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In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with our team of football betting experts and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.
With the final international break of 2024 coming to an end and our attentions shifting towards the run-up to Christmas, we’ve tasked our experts with predicting the Premier League top three this week.
Rob Eddy
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. Arne Slot has taken to Liverpool in impressive fashion and even when they have not been at their best, he has come up with a solution. The Reds’ forward depth will always keep them in a game but they have also been strong defensively and a five-point lead will be hard to peg back.
It seems ridiculous to be writing off City at this stage, but they have looked too vulnerable at the back in too many games already. There will be no return of Rodri to save the day this season and Arsenal – with Martin Odegaard fit again – may finally get one over them.
Enda McElhinney
Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. It’s beginning to look a lot like…Liverpool will win the league. Arne Slot’s side have made a sublime start and their rock-solid defence is proving key. They’ve rode their luck at times but that, they say, is what title-winning teams do. Given what they didn’t spend in the summer, they should also be ready to strengthen come January.
Manchester City, less Rodri, just look vulnerable. Their traditional post-Christmas surge may not be as pronounced, but they’ll lead the chase. Arsenal have some issues to iron out but do still look ‘best of the rest’.
Alex Jack
Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. Few predicted Arne Slot would slot into English football as comfortably as he has and Liverpool will take some stopping to be denied the title. For all their attacking quality, it’s their defensive strength, with just six goals conceded in their first 11 games, that indicates they can be champions this term.
The loss of Rodri and the effect that’s had on Man City means their reign of dominance should come to an end but they can still push the Reds the closest. Arsenal’s discipline issues and misfortune on the injury front suggests third spot for the Gunners.
Alex Hilton
Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea. Following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp looked an ominous task but Arne Slot realised that there wasn’t much wrong with the squad at Anfield and has fine-tuned the machine to get the Reds purring. They look solid at the back and deadly in attack, unlike rivals City and Arsenal who have stuttered so far and could regress further yet. Don’t rule out Chelsea nicking third spot as their burgeoning young squad looks to be improving each week under new boss and former Pep Guardiola apprentice, Enzo Maresca. The Blues return to Premier League action in third place and may be hard to shift in the next six months.
James Mason
Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle. City may be five points behind Liverpool but you write the Citizens off at your peril and I expect them to turn things around, with some January investment being crucial. I’m not convinced the Reds have the strength in depth to deal with any big injuries that may come their way and I think they will fall just short.
Newcastle are starting to click after a slow start to the season and no European football can help them snatch third from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, who are fighting for silverware on multiple fronts.
James Milton
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. The Reds have exceeded expectations under Arne Slot but a return of ten points from their last four Premier League games against Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Aston Villa suggests they could be hard to peg back.
The Gunners have scope for improvement, having been hampered by a tough set of early fixtures and damaging red cards in their clashes with Brighton, Manchester City and Bournemouth.
Key man Martin Odegaard returned to action for Arsenal just before the international break but City will be without Ballon d’Or winner Rodri for the entire season and their patchy form may not just be a blip.
Jack Ogalbe
Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea. Liverpool will have a slump at some stage but it is easy to see them topping the standings. Manchester City seem to be going through a similar dip to the one experienced by the Reds when Jurgen Klopp announced he was leaving last season and, while I think the Citizens should still finish second, I reckon Pep is off in the summer.
Third place could be Chelsea’s. They’re doing well under Enzo Maresca and have the potential to improve. In contrast, Mikel Arteta’s decision to double down on what his team is good at rather than diversify his squad with some cute signings has taken Arsenal backwards.
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