A thrilling battle for the title. Who will be the Premier League champion?

With 15 rounds played, the league is approaching its halfway point and there will most likely be only 3 teams left to compete for the league championship. Manchester United fell asleep at the start of the season and only Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool are fulfilling the paper requirements. It is between this trio that it is very evenly matched and it will probably be an exciting fight until the very end. What are their hopes and what can stop them from winning the title?

Citizens attacking their fourth title in five years

The big title contender is Manchester City, who are running like clockwork under Pep Guardiola. The Spanish coach can rely on a solid defence, creative midfield and excellent productivity from his attacking stars.

He also benefits from a wide squad that has virtually no weaknesses. Moreover, thanks to the weekend loss to Chelsea, they are in 1st place for the first time this season. However, that’s not that important at this stage. The important thing is to stay in touch, the final standings will only be relevant at the end of the season.

The most breathtaking thing about the excellent performance of the Citizens is that they are playing so well without their biggest star – De Bruyne. The Belgian speedster is either injured or not playing in the form he used to. Guardiola also benefits from the wide range of offensive players at his disposal.

If Jesus doesn’t decide, Silva will. If neither, Sterling, Mahrez or Foden can shine. That’s a huge strength. At times it suffers from the absence of a typical cannonballer, the losses to Tottenham, Southampton and Crystal Palace are clear evidence of that. However, in the battle for the league title, the Citizens hold a very high card.

Chelsea target Premier League after Champions League triumph

Chelsea London have the same ambition. The Blues had a great start to the season (1 loss in 14 games, only a few points conceded, almost impenetrable defence). They immediately rose to the top of the Premier League. The defence in particular was great (fewest goals conceded), and Mendy was also in great form.

Chelsea benefited from a functioning system that depends on a solid defensive line. The Blues score the minimum number of goals and rarely concede points. Moreover, the London team can also rely on productive full-backs (Alonso or James), the midfield is led by Jorginho, Kanté and Kovacic, and Mount is getting to his ideal performance.

In recent weeks, however, things have started to get a bit scratchy. In 3 out of 5 games there has been a point loss. Due to the weekend loss to West Ham, Chelsea lost the lead and dropped down to 3rd place. The losses to Burnley and Manchester United are the most disappointing. They were the better team in both games and should have won. These are exactly the kind of unexpected falters that can rapidly reduce their title chances.

The main problem is the attack. The Citizens and the Reds can rely on it, Chelsea certainly can’t. Buying Lukaku for £100m seems pointless. The Belgian cannonballer is not productive, is often invisible and disconnected from Chelsea’s play.

Werner’s productivity is also poor and Pulisic spends more time in the sick bay than on the pitch. This is a problem Tuchel needs to address urgently. Yes, there is a saying in football: “Offense wins games, defense wins titles” But without a functioning offense, it won’t work, not in the Premier League.

Will the unstoppable Salah fire Liverpool to the title?

What about Liverpool? Underestimated before the season, few believed in him. Many experts doubted whether they would even stay in the Top 4. But this season, there is a big fear of The Reds. Salah, in particular, is in the form of his life and is a clear candidate to win the Golden Boot (the Premier League’s top scorer award).

If he wins any, of the big trophies with Liverpool, he can attack the next Ballon d’Or as well. Apart from his role as a goalscorer, he also fills the role of playmaker (13 goals + 9 assists). This year, he is simply unstoppable and absolutely indispensable for LFC.

Liverpool’s other strikers (Jota, Mané and Firmino) are also in great form. As a result, Klopp’s squad boasts the most productive attack in the league, as they maintain an average of just under 3 goals per game.

Liverpool can once again rely on productive midfielders, especially Arnold’s numbers are unreal. Thanks to van Dijk’s comeback, the defensive play has also improved rapidly. Liverpool’s performance is admirable, currently one of the best clubs in the world. But now they face a crucial 2 months that will decide whether or not their season ends in success.

A whole January without Mané and Salah

Liverpool’s biggest problems? The width of the squad and AFCON. Klopp rotates a max of 15 players and doesn’t have the quality on the bench like the Blues or Citizens, so with more absentees he may soon pay the price. However, so far it’s working out for him.

The next key point will be the African Cup of Nations. Liverpool will have to do without Salah, Mané or Keita. That’s a drastic hit to the line-up and substitutes Origi or Minamino will have to shine. However, Liverpool are also very lucky, they should only play 2 league games during this period (against Brentford and Crystal Palace).

The FA Cup and another national break will also be on the agenda. Many experts say that Liverpool will lose the title in January. That’s a pretty bold statement. Teams like Brentford and Crystal Palace should be able to beat them even with a changed squad. Plus they’ll have Firmino and Jota in the attack. That’s still a solid attacking force. And even if some of that January loss comes, it shouldn’t knock them out of title contention.

Any of the top three can shine

The title chances are extremely even. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are all playing great football and are deservedly in the lead. It’s the little things that will make the difference! How often will the Citizens lose? Can Tuchel wake up the sleeping Chelsea attack? How will Liverpool withstand the crisis period when they will miss their biggest stars?

The biggest favourite is Manchester City, who have virtually no weakness. However, a title held by Liverpool or Chelsea would be no surprise. Whoever wins it will be a thoroughly deserved champion. And one thing is for sure, we are in for a very dramatic title fight, the climax of which could be spectacular.

Source: Twitter, Premier League