We are only seven games into the Premier League season, but there are already early signs that this could be the most hotly-contested title race for some time.
Chelsea have set the pace heading into the international break, leading the top flight with a points total of 16, although Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are closely following Thomas Tuchel's side.
Here, Sportsmail's CHRIS SUTTON takes a look at the four main contenders vying for the league crown, outlining why they can, and can't, have their hands on the famous trophy come May.
Liverpool and Manchester City's draw leaves the title race wide open at the October break
CHELSEA
Why they can WIN IT...
Chelsea have strength in depth. We’re talking about the team who won the Champions League last season and then spent £97.5 million adding a striker to it. Romelu Lukaku is looking lean, mean and like he’s got a point to prove to those who sanctioned his 2014 sale away from Stamford Bridge.
The fact that Chelsea signed him while Manchester City failed to get Harry Kane was a real shot in the arm for Thomas Tuchel’s side. Behind Lukaku, they’ve got Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and more. They lost to Manchester City in the Premier League, and then to Juventus in the Champions League. That was a blip, as far as Tuchel was concerned.
Chelsea have huge strength in depth and picked up from where they left off last season
In £97.5m man Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea have an elite goalscorer to lead the line this term
The important thing is Chelsea bounced back against Southampton at the weekend, with some help from their B-listers.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek stood out, and so did sub Ross Barkley. Tuchel cannot say he doesn’t have a team capable of finishing first in the Premier League.
Why they can’t...
If Lukaku picked up an injury, or he went through a dry patch in front of goal, then how would Chelsea cope? Would you trust Timo Werner to fill in?
I love his endeavour, the way he scurries around in attack, and he scored against Southampton.
But there have been enough chances missed in the past to suggest that, when that all-important time to score arrives, Werner isn’t a player you’d put the house on. Still, Chelsea won the Champions League last season without Lukaku, largely because of the solidity of their defence. Their back three was the bedrock of that charge to glory. It was like trying to crack Fort Knox at times. Since taking over from Frank Lampard, Tuchel has stood by the same formation.
An injury to the Belgian could leave Chelsea short, with Timo Werner still yet to get going
It’s always 3-4-2-1 or a subtle variation of that. It means the opposition know exactly what they’re going to be facing each weekend. Chelsea don’t carry that element of surprise.
There is the concern that, sooner or later, opposing coaches will figure out the best way to get the better of that system.
LIVERPOOL
Why they can...
In Mo Salah, Liverpool have the greatest forward in world football right now. Look no further than that solo strike against City for the 2021-22 goal of the season.
I’d love to analyse how he did it, the way he danced through the City defence, but really, only Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi or Salah himself would be qualified to do that. It was a moment of magic, a beautiful display of balance.
So it’s huge that Liverpool have him lining up for them, and to have Sadio Mane looking formidable and Diogo Jota so dynamic after his injury issues. That’s some front three.
Liverpool boast the greatest forward in world football right now with Mohamed Salah
Remember last season when Liverpool lost six successive Premier League games at home?
They had no Virgil van Dijk and no fans at Anfield. Now they’re back. Jurgen Klopp has options in central defence, from Joel Matip to Joe Gomez to Ibrahima Konate. It was a poor 45 minutes against City but then, after a kick up the backside from their boss, Liverpool’s players came out for the second half and showed why they are title contenders.
Why they can’t...
The Africa Cup of Nations runs from January 9 to February 6. In that time Liverpool are scheduled to play Brentford and Crystal Palace, most likely without Salah and Mane.
You may say they’re still winnable games for Klopp’s side. But believe me, Brentford and Palace’s players will get a big lift out of seeing Liverpool lining up without two of their best players.
The upcoming African Cup of Nations would leave the Reds without two of their star players
You have to wonder how much that tournament in Cameroon will take out of Egypt’s Salah and Senegal’s Mane, and Naby Keita of Guinea too. They could pick up injuries. They could get caught up in the ever-changing Covid-19 restrictions and have to quarantine. They could be knackered by the time they fly those thousands of miles back to Liverpool.
Other clubs will lose key personnel too. Chelsea will lose Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech, for
