The Premier League season is still in its infancy and September has been a quiet month for fixtures due to postponements following the death of the Queen and the international break.
That being said, title and top-four predictions from big-name pundits have continued to flow in at a steady rate now the contenders have each played six or seven fixtures. Arsenal led the way heading into the international break after a classy 3-0 victory at Brentford, but onlookers are divided as to whether the Gunners will compete for domestic glory or Champions League qualification.
Defending champions Manchester City and rising force Tottenham trail Arsenal by just a point and remain undefeated, highlighting their credentials. Liverpool went so close to lifting the Premier League trophy last season and have plenty of making up to do from eighth place to catch the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea above them, which many suspect the Reds will.
Without further ado, Mirror Football brings you a comprehensive round-up of pundits' title and top-four predictions from the last few weeks.
Jamie Carragher - Arsenal in title race
"If you actually watched Arsenal this season, you'd never seen them before," Carragher said. "I mean, they do look like they could be title contenders."
William Gallas - Arsenal to go closer than Spurs in title race
"I think Arsenal have a better opportunity to compete for the title than Tottenham because this season they aren't playing in the Champions League," Gallas told Genting Casino. "I think they have to be focussed on the title. I don't know what their target is, but whether it's top four or to win the title, I hope [Mikel] Arteta has told his players, 'this season we have a good opportunity to fight for the title, so let's do it'."
Patrice Evra - Man City and Liverpool to battle it out for title
"I think City and Liverpool are still the favourites, but you have so many others too, including Tottenham, Arsenal, and Chelsea," Evra said.
Bacary Sagna - Liverpool or Chelsea to miss out on top four
"I think Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City will definitely finish in the top four," Sagna said. "Then you only have one spot left, which will be fought between Liverpool and Chelsea."
Gabriel Agbonlahor - Man City to win title, Liverpool to miss out on top four
"Top four, for me, would be first place for Manchester City, second place Arsenal, third place Spurs and fourth place Chelsea," Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.
Alan Shearer - Man City to win title, Chelsea and Man Utd to miss out on top four
"It has slightly changed from the beginning of the season," he told ViaPlay as he made his top-four predictions. "But on the evidence I have seen from Manchester United and Chelsea, then I think Arsenal might sneak in there as well."
Do you agree with Alan Shearer? Have your say in the comments!
Paul Merson - Chelsea and Man Utd to miss out on top four
"It's still early doors, but I think the Premier League top four this season will be Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in whatever order," Merson told Sportskeeda. "Chelsea will obviously have a thing or two to say, but we'll have to wait and see how [Graham] Potter performs at Stamford Bridge. As for Manchester United, I don't think they'll make it because they still have a lot of work to do in terms of their squad."
Jermain Defoe - Arsenal and Man Utd to miss out on top four
"I'm not going to say who is going to win it, who will finish second and that," Defoe told Football Daily in early September. "But for me, the top four teams in the Premier League this year, when I look at the squads, are Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea."
Gary Neville - Chelsea and Man Utd to miss out on top four
"I think Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham will be the top three," Neville told Sky Sports after Manchester United defeated Arsenal 3-1 in early September. "I think it's a big battle between Chelsea, Arsenal and Man United. I think Liverpool, you think they are going to come good just because of what they have done in the last few years. I think United will struggle to get in the top four, personally."
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - Arsenal and Tottenham to miss out on top four
Responding to Neville, Hasselbaink said: "I think United will find a way of playing, they cannot keep on playing the way they have been playing for the early parts of this season. But I think they will get above Arsenal. I think Chelsea will get in the top four with Man United, City and Liverpool."
Roy Keane - Man Utd to finish in top four
"United, I think United are certs for the top four," Keane said in response to Neville and Hasselbaink. "I think they've got a settled group now. "Obviously, the transfer window, I mentioned it earlier, a lot of baggage with players who weren't happy at the cub gone. The manager is settling in, the options coming off the bench today we saw… United for me."
