With the gap between the top six teams bigger than ever the Premiership Mini-Leagues are now getting bigger and more important than ever. A couple of seasons ago people used to talk about the 'top 4' and the rest with the three promoted teams being the favourites to go straight back down. This year I believe their are more mini-leagues than ever. I will come onto that point later in another post but first lets start at the top. All the talk for the title used to revolve around four teams and that still maybe the case but this year I believe the top four has now become the top six. The top four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have now been joined by Manchester City and Tottenham. Last year Tottenham beat Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool to finish in the top four with Manchester City and Aston Villa finishing above Liverpool leaving them finishing in a very disappointing seventh. Unfortately with the news of Martin O'Neill leaving Aston Villa and James Milner rumoured to leaving too I find it hard to believe Villa will be challenging up there again this year. It's very hard to look past these six teams to finish in the top six, although when it comes to the title challengers I can only seeing two teams being real challengers over 38 games. Sir Alex Ferguson has said in pre-season if you finish above Chelsea you'll win the league - meaning Chelsea are the favourites. Therefore I make the first mini-league just of two teams - Chelsea and Manchester United. Real Title Challengers:Chelsea
Manchester UnitedThe next mini-league to me involves four teams - three of these will believe they can post a title challenge. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City will go into this season believing they have the quality to win the Premiership as long as they stay injury free and they beat the teams around them - where as Tottentham will go into this season aiming for a top four finish after last season's success. Who knows what the end of the season could of been for Arsenal should Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin had all been fit but the reason I don't have them as 'real title challengers' is because of how convincingly they were beaten by rivals Utd and Chelsea. Manchester City have improved the squad from last year but with such a large squad Roberto Mancini needs to find his first XI and quickly in order for them to challenge. Although Liverpool have many problems behind the scenes with Roy Hodgson in charge and with the signing of Joe Cole they look to have a more balanced approach this season as long as Fernando Torres spends more time on the pitch than the treatment table. Tottenham finished in the top four last year but with European commitments this year they must balance the expectation of now competiting in four trophies. Breaking into the top four is an achievement Harry Redknapp must be proud of but staying in the top four is Tottenhams's biggest challenge yet. Potential Europa League but not Top 4/6:
Arsenal
Liverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester UnitedThe next mini-league to me involves four teams - three of these will believe they can post a title challenge. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City will go into this season believing they have the quality to win the Premiership as long as they stay injury free and they beat the teams around them - where as Tottentham will go into this season aiming for a top four finish after last season's success. Who knows what the end of the season could of been for Arsenal should Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin had all been fit but the reason I don't have them as 'real title challengers' is because of how convincingly they were beaten by rivals Utd and Chelsea. Manchester City have improved the squad from last year but with such a large squad Roberto Mancini needs to find his first XI and quickly in order for them to challenge. Although Liverpool have many problems behind the scenes with Roy Hodgson in charge and with the signing of Joe Cole they look to have a more balanced approach this season as long as Fernando Torres spends more time on the pitch than the treatment table. Tottenham finished in the top four last year but with European commitments this year they must balance the expectation of now competiting in four trophies. Breaking into the top four is an achievement Harry Redknapp must be proud of but staying in the top four is Tottenhams's biggest challenge yet. Potential Europa League but not Top 4/6:
Arsenal
Liverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
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