How the top of the 2016/2017 premier league will pan out.

So the title is already won and Arsenal always finish in the top four?...

Let's start at the top, and by the top of course I mean Chelsea. The top is where they have been since, well since as far back as I can remember. It seems an eternity ago they they were being torn to shreds by a dynamic and dangerous looking Arsenal at the Emirates. The chasing pack have been left praying for a slip, any sign of an end of season wobble, but this has not materialised to date.

It would be very easy to assume the title is their's, in fact I'd be inclined to agree that they will win the title, but. I do expect points to be dropped, very possibly in fixtures that they will be firm favourites to win. The saving grace however for Chelsea is that they can afford one or two slips, especially with the chasing teams having games against each other, injuries and defensive frailties that show no signs of stiffening.

So, what of the chasing pack, the hunt for the champions league places? This race has been as fascinating as in any season I can remember, with Chelsea a given, you have 5 teams genuinly battling for 3 spots in my opinion, and I firmly believe the battle will go down to the wire.

For me, Manchester City have been hugely disappointing this season. So much was expected with the arrival of the master tactician, the serial trophy winner Pep Guardiola, but the reality has been Kolarov playing as a centre half... hmmm. All that being said, I expect them to snaffle a top four spot, in fact I expect them to finish strong. Their exit from the champions league was a blow, but domestic results may well improve as a result.

Another team that will finish in the top four is Arsenal, obviously. This is by far the most pressure Wenger has been under than at any stage of his tenure, there is a genuine discontent amongst even his most loyal supporters, but they always make it.

The final spot is a real lottery though for me, Spurs looked a certainty until Harry Kane's ankle had other ideas. He is so important to this side and even if he only misses three or four games, it's still a huge void to fill and points will be dropped. Liverpool are a real Jekyl and Hyde side, thrilling to watch at times and almost too hot for any opponent to handle, when they play a week later they look hopeless. That brings us to Manchester United, they've really made 6th spot their own, but can Jose inspire an end of season surge into fourth?

Not for me.

1st Chelsea
2nd Manchester City
3rd Arsenal
4th Tottenham

I just think that with Liverpool's defensive weakness, and Manchester United's tendancy to draw games, Spurs will cling on to fourth.

But this league is one that is so hard to predict in modern times, I've not even mentioned the possiblity of a late Lukaku led lunge at the top four from Everton. There are sure to be twists and turns a plenty, an enthralling finish to a fascinating season.

Brendan for the chop & Klopp for the Kop

Brendan for the chop & Klopp for the Kop.

  I think Rodgers' days at Liverpool are well and truly numbered after that FA Cup semi-final defeat, I do think that he is a good manager but he is not cut out for a club of Liverpool's stature and expectations. His 'brand' of football is pleasant enough and he speaks very intelligently about the game, but when all is said and done its results and trophies that he will be judged on,

No silverware in three seasons is just not going to sit well with a club like Liverpool, they will not afford any manager the kind of time that Arsenal have afforded Wenger. Steven Gerrard's departure at the end of the season will not harm the football club anywhere near as much as it would have had he left at the peak of his power, but his departure could signal a major change at Anfield. It could very well be treated as a time to start over, to re-build.

The saga surrounding Raheem Sterling will be resolved over the summer in one way or another, but if he does leave then Liverpool will have to spend some serious money to compete with the title chasing sides next year. That being the case, will Rodgers be trusted to invest that money wisely? Looking at the players he has bought in, I would suggest that he will not be.

So who would be tempted to take over a club with such expectation and history?

One chap who might just have the ability to build a new, vibrant Liverpool is Jurgen Klopp. He looks unlikely to take the reigns at Manchester City and with Van Gaal finishing the season strongly it would seem that Liverpool have become the obvious destination. Klopp would not only galvanise the current squad, he would be able to attract quality players keen to work with him. With no champions league football, attracting quality players can often be a struggle but you feel that Klopp could well be a solution.

Klopp would be a very popular arrival, the Kop would love to see him in charge next season and I think that the Liverpool hierachy will not be able to let the oppurtunity of luring him pass by. It would certainly make some fantastic managerial battles with the likes of Mourinho and Van Gaal already present, the premier league needs characters like Klopp and I for one hope that Liverpool make him an offer that he cant refuse.

Naive Pellegrini hands Chelsea further advantage

The naivity of Manuel Pellegrini is utterly astounding.

He is supposed to be a vastly experienced and world class manager, but his insistance on playing 4-4-2 in every game regardless of the opposition is quite frankly ridiculous. In the space of two games he has summed up exactly why Manchester City are struggling to retain their domestic title and why they are making no progress against Europe's elite.

When Barcelona arrived at the Etihad and saw the team sheet, they must have been rubbing their hands together and embracing each other with uncontrollable glee. Even if Yaya Toure had been available, to play with only two central midfield players against Barcelona is tanamount to footballing suicide. They paid the price that night and they payed the price again at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool are not Barcelona, but they are improving rapidly and can overrun teams at Anfield with the Kop behind them. Once again Pellegrini decided to Attack, Attack, Attack and even with their talismanic Ivorian back in the middle they came away with nothing. I read one neutral fans comment on one live commentary site, he said the following:

"Chelsea come to Anfield and park the bus, Man City come and all out attack". That is why I would rather Man City win the league"

The fact of the matter is, Chelsea got something from their game at Anfield... Man City did not. Chelsea have in fact played some of the more attractive football in this seasons Premier League, their passing and movement has been brilliant at times. But when it comes to the tougher away games, they have a team, a manager and a system that can grind out a result.

You simply cannot approach every game and every opposition with the same tactics, you have to adapt and find other ways to win games. Manuel Pellegrini's refusal to sacrifice a striker in the biggest games is the sole reason Manchester City are struggling to keep in touch with Chelsea and why they are on the brink of another underwhelming Champions league campaign.

When the season has finished, Manchester City are likely to be without a major trophy and I think that Manuel Pellegrini's position will come under serious scrutiny. I would normally express a disbelief at the lack of patience shown by chaiman in the modern game, but should City part ways with Mr Pellegrini this summer I would completely understand why.