So much has been made about Manchester City's - and in particular Erling Haaland's - superb start to the season that you'd think they were top of the Premier League table.
In reality they are not - Arsenal, having won nine of their opening 11 games, sit two points clear of City in first place. The likes of Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea are all hot on City's heels, but a quirk of the fixture list could allow City to reach the summit before the season pauses for the World Cup next month.
Pep Guardiola's players have three Premier League fixtures to fulfill before they jet off to compete for the most important trophy in football (or in Haaland's case, Marbella).
City will travel to Leicester on Saturday for an early kick-off, before they round off their pre-World Cup league schedule with home meetings with Fulham and Brentford on the 5th and 12th of November respectively. All three should be winnable for City, although Leicester and Fulham are both enjoying good periods of form.
On paper at least, the schedules of City's main title rivals appear to be a little tougher. Arsenal will take on a resurgent Nottingham Forest this weekend before travelling across London for a tough derby match against Chelsea. A week later they'll face Wolves at Molineux.
Spurs are at Bournemouth this weekend, before they come up against Liverpool and Leeds at home. Chelsea have arguably the toughest schedule of all, having to make trips to Brighton and Newcastle either side of their derby with Arsenal, while Newcastle have got Aston Villa at home, Southampton away and Chelsea at home.
Liverpool - 10 points behind City but never a team that should be written off - must take on Leeds, Spurs and Southampton before the break.
The upshot is that City's direct rivals are all playing each other, meaning at least some of them are guaranteed to drop points. Should City win all three of their matches then they will be in a healthier position than they are now.
Another advantage City hold over Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool is that they have a Champions League match next week which is essentially a dead-rubber. With City having already secured top spot in Group G and Sevilla already assured of a third place finish, Guardiola can afford to rest as many players as he likes ahead of next weekend's match against Fulham.
Chelsea have not mathematically sewn up top spot in their group, Liverpool will be trying to do so and Spurs need to win to guarantee their place in the last-16.
Kaucepsyz
0
if you don't follow football don't comment rubbish here... Chelsea is going to play with Ac Milan there last game so if Chelsea lose to Ac Milan with more goals then Ac Milan will top the group simple
Chelsea last game is not Ac Milan.
Wissy✅
0
all Chelsea needs to do is draw their match to top their zone, they are already qualified even if they lose they're still going to be qualified so what do you call this, stupid writer
We don’t even need to draw how come you know nothing about football even if we lose we’re at the top didn’t you hear what the commentators said on Tuesday silly
vicbdimopt
0
if you don't follow football don't comment rubbish here... Chelsea is going to play with Ac Milan there last game so if Chelsea lose to Ac Milan with more goals then Ac Milan will top the group simple
i can see you no nothing about football,champions leaque uses head to head not goals don't act stupid
befree
2
if you don't follow football don't comment rubbish here... Chelsea is going to play with Ac Milan there last game so if Chelsea lose to Ac Milan with more goals then Ac Milan will top the group simple
befree
1
Arsenal is now panicking..... last week draw with Sotton then yesterday beaten by Psv lets wait for there next three games
Kicelnpstu
1
who is reporting this, Chelsea have the top spot in champions league already even if millan win and Chelsea lose the last champions league game because they will end up with 10 points like Chelsea and Chelsea are ahead head to head
Dice3008
1
all Chelsea needs to do is draw their match to top their zone, they are already qualified even if they lose they're still going to be qualified so what do you call this, stupid writer
Even if Chelsea lose and Ac wins we will still top of group with head to head so they are writing rubbish
Wapmnort
0
all Chelsea needs to do is draw their match to top their zone, they are already qualified even if they lose they're still going to be qualified so what do you call this, stupid writer
Limbenrtz
1
only chelsea is strong and arsenal will chop them hands down
S100K
1
You forgot to mention the most informed United, underrate them at your own risk. Though it's good everyone is underrating United and it'll help them play freely without pressure.
bitdektuyz
1
for sure your a Manchester city fan
Stare
3
Chelsea secured top spot only AC Milan can have same points as Chelsea and Chelsea have head to head advantage over AC
Zuma1989
1
who write this must be a Barcelona Fan or Pep fan, mind you Mr Clown Chelsea have Automatically top their group.
mauenprtu
1
FYI Chelsea have already secured top spot in their group in champions league
sammyluv84
2
And who said Chelsea haven't already won their UCL group??? why do u feel Man City will be invisible to d teams they will play.
AlAzeem
3
And who says man city can't drop some points from this three matches too 😅😅