By Aneesh Chaudhuri
There has been no shortage of surprises as the unpredictability of an unprecedented year continues to make its mark on each one of the Premier League’s 20 teams. What a wild season it has already been — Liverpool and Manchester United conceded seven and six goals, respectively, in a single game week, before scoring seven and six goals in the same game week not so long afterward.
Manchester City’s slow start to the season and the consistent performances week after week has put Pep Guardiola’s side on top with a 14-point cushion over archrivals Manchester United.
Jose’s Spurs began the season with a bang but are now struggling to make it to Top 4, sitting on 8th above their fierce North London rivals Arsenal who are on 10th.
Chelsea in the post-Lampard era have found form and momentum under Tuchel and are sitting just a stone’s throw away from 2nd placed United.
Here’s a look at the performance of the traditional Top 6:
MANCHESTER CITY 
Position: 1st (P-30, W-22, D-5, L-3, Pts-71)
The Cityzens began their season a little shaky; having succumbed to a 5-2 defeat against Leicester City. Manchester City have always had the reputation of being a high scoring team or a team that finds its goals even in the toughest of days. While goals have dried up for the team, their defensive record improved drastically thanks to the arrival of Ruben Dias and an improved John Stones. The duo has since looked rock solid at the back.
Despite some tough games against the bottom half teams, City have hit the top gear and have looked near-unbeatable. Against the Top 6, City have played and picked up a total of 17 points having won 5 and losing 2 including the one to archrivals Manchester United at the Etihad which ended City’s 28-game unbeaten run and narrowed the gap to 11 points. City look like the best team in England and are already in the finals of the Carabao Cup.
They look certain to reclaim their hold on the Premiere League again. City will also hope to do well in the Champions League where they are considered to be one of the favourites.
Best player — John Stones / Ilkay Gundogan
Disappointment — Sergio Aguero
MANCHESTER UNITED
Position: 2nd (P-29, W-16, D-9, L-4, Pts-57)
The Red Devils had everything going their way before the start of the new season having finished the previous season with some good and positive momentum and also bolstered by the return of the Champions League to Old Trafford.
However, they got off to a very difficult start losing the lung opener at home to Crystal Palace.
They also suffered their heaviest defeat of 1-6 to Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. The group-stage exit from the Champions League was also disappointing given their good start with wins over PSG and Leipzig.
Ole’s men finally showed consistency despite their slow start.
Since their defeat to Arsenal at home, the Red Devils have showed quality and composure upfront.
Rashford, Cavani, Talisman Bruno Fernandes have chipped in with goals. However, it’s the lack of clean sheets that bothers Ole’s men.
United defensively have conceded 32 goals already in 29 games. In the 2019-20 season, the team conceded a total of 36 after 38 games. United have taken a total of 8 points against the Top 6, drawing 5 and winning just one against City.
It’s the lack of goals against the Top 6 which is a big worry for Ole. Frenchman Martial has lacked form throughout the season upfront scoring just 4. Bruno Fernandes’ 16 goals and10 assists has continued to set the bar at Old Trafford playing a pivotal role in the team’s resurgence.
Luke Shaw has been brilliant at left back showing his fine form and is probably the best in England at the moment. Finishing second in the table is a must for Ole’s men as City seem favourites to run away with the title. Success for Ole would come only with a trophy in their hands. United are favourites for the Europa and are still alive in the FA Cup.
Best player — Bruno Fernandes / Luke Shaw
Disappointment — Anthony Martial
CHELSEA
Position: 4th (P29, W14, D9, L6, Pts-51)
Chelsea began the season under the stewardship of club legend Frank Lampard. The Chelsea gaffer led the Blues to a fourth-place finish in the previous season. This was a major achievement given the situation at the club.
The club was hit with a transfer ban, which meant that Lampard, who only had a year of managerial experience, was not able to bring in reinforcements to the squad that had lost its Belgian Talisman Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
In the following transfer window, Chelsea spent handsomely on Timo Werner, Havertz, Ziyech, left-back Ben Chilwell and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Thaigo Silva too arrived on a free transfer.
Chelsea began their season with a win against Brighton followed by an immediate defeat to Liverpool. Thereafter, the London club went on a 9-game unbeaten run. The defence looked rock solid under the guidance of Silva who formed a good partnership with Zouma.
Mendy was in form in between the posts. Things turned bad for Lampard and Chelsea when they could only manage one win in five games.
