Two months into the Premier League season, the runners and riders are starting to shake out.
As expected, Manchester City are looking strong at the top of the table. But the early stages of the season have been far from predictable with plenty of twists and turns.
Arsenal's stunning start to sit top of the table has caught many by surprise, whilst Liverpool are amongst those languishing lower down the table after struggling to get going.
Back on the eve of the season, Mirror Football's writers placed their predictions for the new season on record including the title winners, top four finishers and relegated sides. Now, just a few weeks into the season, we've given everyone the chance to look back and revise those pre-season picks.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Do you agree with our writers' predictions? Join the debate in the comments section!
Thomas Bristow
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal
Relegated: Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth
Revised predictions
Premier League champions : Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool
Relegated: Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth
Arsenal's start to the season has been mightily impressive and their win against Tottenham has proved there is some steel within their side. That said, whatever they have still won't be enough to stop the beast that is Manchester City.
I still can't see Liverpool finishing outside of the top four but their poor start to the season has seen them drop a tad in my estimations.
I'm also sticking by my relegation predictions. Bournemouth have done well but I still fear the Premier League is too much for them. And, similar in the way we saw with Everton last season, Leicester have a big enough squad to get out of the bottom three.
Dan Marsh
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United
Relegated: Leicester City, Fulham, Bournemouth
Revised predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool
Relegated: Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth
Manchester City and Erling Haaland was always likely to be a match made in heaven, but Arsenal's start to the season has come as a bit of a surprise. And although it's not something I expected, it's clear from watching Arsenal that they are now genuine title contenders.
With Arsenal looking like Manchester City's most credible challengers at this early stage, it's hard to predict who will drop out in terms of top-four predictions. It's probably not the opportune moment to tip Manchester United for glory the morning after they were pumped 6-3 by their neighbours, but I've been relatively impressed by the way that Erik ten Hag has steadied the ship in recent weeks following a nightmare start.
Tottenham have made a more than respectable start under Antonio Conte, so on current form, it's probably Liverpool who have the most cause for concern. They are still experiencing teething problems with their new frontline and the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are suffering from a complete collapse in form. I still think it would be unwise to bet against Jurgen Klopp and his squad though and fancy the Reds to turn it around, so I'll go for Manchester United to drop out in order to accommodate Arsenal.
Down the bottom, tipping Leicester City for the drop is looking like a pretty shrewd shout. Fulham have already made me look a bit silly, though, and it's clear that Marco Silva has them far better equipped in their bid to survive this time around. Now we're a few weeks into the season, I fancy Nottingham Forest to join Leicester and Bournemouth down the bottom.
Darren Lewis
Revised predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool
Liverpool look alarmingly bad. It isn’t just one or two players. It is the lack of a press, the unwillingness to tackle, the allowing of the opposition to express themselves. Their ability to score goals gives them a squeak of the top four but the rate they are conceding is a real concern with the entire back four out of form. Chelsea are nowhere near as strong defensively as they were when winning the Champions League 18 months ago. Manchester United are still a work in progress.
City, on the other hand, are formidable all over the pitch and, with Erling Haaland, have a generational talent up front. If he stays fit he could easily shatter Mohamed Salah’s record of 32 goals in a 38-game Premier League season. Even if he isn’t available, City showed last season that they can score nearly 100 goals without a centre-forward. City will win it. The others are in a race to finish second behind them.
James Nursey
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Liverpool, Tottenham. Manchester United
Relegated: Fulham, Bournemouth, Southampton
Revised predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four: Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool
Relegated: Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Southampton
The main changes from my original predictions are about the success of Arsenal who have started the season in blistering fashion and look good already for a top four spot.
Whereas Liverpool have been decidedly off colour despite Mo Salah signing a new contract to stay. The Anfield club should still be good enough to rally to qualify for the Champions League again via the top four as there has been so much upheaval at Chelsea and surely Brighton won't last the pace.
At the bottom, Forest's £140million spending spree on 22 players is yet to work and the City Ground club are in danger of becoming a laughing stock for signing so many players with the internet already boasting plenty of gags - including the club's team bus mocked up as a double decker!
Gary O'Neil is doing a sterling job at Bournemouth after Scott Parker's sacking but the club's US takeover could change his role and I still also fear for Southampton where Ralph Hasenhutl's side were dismal before the international break at Aston Villa and time could soon be up for the Austrian.
Neil McLeman
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea
Relegated: Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth
Revised predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham
Relegated: Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth
Manchester City will romp to the title but second is up for grabs with Liverpool suffering a stuttering start to the season and Arsenal starting superbly.
