, despite two defeats from seven matches. Another plus is that three of José Mourinho’s summer acquisitions – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly – are all integrated into the side, and prospects will be further boosted if the fourth – the Bundesliga player of the year, Henrikh Mkhitaryan – can join them. The way in which Marcus Rashford has forced his way into the first XI is also good news for title ambitions. Jamie Jackson
Chelsea
They have taken points from all the teams they have confronted outside the top bracket and have quickly established that Antonio Conte, for all his undoubted qualities as a motivator and tactician, is unlikely to be able to work wonders with a squad that remains rather imbalanced. Ensuring that the owner and hierarchy have acknowledged as much is half the battle towards providing some long-term thinking, with heavy investment in the market anticipated over the next two transfer windows. They have integrated N’Golo Kanté, their key summer arrival, into the side and are clearly not going to endure the same traumatic campaign as last time round. An improvement on mid-table is guaranteed. Dominic Fifield
What’s their main weakness?
Manchester City
Their sole league defeat came last time out when Tottenham outpressed them. This is intriguing as being the ascendant chase-and-hasslers is a founding plank of Guardiola’s ethos. Celtic also scored a moral victory by, if not beating, then at least matching City at their own pressing game in the 3-3 draw in the Champions League group meeting. Here, then, is a ploy that will be studied by rivals to see if City can be disrupted continually this way. JJ
Tottenham
Their implosion towards the end of last season reminded everybody that this remains a young squad and there can be legitimate questions about their ability to handle the pressure when it is at its most extreme. On the other hand, they will surely be better for the experience and the lessons learned. The Champions League represents a new frontier for many of the players, too. Will they be able to cope with its demands? DH
Arsenal
Four consecutive clean sheets leading up to the international break suggests that defensively Arsenal have found an encouraging solid platform, based upon the growing rapport between the excellent Laurent Koscielny and the determined newcomer Shkodran Mustafi, with Héctor Bellerín and Nacho Monreal so reliable on either side. But in the spirit of old habits dying hard it is not difficult to imagine fragility at the back haunting them in a pressurised game. An injury in a now settled back four could bring complications. AL
Liverpool
Just as scoring goals has been a welcome feature of Klopp’s first year in charge at Liverpool, failing to prevent them has also been a persistent issue. Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League this season and, with 16 of the 50 league goals conceded under Klopp coming from free-kicks or corners, their problems with set pieces are glaring. A struggling Swansea City side found space between Liverpool’s central defenders frequently last time out but lacked the quality to take full advantage. AH
Everton
By contrast to the work on Everton’s defence, the new manager is yet to have the same impact on the team’s frontline. Three games without a win – including elimination from the EFL Cup by Norwich City – have served as an uncomfortable reminder that a change to an intense pressing style will not occur overnight. Everton’s attacking options – Lukaku, Bolasie and Ross Barkley – impress sporadically and demonstrate why Koeman was so keen to strengthen that department in the summer. He will try again in January. AH
Manchester United
Their two losses – to City and Watford – derived from the kind of sluggish, disjointed play that is reminiscent of the football under Louis van Gaal. There are fault-lines in defence – especially along the flanks where full-backs Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia have been sloppy – and United still lack a midfielder with bite and aggression. As City showed in the first half of their derby win, this means the quick tempo that can punch holes in Mourinho’s men can be established with ease. JJ
Chelsea
Their defence remains ponderous, error-prone and, against the better teams, obliging. Conte had targeted recruits from Serie A over the summer but, in the frantic trolley dash on deadline day, ended up sanctioning David Luiz’s return from Paris Saint-Germain. He has very different qualities to those initially required. Cesc Fàbregas, too, has fallen out of favour and will not enjoy life on the fringes. DF
What’s the strength of the substitutes’ bench?Manchester City
Guardiola’s bench features the club captain in Vincent Kompany (fitness permitting) and Pablo Zabaleta, Leroy Sané, Kelechi Iheanacho, Gaël Clichy, Fabian Delph and Jesús Navas are all equally able as deputies. But given John Stones’ import to the Guardiola project, if he goes down could Kompany or Tosin Adarabioyo really slot into the ball-playing Gerard Piqué-esque role the Barnsley-born defender provides? JJ
Tottenham
Pochettino has greater depth than last season. Few people thought that he needed Moussa Sissoko but he went and signed him anyway – for a club record-equalling £30m. Sissoko and Wanyama have bulked up his options while the manager has faith in young players such as Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josh Onomah and Harry Winks. Another new signing, Georges-Kévin Nkoudou, looks like a potential gamechanger. Pochettino was without five key players for the Champions League tie at CSKA Moscow. His team made a statement with the 1-0 win. DH
Arsenal
It spoke volumes that in their last match before the break Arsenal tried to break down Burnley – goalless going into stoppage time – and did not have a single striker on their bench. There was only one attacking player of any description in the substitutes’ group (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain). That strength in depth is a question only seven games in is revealing. AL
Liverpool
In terms of goalkeeper and attacking options, better than it has been for several seasons. Loris Karius knows he must make a confident start, with Simon Mignolet pushing to reclaim his place, while Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and the fit-again Danny Ings – who has scored nine goals in five appearances for the under-23s this season – are all having to bide their time for inclusion. Defence could be stretched by injuries, however. AH
Everton
The bench is arguably a fair reflection of where Everton stand in the Premier League overall – better than most, with promising youngsters such as Tom Davies and Mason Holgate given an opportunity, but weak in comparison to the leading lights. AH
Manchester United
Wayne Rooney (currently) heads a reasonable number of replacements who also include Anthony Martial, Mkhitaryan, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmian, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Tim Fosu-Mensah, Ashley Young and Memphis Depay. It is not perfect: if Pogba is unavailable who can impressively deputise for the midfielder? The same question might also apply to Valencia/Chris Smalling in defence. JJ
Chelsea
There is a certain depth if one considers Fàbregas and Pedro Rodríguez, both World Cup winners, tend to frequent the bench, while Michy Batshuayi, feeling his way into English football, is clearly a talent. Kurt Zouma will also return from injury soon. DF
Manchester City
Stones. Guardiola bought him to be the pivotal man in his pinball pass-and-move play. A way to illustrate how important Stones’ ability to find space and time to ignite attacks is if he were to be injured Guardiola’s first thought would be which midfielder could replace him – Fernandinho (probably), David Silva (if he could tackle, definitely) – just as the coach deployed career schemer Javier Mascherano in the centre-back position at Barcelona. JJ
Tottenham
Mousa Dembélé has felt indispensable but the team has coped without him this season, when he has been unavailable – ditto, Harry Kane – and so, perhaps, it is Toby Alderweireld who can be described as the rock. Since the centre-half joined in the summer of last year, Tottenham have had the best defensive record in the division. Comfortable on the ball or defending one versus one, his reading of the game is superb.
