Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Man City, Arsenal and Manchester United – the pros and cons as the Premier League title race is blown wide open
SunSport runs the rule over the top six as they enter the final four months of the race to be crowned champions
TOTTENHAM'S sensational victory over Chelsea has blown the Premier League title race wide open.
The 2-0 win for Mauricio Pochettino's side not only ended the 13-match winning streak of Antonio Conte's men - it loosened their vice-like grip on the title race.
Chelsea still hold a five-point lead at the top, but there are now five clubs chasing them who will feel they still have a chance of being crowned champions.
Liverpool are the closest rivals, but Spurs, Manchester City, Arsenal and even sixth-placed Manchester United are all in position to mount a charge in the remaining four months of the season.
SunSport looks at how the top sides shape up in what is fast developing into a six way shoot-out for the Premier League crown.
Chelsea
Pros
With a five-point lead Conte's side are still very much in control of their own destiny and a 13-match winning streak has shown the power and character the possess.
The manager has got all his players on side, working to his tactics and he has made Chelsea difficult to beat.
Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are among the top flight's best players this season and when they are on top of their game they are virtually unplayable.
The money of Roman Abramovich also means the club can dip into the transfer market this month to add more depth to the squad if they want.
Not having to play in European competition is also a major plus.
Cons
When the Blues played with four at the back at the start of the season they looked dis-jointed - the make-up of the squad looks as though it only really fires in the one 3-5-2 formation.
The side has been fortunate to avoid any major injury or suspension problems that have beset their rivals, and the squad doesn't have depth in all positions to cover if that luck turns against them.
An injury to Costa would leave them with only the unproven Michy Batshuayi as main striker while Marcos Alonso is the only genuine option as the left-sided wing-back.
Chelsea's three league defeats this season have come against Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs - all title rivals, and they must improve on that to keep themselves clear of the pack.
SunBet odds: 8/11
Liverpool
Pros
When they click into gear there are few sides who can keep up with the intensity and creativeness of Jurgen Klopp's side.
Liverpool have the ability and players to blow teams away in a 20-minute spell and there is clearly a feeling of unity within the club connecting manager, players and fans.
Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho are among the division's best attacking midfielders who can unlock the best defences and in Klopp they have a manager who is able to free the players from any pressure.
The fact they are the highest scorers in the Premier League with 48 goals from 20 matches is an indication of their threat.
Cons
While they are the best of the top six going forward, they are the worst when it comes to defending having conceded 23 goals already this season.
The goalkeeping position is a major weakness with neither Simon Mignoley or Loris Karius convincing, while the defence has been exposed as sloppy at times.
When Liverpool have slipped up this season it has usually been against 'lesser' teams, indicating they may lack the concentration and focus in every game needed to be crowned champions.
The loss of Sadio Mane to the Africa Cup of Nations will be a blow and there are doubts whether the depth in squad is good enough to last the distance.
SunBet odds: 9/2
Tottenham
Pros
The manner of their win over Chelsea shows Tottenham have the players to do the job against the best and is an example of how they have kicked on from going close last season.
Big players Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen are all producing on a consistent basis and they have a manager in Mauricio Pochettino who is tactically as astute as any of his rivals.
Tottenham's defence has the best record of anyone, despite the absence of their best defender Toby Alderweireld for several weeks and will only get better now he has returned to fitness.
Fitness-wise, Spurs also have the conditioning and legs to match up with anyone.
Cons
Huge questions over the depth to the squad, as exposed when Kane missed seven weeks with an ankle injury, with Vincent Janssen looking an inadequate replacement.
Spurs also don't look a team capable of grinding out narrow wins in difficult games in the same manner as Chelsea recently did - possessing players who are more free-flowing than dogged.
The transfer window offers an opportunity to strengthen but in Daniel Levy they have a chairman who has proven to have sold them short in the past despite obvious need for strengthening in key areas.
They also lack any players who have been there and done it in a title race before - last season that cost them as they buckled under the weight of expectation and doubts still remain.
SunBet odds: 14/1
Manchester City
Pros
For all their recent troubles, City possess the players who have the ability to unlock any defence and in Sergio Aguero they have a striker who is undoubtedly one of the best in the world.
Most of the squad have seen it all before, so don't panic when the game goes against them - as they displayed in emphatic fashion when they stayed calm after having a man sent off to beat Burnley 2-1.
The arrival of Gabriel Jesus adds more strength to them going forward, where they are already one of the strongest teams in the division.
And the club also possess the financial clout to go out and buy big this month to plug the gaps in the side and boost their chances.
Cons
Pep Guardiola's insistence on playing to his beliefs is to be applauded by the purists, but it may prove costly when the chips are down in the rough and tumble of the Premier League.
Defensively City have been exposed, none of their central defenders are world class and the gamble to bring in Claudio Bravo because he is good for his feet looks mis-guided.
Teams know how to combat Guardiola's tactics and until the Burnley match when the manager changed the game at half-time, they have looked unable to grind out wins when they are not at the top of their game.
City also lack back-up in attack if Aguero is injured. Kelechi Iheancaho is a good prospect, but not prolific enough yet.
Discipline is a major issue, with the worst record in the division and they also have one of the worst golf differences of the top six, which could be vital going down the stretch.
SunBet odds: 7/1
Arsenal
Great on the eye, Arsenal are such an attacking threat and only Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals this season.
Another side who can win a game with a scintillating 20-minute burst, few sides can live with their quick passing and movement when they are on top form.
In Alexis Sanchez the possess a player who leads from the front and Olivier Giroud, for all his critics, is still one of the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League.
Defender Laurent Koscielny is one of the best in the world, while Petr Cech is worth six or seven points in goal.
Cons
There is just no escaping Arsenal seem to lack the mental toughness to sustain a successful title challenge.
Every time they get the chance to make a real impact, they fall flat on their faces as defeat at Everton and the draw at Bournemouth showed.
The Gunners also struggle against their top six rivals having lost to Liverpool and City while drawing with Spurs and United.
Key player Mesut Ozil too often goes missing in big games, Arsenal still look frail in the base of their midfield with Santi Cazorla a long-term absentee and questions remain over their ability to grind out 1-0 wins when they are not on top form.
And is Arsene Wenger just too long in the tooth to change his approach now?
SunBet odds: 12/1
Manchester United
Pros
United have overcome come a shaky start and of all the sides in the top six they look to be building up a head of steam.
Boss Jose Mourinho has figured out which players play to his orders, and since then they have evolved into a side who look capable of rolling over anyone in the division.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has taken no time to make an impact in England while Paul Pogba is now beginning to find his form and the suspicion is United can only get better.
United also have an all-round squad with a mix of pace, power, craft and aggression - with the financial clout to bring in new face or two this month.
Cons
The poor start to the season has left United with an awful lot of ground to make up, and it would take the kind of run Chelsea have just enjoyed just to get them back on level terms at the top.
The loss of Eric Bailly on Africa Cup of Nations duty is a blow as defensively there are still concerns - particularly through the middle.
United have also not been scoring enough goals, with too much of a reliance on Ibrahimovic to come up trumps. Not enough other players are chipping in finding the back of the net.
SunBet odds: 16/1
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