Chelsea aren’t ready, Arsenal are in danger of another ‘over by Easter’ campaign, Manchester City are showing signs they are finding it tough at the top and Manchester United are out of it all together.
Meanwhile, fresh from drubbing Arsenal 5-1, Liverpool have suddenly gone from top four contenders to dark horses for the Barclays Premier League title. Brendan Rodgers is understandably keen to play down his team’s chances winning the league for the first time since 1990.
Sportsmail presents 10 reasons why they just might.
VIDEO Scroll down to see Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers instructing his players
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On top: Here are the 10 reasons why Liverpool can win the Premier League title this season
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Orchestrator: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has overseen a big improvement at Anfield since taking over
1. They’ve done it before. In the 1985/86 season Kenny Dalglish’s team trailed league leaders Everton by five points with 13 games to go. That gap stretched to eight points with 12 games to go after they were beaten by their great rivals 2-0 at Anfield. But 11 wins and one draw later Liverpool were crowned champions courtesy of a two-point advantage over Howard Kendall’s team.
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Champions: Liverpool came from behind to clinch the league title back in the 1985/86 season
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Double winners: Ronnie Whelan (left), Kenny Dalglish, Mark Lawrenson, Steve McMahon, Alan Hansen and Craig Jonhstone celebrate
2. They have the second best home record in the Premier League, well until Manchester City beat Sunderland at the Etihad tonight. Even so, City and Chelsea have still got to visit Anfield…and as Jose Mourinho keeps telling us his side won’t win the title this year. Beat both of those and Liverpool are right in the hunt.
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Home comforts: Liverpool have already beaten Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal at Anfield this season
3. They might not have beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford for five years, when Sir Alex Ferguson was still getting under Rafa Benitez’s skin. But who would bet against them piling more misery on David Moyes next month by doing the double over their bitter rivals? After all, in all competitions, West Brom, Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham already have…did I forget to mention Swansea in the FA Cup?
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Changing fortunes? Liverpool haven't won a Premier League match at Old Trafford in five years
4. After being stuffed 5-1 by Liverpool, Arsenal are in serious danger of blowing up once more and have gone from title contenders in the eyes of many to prime candidates to finish fourth in the eyes of many more. Come next month, by which time Arsenal could quite conceivably have lost to Manchester United in the league, Liverpool in the FA Cup and Bayern Munich in the Champions League. That will crush confidence at the Emirates by the time they face Sunderland, meaning Liverpool could be above Arsenal by the time they face Gus Poyet’s team at Anfield.
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Dejection: Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (left) and Mesut Ozil survey the scene during their 5-1 hammering at Anfield
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Implosion: Will Arsenal be able to avoid their annual dip at this time of year with so many key games coming up
5. There are no gruelling Europa League trips to the Ukraine or any other long-haul European opponents to distract Liverpool from the prize of a potential domestic double.
6. No one has scored more goals in the Premier League than either Luis Suarez or Daniel Sturridge. The pair have bagged 38 goals between, 23 for Suarez and 15 for Sturridge, and that is before they have filled their boots against Fulham tonight – the leakiest defence in the division.
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Partnership: No other duo has scored more Premier League goals than Luis Suarez (left) and Daniel Sturridge, 38
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Poised: Suarez and Sturridge will be hoping to fill their boots again when they come up against Fulham
HISTORY MAKERS
No Premier League team has ever won the title after finishing lower than third the previous season. Liverpool finished seventh last season
7. Sir Alex Ferguson may not rate Steven Gerrard as a ‘top, top player’ but he is a minority of one. The Liverpool skipper has been reborn in the deeper midfield role handed to him by Rodgers. The lung busting, box-to-box runs may be few and far between but his range of passing is manna for heaven for Suarez and Sturridge and his delivery from set pieces is another highly dangerous weapon.
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'Top, top player': Steven Gerrard has proven to everyone he can adapt to the holding midfielder role
8. Raheem Sterling just keeps getting better and better as his brace against Arsenal proved. Left or right wing, Sterling’s speed and quick feet are a nightmare for defenders and his link-up play with Suarez is approaching the level of understanding between the Uruguayan and SAS partner Sturridge. Roy Hodgson’s plan to run the rule over Sterling as a potential replacement for Theo Walcott in his World Cup squad is testament to the 19-year-old’s rapid progression.
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Easy does it: Raheem Sterling's form has gone through the roof in the past month or so, prompting an England recall
9. Only Arsenal have a better record against teams in the bottom half - and that might last much longer. From 14 games against teams 11th and below so far, Liverpool have won 11, drawn two and lost one – that’s 2.5 points per game. With six more fixtures of that nature to come, starting with Fulham tonight, on that form that’s a healthy return of 15 points.
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Set piece specialist: Lots of work has gone in on the training ground to improve the Reds' free kicks
10. Liverpool are the kings of the set-piece in every department. Rodgers' boys have banged in 22 goals from dead-ball situations, two more than Manchester City and eight more than Chelsea. Just the kind of additional string to their bow on top of the 41 they have got from open play to set the nerves of opposition defences jangling when the pressure reaches fever pitch over the ensuing weeks.
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