Liverpool’s fighting spirit will be vital, Aston Villa are on course for an historic season – and January is key for Arsenal: Where will the current top six finish at the end of the campaign – and will anyone usurp Man City? 

• Just seven points separate the top six in the Premier League at the moment
• Champions Manchester City dropped to third after a 3-3 draw with Tottenham
• Manchester United have snakes in their dressing room, players who are not running. Bruce, Robson, Keane would never allow this – It’s All Kicking Off

The Premier League weekend brought more moving and shaking at the top of the table as Arsenal took pole position and Liverpool climbed to second with a dramatic 4-3 win over Fulham.

Manchester City’s enthralling 3-3 draw with Tottenham saw the champions drop to third in the table, three points ahead of Ange Postecoglou’s side in fifth.

Unai Emery, meanwhile, is continuing to work his magic at Villa Park, as Aston Villa struck late to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth and keep hold of fourth spot. 

Finally, Newcastle’s impressive 1-0 win over struggling Manchester United put them within touching distance of a top four spot, just three points behind Villa.

But where will the current top five finish in the Premier League when it’s all said and done next summer? Mail Sport’s Isaan Khan has his say.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City shared the spoils on Sunday after an enthralling 3-3 draw at the Etihad brought attacking football from both sides

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late winner for Liverpool fired the Reds into second in the league

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa stay in fourth despite drawing 2-2 with Bournemouth at the weekend

Arsenal: (FINISH: 2ND) 

Arsenal are top, as it stands, heading into Christmas.

Mikel Arteta’s men are fast starters, just like last season. Plus, they have been impressive on the whole and certainly in contention for the title. Arguably, they are Manchester City’s biggest threat.

Being top by January doesn’t mean too much in terms of the title – they are four points worse off than this time last season where they were eventually tripped up by City.

What could well be the defining factor is the January transfer window.

If the Gunners buy a centre forward capable who fits the ’20-goal-a-season’ criteria, the odds start to swing their way.

Arsenal head into the busy festive period at the top of the Premier League after Saturday’s win

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Liverpool: (FINISH: 3RD)

An exciting team to watch thus far. On their day, the Reds are some handful and have a real fighting spirit.

This could be seen on Sunday as they clawed Fulham back to win 4-3. Their 1-1 draw with City less than two week ago also reflected the quality they possess.

However, it does feel that, as a team, the Reds are still developing.

They began the rebuild from very little in the last campaign. To get to where they are now is impressive in its own right.

I think they will fallout of title contention in the coming months, while comfortably sealing a top-four spot.

A title threat in the next campaign for sure.

Liverpool’s fighting spirit will stand them in excellent stead as they push for the league title

Manchester City: (FINISH: 1ST)

City really have not kicked into gear yet. The controversial 3-3 draw against Tottenham last night will galvanise them.

On current form, they don’t look like outright title winners. But we’ve seen it all before with them. Pep Guardiola’s men do not get fazed by the number of points they are behind so early on in a season.

The Blues have more gears which will be shown early next year, and it will be at that point in which the other sides will be challenged to keep pace.

Still are the title favourites.

Man City aren’t at their sparkling best but remain the favourites to win the Premier League

Aston Villa: (FINISH: 6TH)

Villa fans have been able to dream, all right.

Top of their Europa Conference League group and sitting fourth in the Premier League.

Unai Emery has done an outstanding job since taking the post.

Heavy defeats away at Liverpool and Newcastle early on looked to shown a yardstick as to their potential, but the Midlands side have improved ever since.

It will be this week that defines how serious the bid for the top four is, Manchester City and Arsenal coming up next.

Finishing in the top four is unlikely, but they will give it a right go.

Ollie Watkins’ goal scoring has rocketed Aston Villa into a provisional Champions League spot

Tottenham: (FINISH: 4TH)

An injury-depleted Spurs side were able to get a point against City. Rather impressive indeed.

Their start to the season under Ange Postecoglou has exceeded the expectation of nearly all Spurs’ fans.

They have continued to impress despite injury and the loss of players such as Harry Kane.

After such a strong start, Ange will clearly demand a top-four spot from his side, and rightly so.

The game against Newcastle, who are vying for the same spot, will be crucial.

Son Heung-min and Tottenham are still showing attacking promise amid their injury crisis

Newcastle: (FINISH: 5TH)

After their exploits last season, it was clear the top four was a must for the Magpies this season.

At home, St James’ Park has proven to be a fortress but it’s on the road where Eddie Howe’s men have dropped unnecessary points.

That includes to West Ham and Wolves.

The fourth spot will go down to a tussle between them and Spurs.

Newcastle are also suffering from injuries but have continued to carve out results in the league

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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