With almost a quarter of the Premier League games played, fans and specialists begin the traditional predictions for the league winner. The two-week international break also helps it, as it is common to see a partial rejection from fans and even clubs to yield their players for international duty.
The fact is that, as for the end of November, four clubs are racing for the top of the Premier League table. We'll look over these clubs and rank them, taking stats, momentum, and squads into account.
4 - Man City
Under normal circumstances, Manchester City would absolutely be pointed to by specialists as the favourites to lift the 2020/21 PL. The reason for that is simple: The Cityzens have the best squad overall in English Football. Sadly, it's not working out this season.The very same squad, nicknamed "the Avengers" by Manchester City fans, reportedly have lost faith in Pep Guardiola's guidance. It dates back to last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Lyon when the English club lost 3-1.
No one questions Guardiola's talent as a football manager. However, it's becoming a general consensus amongst fans and specialists that perhaps his time at the Etihad may be getting to an end.
And that's exactly the weirdest part of it all, as the Man City board had just announced last week that they have reached an agreement with the Catalan manager regarding his contract extension at the club.
Odds were high for Guardiola to go back to Barcelona, his childhood club, and manage Lionel Messi in the last years of his brilliant career. However, Pep's UCL obsession and his personal rivalry with Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp seems to have made him change his mind.
The Catalan manager will have to work massively on his players' mindset, though. It's going to take time, and that's the main, in-depth reason Man City are the last club on this list.
3 - Leicester
Leicester have repeated the strong start from last season and were top of the League for multiple games. Under Brendan Rodgers's guidance, the Foxes have been impressive this season.The 5-2 win over Man City at the Etihad is the highlight of their Premier League season thus far. Now, they have yet another challenge ahead: Liverpool away. The most important fact is that this game is a must-win for the Foxes, as they can take the top of the league off Spurs in case they beat the reigning champions.
Jamie Vardy and James Maddison are the most talented players in the King Power Stadium side and they need to capitalise on Liverpool's defensive absences to go back to the top.
Even if they do triumph over Liverpool, will the Foxes upset the odds once more and win the 2020/21 PL? It will depend on how regularly they can display good overall football performances. They have been punished last season, having spent 30+ matches in the UEFA Champions League qualifying zone, just to end up losing the last spot to Man Utd late on.
In the Premier League, regularity is key. Only time will say whether Rodgers's men have learned from the past or not.
2 - Tottenham Hotspur
The Special One is at it again. Whether you like Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho or not, it's clear that he's a natural winner. Following getting sacked from Manchester United at the end of 2018, Mou took sabbatical before accepting Spurs job.He basically went from the most powerful (financially speaking) club in Europe to a long-term project to train a Londoner club on a shoestring budget. Smart signings - such as Gareth Bale -, and maintaining the squad that made it to the UCL final in the 2018/19 season are key points in Mou's Spurs job so far.
Mix the aforementioned reasons with an inspired Harry Kane, who's been involved in more than 85% of Spurs' goals in the PL this season, then you have the answer for Spurs' early success.
Right now, Tottenham are top of the Premier League table, on 20 points in 9 games. They have yet the best defense in the league, with 9 goals conceded, and the second most deadly attack, with 21 goals scored.
Playing good football, Mourinho has carried this team to the top, and maybe the time for Spurs to think about redesigning their trophy cabinet has finally come.
1 - Liverpool
Even though Jurgen Klopp's men have been rocked by an injury crisis, the Reds are the most backed team to win the league. The "mentality monsters" that made all the headlines of newspapers all across the UK last season is the main point for it.Summing it up, it is extremely hard to see Liverpool losing games. Whoever is playing in the Red kit seems to do just enough to get away with the three points. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will play great football.
The Reds are taking some die-hard risks on not signing for two running seasons now. In such a crowded calendar, with Liverpool having to split up into four major competitions, it is vital to count with a deep squad.
They signed Spain international Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota, but the current injury crisis, plus the COVID-19 factor, makes it look like they will have problems in the future.
Even though Liverpool are seen as the favourites to retain the PL title, it surely won't be by a mile like last season. And with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold potentially out with long-term injuries, the Reds will need to rethink their sell-to-buy approach.
Other clubs that also have chances are the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, and Man United. Everything indicates that these clubs will fight for European football, as well, but our picks are Man City, Leicester, Tottenham, and Liverpool.
