Who Will be Top of the Tree at Christmas?

Last season’s champions Liverpool find themselves in a closer battle than last year’s extraordinary triumph, but nevertheless look just as hungry for silverware.

They are currently in second place just behind Tottenham on goal difference, with Chelsea and Leicester City sitting just two and three points behind them. The Reds have lost just one of their opening eight games; a defeat that will live long in the memory of both Liverpool and Villa fans after the spectacular 7-2 humbling Jurgen Klopp’s men received. However, since THAT night at Villa Park, they are unbeaten, sweeping aside Sheffield United and West Ham, but being held by neighbours Everton, title rivals Manchester City and most recently Brighton at the Amex last weekend.

It would be hard to argue against the title staying at Anfield, but the recent plague of injuries that has swept through their defence could seriously hinder their campaign. Both Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez are set to sit out most of the season with long-term injuries, whilst Trent Alexander-Arnold has been injured since just before the start of the last international break with a knee injury. While they do have players who can fill in, their depth is limited and lacking in experience bar Fabinho. With tough fixtures approaching in Leicester, Wolves and Tottenham, Liverpool’s resolve will certainly be tested.

They are currently 1/1 to be top on Christmas Day. To Claim this bet in your bet slip, all you have to do is click on the link!

Second season syndrome is often used to describe a team’s demise after a successful season, but in the context of Jose Mourinho, there is no ‘syndrome’, with the enigmatic Portuguese redefining the term.

League wins in his second season at Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea during his second spell means Tottenham fans may have a reason to get excited this season. Could he? Surely he won't? Those are the words on the end of everyone’s lips outside of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, after Spurs have begun this campaign in fine form, seeing them sit nicely at the top of the table following a win against Manchester City and a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

With Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min forming a truly frightening partnership, and Gareth Bale still returning to full fitness, it may be the best chance Tottenham have had at challenging for the title in several seasons and remain unbeaten since their opening day defeat to Everton.

Mourinho and Tottenham are currently 5/2 to be top at Christmas. To claim this bet in your bet slip, all you have to do is click on the link!

At present Chelsea are one of the in-form teams in the Premier League, having not lost in the league since mid-September, when Liverpool dispatched of them 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. But, since then Frank Lampard’s side sit just two points off both Spurs and Liverpool having scored the most goals in the league, as well as conceding the second least with just ten goals going in their net, thanks to the additions of Edouard Mendy, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell.

Despite drawing 0-0 against top of the table Tottenham at Stamford Bridge last weekend, they have a tough run-in coming up to Christmas, with tricky fixtures against Wolves and Everton at Molineaux and Goodison Park, as well as a couple of potentially awkward games against Leeds United and a London derby against West Ham at Stamford Bridge. Hence why Chelsea are priced at 9/2 to be top of the tree come Christmas time. <br/>

With the news that Pep Guardiola is to stay another two years at the Etihad, the Spaniard will be yearning to add to his two league titles since his arrival in 2016.

City sit in 11th place, but can leapfrog up to fourth with a win over Fulham on Saturday. Although they have lost just twice so far in nine games, they have been held on three occasions, and have often lacked that clinical edge that has won them difficult games in the past. As well as this, it seems the defensive frailties that had them lagging behind Liverpool last season are still as prevalent, with Leicester putting five past them early on in the season.

Nevertheless, you simply cannot rule out Manchester City from the title race, but whether they will be able to make up the ground in time to be top at Christmas Day is certainly in question, and will require a near-perfect run of form up until then. They are currently 8/1 to top the table on Christmas Day. <br/>

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side started the season slowly, labouring in the bottom half of the table until their recent run of wins against Everton, West Brom and Southampton which has seen the Norwegian’s side climb up to just five points off the top of the table, with a game in hand.

This is in stark contrast to when United were thumped 6-1 at home by Mourinho’s Tottenham in October and also suffered defeats by Crystal Palace 3-1 and Arsenal 1-0 at Old Trafford in August and November. United’s saving grace for much of the season has been their incredible away run, as they have extended their Premier League winning run away from home to eight-games in a row thanks to two late Edinson Cavani goals away at St Mary’s, with the winning streak being a new club record.

United have gone about their business quietly despite there being a lot of rumours that Solskjaer’s job was on the line, but now with things looking up for the Red Devil’s, it would not surprise to see them go on a good run of form going into Christmas, and are priced at 33/1 to be on top of the table come Christmas day for the first time since December 2012.

We have seen crazier things, but West Ham United and Southampton look unstoppable at this point in time, and both deserve recognition for their fine form of late.

The former have exceeded expectations and then some, with many pegging The Claret and Blue for a potential return to the Championship after avoiding relegation last season. In the seven games they have played, they have recorded impressive victories over Leicester and Wolves already, as well as opportunistic draws against Manchester City and Tottenham. They are 500/1 to top the table at Christmas.

Meanwhile, Southampton are looking a hard side to beat this season, and their faith in Ralph Hasenhuttl has certainly been repaid in their results this season, winning five out of their opening ten games. A memorable performance against Everton and a spectacular win against Aston Villa are notable highlights from an impressive start to the season, and the Saints are currently 1000/1 to be top come Christmas Day.<br/>

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