London: Liverpool and Manchester City are again threatening to streak clear in the Premier League title race with their main challengers looking ill-equipped to keep up.
Both teams were irresistible last season, with runners-up Liverpool finishing 25 points ahead of third-placed Chelsea, and they look a class apart again in this campaign. The two front-runners will each expect to pick up another three points this weekend despite being on their travels as Liverpool go to Sheffield United and City visit Everton.
Leicester, Arsenal and West Ham are their closest challengers and early leaders in the fight for the final two Champions League places despite just three wins apiece after six rounds of matches.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United, all of whom have struggled badly, are under pressure to get back on track on home soil this weekend.
Sweet 16 for Liverpool?
City showed no mercy against Watford last weekend, hammering the Hornets 8-0 in a staggering display of dominance that even visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster admitted could have resulted in an even more damaging scoreline.
Yet Pep Guardiola’s men could find themselves eight points behind in the title race come kick-off at Goodison Park on Saturday should Liverpool maintain their relentless run. Jurgen Klopp’s side have the chance to win their 16th consecutive Premier League game in the early kick-off on Saturday in Sheffield.
Liverpool have not lost in the league to a side outside the traditional “Big Six” since January 2018. But Blades boss Chris Wilder is demanding his players are not star-struck by the European champions.
Must-wins for struggling Spurs, Chelsea
Tottenham fluffed another chance to land a first trophy under Mauricio Pochettino in midweek, with an embarrassing third-round League Cup defeat by fourth-tier Colchester on penalties.
Spurs have won just two of their opening eight games in all competitions and four of their past 17 dating back to last season.
Chelsea fared far better in the League Cup as a 7-1 rout of Grimsby handed Frank Lampard his first victory in charge at Stamford Bridge.
In contrast to Tottenham, though, Chelsea are at the start of a new era and there were encouraging signs for Frank Lampard in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool. (AFP)
