THE BIG DEBATE: The Premier League title race is already beginning to take shape with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City looking the most likely in the battle for the crown

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It may only be October, but this past weekend felt like a significant one in terms of where the Premier League title could be heading come May.

Manchester City did what they always do: find a way to win. But they came mightily close to dropping precious points in the race for the domestic crown which leads us nicely on to Arsenal, who had a man sent off for the third time this season. They ended up losing 2-0 against Bournemouth in a result which could very well come back to haunt them in six months time.

Then there's Liverpool. Are they title contenders, are they destined to come up short? Arne Slot recently insisted that he won't know the answer himself until nearer December, but they are still top of the pile and their 2-1 win over Chelsea felt like a statement. In the wake of this weekend's results, we asked the Mirror Football team for their title race musings...

Manchester City are my bet - hardly sticking my neck on the line there - to be crowned Premier League champions (again) but I do think it is so bizarre that people keep labelling this season as a three-horse title race.

Have you looked at the table lately? Villa are up there with Arsenal, just a win behind City and only four points behind Liverpool.

The job that Emery has done is mind-blowing. Villa is such a big club but for years they've been looking for a saviour and for their manager to take this giant, breathe new life into the beast and make them contenders again is just sensational.

Arne Slot has been superb for Liverpool and I love the way he has made taking over from Jurgen Klopp look so seamless.

Liverpool would be my choice as closest contenders to City. Arsenal will be in the mix. But how can you back them if they're getting players sent off every other week?

Mikel Arteta watched Arsenal shoot themselves in the foot again vs Bournemouth ( Image:

We've had our Halley's Comet for this century, after Leicester's meteorite shower out of nowhere to win the Premier League in 2016, so it's just the regulars propping up the bar again now.

Manchester City's bid for five in a row will be determined by m'learned friends arguing over those 115 charges, with the commission of inquiry's verdict expected shortly after the 12th of never. And Arsenal will probably live to regret their early-season rash of red cards, and the dropped points that have followed.

That leaves Liverpool, enjoying a flying start under Arne Slot without blowing opponents away, as the trojan horse of the title race.

Ten wins out of 11 is an impressive opening gambit from the Slot machine, but the devil is in the detail. Look at the goals-against column and you'll find the killer stat.

You don't become champions simply by conceding the fewest goals, but it's usually a reliable indicator - and with just three goals shipped in eight league games for starters, Liverpool have given themselves a serious basis for negotiation.

Liverpool sit top of the Premier League after their victory over Chelsea ( Image:

But that doesn't mean they won't. The next few weeks are crucial for the Mereysiders with a number of testing fixtures coming up.

A tough run starts with a double header against impressive Brighton, while Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Newcastle, rivals Everton and Tottenham all lie in wait before Christmas.

And while it would be foolish to bet against the Reds, a run like that would test any side. Any dropped points would certainly be jumped upon by Manchester City - and given how they somehow got over the line against Wolves, they are not ready to give up their crown just yet.

Pep Guardiola has simply created a relentless winning machine and with games against Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace to come, City could start moving away from the pack sooner rather than later.

Samuel Meade The title race is threatening to follow a similar pattern to last year. City, Arsenal and Liverpool are the three best teams in the land, but few could argue that City and Arsenal are not slightly above the Reds. It took a monumental effort from Jurgen Klopp to keep Liverpool in the hunt for as long as he did last term, but eventually they just fell away.

It remains to be seen whether that happens again but there are valid questions over them given their failure to recruit over the summer. Arsenal look somewhat jittery, perhaps aware that if they don't seize their moment soon enough they could miss out.

Their discipline issues must be addressed. City meanwhile, whilst already needing several stoppage time goals to change results in their favour, have the whiff of champions. They're very assured with who and what they are. It is still Guardiola's title to lose.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are still the overwhelming favourites to retain their crown Daniel Marsh There was an air of inevitability about Manchester City's dramatic winner against Wolves. Finding a way to win is what they do and the scary part is that instinct seems to kick in at the business end of the season, so predicting other destinations for the Premier League title feels futile.

But we could have a competitive title race on our hands again. Arsenal have kept things interesting the last couple of years and they'll bounce back from another setback (and red card) against Bournemouth simply because they're too good not to push City all the way but they can't afford any more silly mistakes; it's hard enough beating City to the title with 11 men on the field every week, let alone 10.

And then Liverpool. Arne Slot is right to be coy but they are proper title contenders. They have been ruthlessly efficient so far while boasting the leanest defence in the Premier League and, as we all know, defences win championships.

Will they go on and win it? Maybe not. But it was hard not to imagine Jurgen Klopp cursing his luck somewhere on Sunday when it seemed as though Man City would drop points against Wolves less than 24 hours after Arsenal were beaten by Bournemouth.

An honourable word for Chelsea, too: they won't feature in the title race, yet, but they impressed me at Anfield. I wasn't convinced with the appointment of Enzo Maresca, but he's made a fine start to life at Stamford Bridge and the fact there is little to no noise surrounding him speaks volumes.

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