It’s still a three-horse race for the Premier League title but the runners and riders have changed after a dramatic weekend in the top flight.
Liverpool’s 2-0 victory against Manchester City on Sunday was to be expected as the Reds continue their meteoric start to the season while Pep Guardiola’s floundering team extended their run without a win to seven matches.
They are now 11 points behind the runaway Reds and only three teams in Premier League history have overcome that deficit to take the title.
It’s difficult to avoid falling over pundits who claim it is a folly to dismiss a City side who have been champions of England for six of the last seven years but they have problems all over the pitch.
Erling Haaland’s phenomenal scoring rate at the start of the season has slowed down, the midfield is struggling in the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri with Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva showing their age, Kevin De Bruyne is still not back to his best, Jack Grealish is wasted out wide and Phil Foden is below par.
Meanwhile the defence is a liability with Josko Gvardiol slipping below his previously high standards.
They may, however, find relief at home to Nottingham Forest. The surprise package of the season so far, the Tricky Trees struggled to beat Ipswich on Saturday after shipping three goals in defeats to both Newcastle and Arsenal and City can edge a nervous affair 2-1 at 17/2 with bet365.
More appealing, however, is Forest +2 goals in the handicap markets of multiple outlets including BoyleSports at 4/5.
Liverpool are the same price with Coral and Ladbrokes to win outright at Newcastle and second-place Arsenal can keep the gap between them and the top to nine points by beating Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Ruben Amorim’s side were flattered by Everton’s abysmal effort in the 4-0 rout at Old Trafford at the weekend and will be no match for the Gunners, who have scored five times in their last two outings against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League and at West Ham on their return to the domestic game.
Arsenal should be followed with full confidence at 6/5 with Ladbrokes and Coral to win by more than one goal.
Chelsea have replaced City as the third title contenders, although they are most definitely the weakest or the three clubs in with a chance, and the Blues can stay in contention by winning by more than two goals at bottom club Southampton, which is 12/5 with Paddy Power and Betfair.
• Aston Villa have failed to win in their last eight matches as the physical and emotional toll of playing huge Champions League matches against the likes of Bayern Munich and Juventus takes its toll.
They looked weary in their 3-0 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday but can find solace against a Brentford side who have struggled away from home. The Bees have take just one point from 18 on the road and that was a turgid 0-0 draw at hapless Everton leaving the 4/5 offered by William Hill, bet365 and Betfair on a Villa success the way to go on this one.
Both Everton and Wolves face a long winter of discontent and under 2.5 goals in their midweek match at Goodison Park looks nailed on at 22/25 with BetMGM.