Who is the Premier League's 2nd best?
With more than two-thirds of the Premier League campaign still to play, it's still a bit early to make sweeping judgments based on just a dozen matches.
One thing is blatantly clear: Manchester City is the best club in England, and by some margin after Saturday's comprehensive 2-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power maintained the club's eight-point lead atop the table.
While that much is certain, what's not plainly evident is who England's second-best side is. It's a narrative that changes each weekend, and while Tottenham may have once resembled City's biggest threat to a third title in seven years, Saturday's lifeless performance in a north London derby defeat to Arsenal has changed that.
With that in mind, here's an attempt at determining the Premier League's No. 2 side through 12 matches:
Manchester United: Courtesy of a dominant 4-1 win over Newcastle Saturday at Old Trafford, United is back on track after slumping to a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on the other side of the international break. Paul Pogba is back, and it showed as the Frenchman gave the Red Devils the midfield spark they've sorely missed since he went down with a hamstring worry in mid September. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back as well, and Romelu Lukaku ended a seven-match goalless streak.
Chelsea: That's now four Premier League wins on the bounce for Chelsea as Tony Pulis' drab Baggies head back up the M40 with their tails between their legs. Three clean sheets in three matches and Eden Hazard has five goals in six, meaning the Blues are firing on all cylinders at both ends of the pitch, and are sitting in third thanks to Saturday's win. Next up is a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, a place where Chelsea hasn't won since 2012.
Tottenham: On Cloud nine after besting continental gargantuan Real Madrid at Wembley in the Champions League, Tottenham has been brought back down to earth after an uncharacteristically uninspired performance in the north London derby. Backline anchor Toby Alderweireld could be out until the holidays, Harry Kane is clearly bothered by a hamstring niggle, and Vincent Wanyama's absence has Mauricio Pochettino's midfield appearing perilously soft. Next up in the league is a visit from West Brom, the perfect tonic for a side mired by a small-scale slump.
Liverpool: With summer signing Mohamed Salah scoring at will, Liverpool continues to be a devastating force going forward. Concerns about a threadbare backline low on confidence continue to hamper the Reds' slim title hopes, though, and 17 goals conceded through 12 matches is joint-second worst among top-half sides. Just four points adrift of second-place United, a massive litmus test will present itself next weekend when Antonio Conte and Co. pay the Merseysiders a visit.
Arsenal: Power shift in north London? Hardly, and despite a drab campaign that has witnessed capitulation away from home, Arsenal has won 11 league matches at home on the bounce - the longest streak for the Gunners since the 2005 campaign at Highbury. Level on points with both Liverpool and surprise side Burnley, Arsenal is just a point back of Spurs, and with matches on the horizon against the Clarets and Huddersfield, Arsene Wenger's charges may very well climb into the top four despite four losses in 12.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)