Arsenal
Koscielny. Tempting to say Sánchez just because his movement makes Arsenal stretch teams in a way they don’t so easily when geared around Olivier Giroud. But Koscielny is a defender in outstanding form who leads by example. A vital presence. AL
Liverpool
Sadio Mané. Unlike previous years and other confident starts, Liverpool’s strength this season has been their collectiveness. Klopp’s team is not reliant on an individual but Mané’s pace, plus his intelligence with and without the ball, has improved their attacking play. He was also absent from Liverpool’s only defeat so far at Burnley.
Everton
Lukaku. An obvious answer but Koeman’s only alternatives up front, having given the £13.5m Oumar Niasse the cold shoulder, are the deadline-day loan signing Enner Valencia and Arouna Koné. AH
Manchester United
Last season it was Martial, this year the vote goes to Rashford as his blend of searing pace, directness and goalscoring ability is unique within Mourinho’s ranks. JJ
Chelsea Diego Costa. The forward is back to his bullying best from the title-winning campaign of 2014-15, enraging markers and leading the line selflessly and aggressively. He has already scored six times in the Premier League. Even if Batshuayi has his own qualities, this team revolves around Costa. DF
Which month is likely to be key in their title pursuit?
Manchester City
December. City have to face not one but two title rivals – in Chelsea and Arsenal – and may have to beat Celtic in their final Champions League group game to progress. This makes it an even more crucial month for them. JJ
Tottenham
November looks fruity. On top of potentially sapping Champions League ties against Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco, there are derbies with Arsenal (away), West Ham United (home) and Chelsea (away). DH
Arsenal
The traditional nightmare November looms. After five straight wins in the Premier League, Swansea, Middlesbrough and Sunderland are up next. But what a change of pace come November. Tottenham, Manchester United and Paris-Saint Germain in successive matches will tell us a lot about whether a challenge can be sustained. AL
Liverpool
April. March brings more glamorous games – Arsenal and Manchester City – but six league encounters in April could demonstrate the benefits of a season without European football for Liverpool. A month that may result in potential title rivals being distracted by Champions League quarter-finals begins with a Merseyside derby and includes games against West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Watford, all of whom took points from Klopp’s team last season. AH
Everton
December, although it is stretching it to say Everton are pursuing the title. A hectic schedule that includes home games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, plus a trip to the champions, Leicester City, on Boxing Day could shape Koeman’s first season in charge. AH
Manchester United
December. Six league outings, including one against Spurs, plus a trip to Odessa in the Europa League, make this the slog-fest of all months for United. Last year Van Gaal emerged from a torrid December that featured zero wins for the first time in the club’s history as a dead man limping. JJ
Chelsea
It is tempting to say the seven-week period from Saturday, when Chelsea confront the champions Leicester, Manchester United, high-flying Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and visit Southampton and Manchester City. But, in reality, it will be January when the club will attempt to make a splash in the market. DF
Finally, can they win the title?
Manchester City
Certainly: but we will know more by 1 January. (A cop-out of an answer? Could be …) JJ
Tottenham
The league’s only unbeaten team have to be considered, at the very least, as authentic contenders. Strong defences win championships. DH
Arsenal
Possibly but don’t go betting any houses yet. AL
Liverpool
That question has preoccupied Liverpool for 27 years and has always produced the same answer but, given their start, their manager’s title-winning pedigree and their fixture schedule compared to rivals in the Champions League, their hopes have foundation. AH
Everton
Koeman said it himself: “If I tell you we will fight for the title I think most people will tell you that man is crazy.” That’s a no then. AH
Manchester United
Having tipped United at the start of the season the response here has to be, yes, but it seems a less than 50/50 shot, currently. JJ
Chelsea
Highly unlikely. That title challenge may come next season after Conte has made this squad more his own. DF
Guardian
