With Chelsea sitting comfortably on top of the table, Tottenham in second by five points and Manchester United in sixth, Manchester City, and Arsenal, Liverpool vying for the spots in between, Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Paul Merson give their top four predictions.
I think there will probably be a stumble along the way somewhere for Chelsea but they should be champions. They’ve got a nice run but it’s the time of the year where the struggling teams start to pull out results.
Then I’ve gone for Manchester City and Tottenham plus Manchester United, who have got the momentum of a long unbeaten streak behind them. They’re the team in better form and they’ve got players who can step up and win games, with Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan now helping Zlatan Ibrahimovic by chipping in with some goals.
Liverpool just seem to have run out of ideas in the final third. Teams have worked them out, which Liverpool need to adjust to again and find a different form of attacking.
As for Arsenal, I think when you lose at home to Watford, who had only played 48 hours earlier, there’s a sign that something isn’t right there and they weren’t in the same league as Chelsea.
Le Tiss predicts: Chelsea 1st, Manchester City 2nd, Tottenham 3rd, Manchester United 4th
It so tough right now and Arsenal or United could easily end up being second and third. The top four can change every week, certainly second, third and fourth and it’s closer than ever before behind Chelsea.
I think Liverpool are having their blip and will come back. Everybody was getting very excited because Liverpool were on such a good run and in a good position, but it’s maybe the right time to have a dip in form in the sense that they can turn it around for the run in.
They have to learn how to be quicker in possession around the box, which is the issue with breaking teams down. Jurgen Klopp has got to go back to his best team that started the season, which is with Roberto Firmino central, Sadio Mane on the right, Philippe Coutinho left and Georginio Wijnaldum in for Emre Can.
It’s fair to point out that I’m obviously a Liverpool man but when it’s so tough to call I’ve got a back my old team.
Thommo predicts: Chelsea 1st, Manchester City 2nd, Tottenham 3rd, Liverpool 4th
I have to say it’s getting tremendously interesting, if a bit tense for me. Arsenal always seem to do this and then end up in the top four. Yes, they are out of the title race now but I thought they were before the weekend.
As the form stands right now it’s obviously Chelsea, then Manchester City with the new superstar Gabriel Jesus, even if they still look susceptible at the back. Is he the replacement for Sergio Aguero? He is certainly providing the goals at the moment.
Then I think Spurs will be in the top four. I’m not like some Arsenal fans in focusing on finishing above Spurs though. You don’t get prizes for finishing above your rivals unless they finish second.
I think Liverpool have been sussed out and just aren’t good enough at the back and I’m still not convinced United really have the right ingredients. They have improved and they were very good against Leicester but there’s other times they haven’t been quite as fluent.
I’m going to stick with the current four but I have to admit I’m really, really sketchy about Arsenal falling out. If I’m being honest with myself then Arsenal are in real danger.
Charlie predicts: Chelsea 1st, Manchester City 2nd Tottenham 3rd, Arsenal 4th
I think Chelsea winning the title is a given. You’ve only got to look at what they’ve done to teams outside the top six, winning 15 and drawing one, and they’ve only got two more games against top-six sides left. Then their nearest threats Tottenham go to Liverpool next weekend so there’s a good chance they’ll be even further clear.
I’m putting Tottenham second though. I think they’ve got a very, very good 11 but I worry if Harry Kane got injured for a long period that neither Vincent Janssen or Heung-Min Son would do a job up front. In third place I’m going Man City, who I think have got too much in attack to miss out.
Then it can really come down to luck, especially if things are still this tight come the final five games. It’s hard to read too much into the fixtures right now as you could be playing a team with nothing to play for while your rivals are against a side fighting for their lives.
I’m going for Manchester United in fourth though as I think Jose Mourinho has got them going and I’ve said from day one Mkhitaryan is a fantastic player, so having him firing is a huge boost.
I think Liverpool and Arsenal will end up with bad seasons, but it can all change. You could ask me next week and Liverpool have beaten Tottenham, Man City have dropped points at Bournemouth and Arsenal hammer Hull 4-0 and all of the sudden it’s a different picture. It’s such a hard one to call right now.
Merse predicts: Chelsea 1st, Tottenham 2nd, Manchester City 3rd, Manchester United 4th