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As the 2021-22 Premier League season reaches its traditional Christmas halfway point, the title race has been slimmed down to three realistic contenders.
Although they look unlikely to run away with the league as they did last season, Manchester City remain odds-on favourites ahead of chasers Liverpool and Chelsea.
GOAL has what you need to know about the favourites, underdogs and outsiders to be crowned Premier League champions come the end of the campaign.
Who are the favourites to win the Premier League?
Billed as heavy favourites before the season kicked off, Manchester City remain 1/12 (1.08) front runners to win their eighth Premier League title after a strong opening half to the 2021-22 campaign.
Pep Guardiola's side ended up winning the league by a comfortable 12-point margin last season, and have started to build up a commanding lead over the chasing pack again.
Their combination of the league's best defence and a prolific frontline rich in attacking options has seen them win more games than any other team and makes a strong case as to why they are the side to beat this season.
Who are the other contenders to win the Premier League?
After seeing last season's title defence scuppered by a catalogue of injuries to key defensive players, Liverpool look back to something like their exhilarating best this season and are priced at 9/1 (10.0) to stand between City and the title once again.
With Mohamed Salah enjoying an inspirational individual season and Virgil van Dijk providing his assured presence at the back once again, a Reds team that broke numerous records on the way to the 2018-19 title had looked set to push the champions all the way this time out until a dip in results over the Christmas period.
Getty/GOALRated neck-and-neck with Liverpool before the season began, Chelsea are now a lengthier 25/1 (26.0) after dropping off the pace slightly over the autumn and winter period.
The reigning European champions remain a formidable outfit thanks to their star-studded squad and Thomas Tuchel's tactical nous, so could offer strong value at that price with half the season still to play.
Who are the outsiders to win the Premier League?
Manchester United were expected to mount a serious title challenge after adding Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo to their ranks last summer but are now 250/1 (251.0) long shots following a tumultuous start to the season.
With Champions League qualification now a more pressing ambition as they sit adrift of the top four, interim coach Ralf Rangnick has a difficult job on his hands after replacing the ousted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.
GettyTottenham are 250/1 (251.0) to be Premier League champions for the first time after a disappointing start to the season saw Nuno Espirito Santo sacked after just 10 league games at the helm. With Harry Kane looking a shadow of his normal self following a failed move to Manchester City in the summer, new manager Antonio Conte faces a major challenge to bring Champions League football back to this part of north London.
Arsenal are ranked alongside their local rivals at 250/1 (251.0) to win the Premier League after a promising start to the season that has pushed them right to the front of the queue for a top-four spot. With no European football to distract them, Mikel Arteta's side have set themselves up for a strong season but remain well short of the realistic title contenders.
West Ham are another team eyeing up a Champions League place after a promising start to the season has put them into the title conversation, albeit at lengthy 1000/1 (1001.0) odds. David Moyes' men have had their say in the title race by pulling off shock wins over Liverpool and Chelsea but remain well short of pushing for a first top-flight title.
Having come close to beating Liverpool and Chelsea to a place in the Champions League last season, Leicester City have fallen well adrift this time out and are 1000/1 (1001.0) outsiders to make lightning strike twice by repeating their famous 2015-16 title triumph.
Odds correct at the time of writing. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.
