Now there is too much competition in the top and I don’t even know what place Chelsea can count on even if they solve all their problems. Tell me, what order of teams would be logical for you (first 7 places)? Let's say (I know you want it) first Liverpool, then...? Whatever order you name, those who will be in 5-7 places will be obvious losers, right? But they are good clubs. The problem is that there is no place for everyone in the top.
Liverpool don't deserve to be top 4 this season, honestly! The table doesn't lie, in the end, of course. Sure you got some games that VAR and other things caused problems (remember Arsenal were robbed off at least 4 points in incidents, one of which VAR admits they made error) but in 38 games you more or less equalise all errors so you get what you get in the end.
I also recall we had 2 games where we were "gifted" easy wins without playing well. Newcastle, who play 10 men early, and Leicester who gave us 2 own goals when we couldn't strike?
I digress.
Logically, if I base my season outlook on games I've watched, the naive need to remove financial advantage, and overall spirit and character of teams? I would certainly put Arsenal in #1, Newcastle, Brighton and Villa in the rest of the top spots. I would, in a fantasy world, reward great footballing attitude, trained into top but not over-the-top talents, especially if you've got academy mindsets.
City wins games but they don't excite me and it's just the most expensive gun football can buy and a trigger (ok, it's slightly disrespectful but you know). Liverpool wins games, but turn in horror shows in alternate from 9-0 and 7-0 thrashings. Chelsea look like show ponies.
Problem is you thrust Villa, Brighton and Newcastle into UCL and they are going to get oh-so-soundly-smacked. But wouldn't we love to be proven wrong there? I honestly don't mind a UCL without City, Liverpool, United, if we can actually see guns blazing from our league's best hardened warriors.
I ramble.