On the other hand, Aston Villa under Unai Emery this season will make it difficult for their opponents, but the trophy will still be difficult to pursue.
I will not expect too much from Chelsea and Aston Villa. However, if they want to pursue 4th position at the end of the standings, they can achieve it.
I agree that Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool will be the top 3, the order is uncertain. But let’s remember, if the PL teams do well in Europe this season then top 5 will be good enough to get a CL place for next season.
In that scenario, excluding Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool, there would be an extra two CL qualification places.
In essence, the top four positions or places for several teams to finish in the Champions League zone are still very open, although I am also aware of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal who have a big chance in the top three but that will not fully guarantee them to stay in the top three until the end of the season. Because of course, throughout this season it is very possible that unexpected events will occur, and if their key players are injured and or they experience a decline in performance, then their results will not be optimal for several matches later.
For that reason, I am sure that the top zone position will still be open to teams that really manage to maintain their consistency. Because teams that do not manage to be consistent, of course they will struggle to get or be able to be in a good position at the end of the season. At least Chelsea has shown improvement with their new manager this season Enzo Maresca and about Aston Villa, they have had good performance since last season too and this season they still managed to have good performance too even in the Champions League too.
It is indeed too early to determine who will eventually lift the trophy. With just 7 matches played out of 38, there is much that can transpire between now and the end of the season. Leading at the moment is Liverpool, though they are just a single point ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal, in second and third place respectively. This goes on to show how competitive the leading pack is.
Not forgetting the unanticipated factors like key player injuries or slumps in form that could influence the result of the upcoming games. The teams that are in good standing right now, i.e., Liverpool, City and Arsenal, do have a good chance but they also have to remain stable throughout the season. Other imbibing teams are Chelsea and Aston Villa, which can surprise and snatch one of the top four spots. The season is far from over, and the race is still very much open.