Consequently, Lampard was sacked and former PSG boss Thomas Tuchel was appointed as the manager. Chelsea has picked up a total of 9 points against the Top 6 having won 2, drawn 3 and lost 3. It’s the lack of form of German Internationals — Havertz and Werner — that may have cost Lampard his job.
Abraham and Jorginho are their highest scorers with 6 apiece, while Mason Mount and Werner have 5 each. The Blues have 15 clean sheets and have conceded just 25 so far.
Tuchel is unbeaten in the league and has taken the Blues to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The Blues will hope for a Top 4 finish and are dark horses for the FA Cup and Champions League. If Tuchel can lift a trophy at the end of the season, it will turn out to be a great season for the Blues.
Best Player — Thiago Silva / Mason Mount
Disappointment — Timo Werner / Kai Havertz
TOTTENHAM
Position: 6th (P29, W14, D6, L9, Pts-48)
When Jose Mourinho-led Tottenham were heading into this new campaign, very few expected them to surge to prominence despite the arrival of Bale, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Doherty. The team showed very little under Jose during the latter half of last season.
However, in the new season, Spurs showed exceptional quality and class upfront that was not expected from a Mourinho side. The combination of Harry Kane and South Korea’s Son proved lethal for teams. The two formed a deadly partnership right from former manager Pochettino’s time.
The initial few weeks, Spurs looked like the team to beat and a serious title contender. They enjoyed their position in the Top 4 until their defeat to Liverpool. Since then, Spurs have been highly inconsistent, having won just three in eleven. This saw the club linger around the bottom half near fellow North London rivals Arsenal.
Jose’s men have been mediocre in their cup games as well.
Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the first leg, Spurs lost the second leg 3-0 to dynamo Zagreb thereby getting knocked out of the Europa League. Spurs were seen as one of the favorites. They can, however, win the Carabao Cup where Jose will face off against his arch rival Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City.
Spurs have performed below par with their expectations. Their recent run of games is a cause of concern for Mourinho. Hojbjerg and Ndombele have been brilliant for Jose. The two have enjoyed rapid rise in prominence under him.
Kane too has adapted very well under Jose and has emerged as a creator of goal scoring opportunities for Son.
Kane has netted 17 goals and provided 13 assists while Son has 13 goals with 9 assists. Jose’s men however, lack creativity and the killing touch in many games which result in loss of precious points. Also, they rely highly on counter attacks and lack the structure to pin down opponents through a slow build up. The team is over reliant on Kane and Son.
Arrival of Bale has not proved to be beneficial either. The Welsh has been very inconsistent having scored just 5.
Best Player — Harry Kane / Heung-min Son
Disappointment — Gareth Bale
LIVERPOOL
Position: 7th (P29, W12, D7, L9, Pts-46)
Not the season Liverpool fans were hoping for. Having deservedly won the league last season, Klopp’s men were expected to challenge and consolidate their position atop. Liverpool may go down as the worst champions in the Premiere League history. 2021 has not been kind to the champions either, having lost 4 home games at Anfield, a citadel for the Reds.
Liverpool have collected 14 points against the Top 6 so far. They have struggled against the bottom-half teams having lost at home to the likes of Brighton, Fulham and Burnley. Injuries to stars Van Dijk and Gomez have cost Liverpool heavily.
Goalkeeper Allison has not been consistent in front of the nets either. Klopp’s men have let in 36 goals so far. The front three of Mane, Firmino and Salah have not gelled well this season despite Salah netting 17 so far. Injury to new signing Diogo Jota has also added to Klopp’s woes. A Top 4 finish with success in the Champions League can turn around the Scousers’ poor run to the season.
Best Player — Mohammed Salah
Disappointment — Thiago Alcantara
ARSENAL
Position: 9th (P29, W12, D6, L11, Pts-42)
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have been inconsistent throughout the season. Their Top 6 results so far have been poor; having played 7, Arteta’s men have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 4 scoring 5 and letting in 8 goals in the process. Arsenal’s highest goal getters so far are French forward Lacazette scoring 11 and Gabonese Aubameyang netting 9 times. They are followed by young Bukayo Saka and Pepe with 5 each.
Arsenal’s main concern has been their form. The Gunners let slip games in which they were expected to grab points. Arsenal, however, has the third-best defensive record in the League. The problem has been the lack of goals upfront.Considering how bad the start to the season was qualifying for the Europa League through their league position would be a huge achievement.
Best Player — Bukayo Saka
Disappointment — Willian