And despite yesterday's crushing defeat, I would not rule Manchester United finishing in the top four as results against City can almost be discounted this season. Chelsea under Graham Potter are the big unknown in the race for the top four.
I stand by my three to go down but it any of the bottom nine can go down with Leicester, Wolves and Southampton all in big trouble.
Alan Smith
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea
Relegated: Leeds, Fulham, Bournemouth
Eight (or seven) games in I feel pretty confident about my shock tip to be champions but the rest is rather a mixed bag. The top four selections could still end up being right but it's become nearly impossible to discount Arsenal's presence considering their start, while Liverpool and Chelsea have been far more flawed than anyone would have expected in early August.
As for the relegation picks - Fulham have done far better than imagined but Bournemouth going down looks a safe bet and the gloss is beginning to come off at Leeds a little.
Jacob Leeks
Before the season I fancied Manchester City to win the title once again, a feeling that has not changed. But something that has changed is my view of their closest challengers, with Arsenal and Tottenham firmly supplanting Liverpool.
The Reds even look like they face a fight to finish in the top four given their numerous problems so far this term, something I did not see coming. There has also been some change at the bottom of the league.
I predicted Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Southampton to go down, but the Cottagers have proven to be one of the surprise packages of the top-flight so far this term.
Instead, Leicester and Wolves have been drawn into the relegation battle, with Marco Silva's men holding their own.
Mike Walters
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Tottenham
Rest of top four (in order): Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea
Relegated: Leeds, Fulham, Bournemouth
As the only one who tipped Tottenham for the title - probably including Spurs fans - my betting slip looks destined for recycling after their mediocre defeat in the north London derby.
Up until Saturday lunchtime, there was a body of evidence that Antonio Conte had purged them of their 'Spursy' ways - and an unbeaten run in the first block of Premier League fixtures before the international break appeared to support that perception.
But the nature of Tottenham's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal was alarming: They were second-best for most of the contest, and it hardly inspired confidence in them sustaining a title challenge.
I'm not going to give up yet, though. Conte suffered a sobering defeat with Chelsea at the Emirates in 2016, and it proved the wake-up call that led to Chelsea winning the title.
Tottenham still have Manchester City to play, home and away (they did the double over City last season) and, if the return derby with Arsenal follows the form book, it will be a home win. The North London derby has produced only one away wi in the last 24 meetings.
Nurse, fetch matron - the patient is refusing to take his medicine...
Josh O'Brien
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal
Relegated: Southampton, Fulham, Bournemouth
Having predicted Tottenham would finish above Arsenal initially, Saturday's dominant derby display from the Gunners has prompted a re-think and I now feel as if Mikel Arteta's men have enough in the tank to stay above their local rivals - but both will still qualify for the Champions League.
My relegation predictions need more alteration, with newly-promoted duo Fulham and Bournemouth both proving me wrong early on. Southampton on the other hand still look as if they could be in trouble come the end of the season.
I had high hopes for Nottingham Forest, but can now see Steve Cooper's side going back down to the Championship at the first time of asking as this summer's ludicrous transfer haul does not appear to have done the trick.
Darren Wells
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea
Relegated: Everton, Southampton, Bournemouth
Yes. Perspective is always needed at this stage of the season, given there is still plenty of time for things to change, but it's hard to conceive a top four that will not include Arsenal.
The Gunners have won matches you'd have previously expected them to draw, and while the Man Utd defeat is a blotch on their record, they still sit top of the table. With their rivals lacking in form, this could be the season they finally get back in the Champions League.
I don't expect them to provide much of a title challenge to Man City, though, who look so strong I'd even back them to win the Champions League, with PSG arguably their biggest threat.
Liverpool are all over the place at present, and while I'd expect them to find their feet again, it could be a difficult season. That leaves Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham battling it out for the final top four spot - it could go any way.
And at the bottom, Frank Lampard has had a decent start at Everton who I'd expect to beat the drop, while Nottingham Forest could be heading back to the Championship instead.
Rich Jones
Original predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United
Relegated: Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Bournemouth
Revised predictions
Premier League champions: Manchester City
Rest of top four (in order): Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham
Relegated: Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth
It seems strange to say when they aren't currently top of the table, but Manchester City look untouchable. Unless the World Cup poses some serious problems, it remains hard to see Arsenal keeping pace.
The Gunners could well end up the best of the rest, whilst you'd surely expect Liverpool to recover and get into the top four. I expect the battle between Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea for the Champions League places to be extremely close.
At the other end of the table, there are a huge number of clubs who should be looking over their shoulder rather than up the table. Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest look destined to drop, as I predicted in pre-season. Southampton are my current pick to join them, but they've got plenty of time to turn things around.
