Race for Champions League spots

We are just 9 games into the season but it's clear already which teams will be struggling and which will be at the right end challenging for European places and league titles.

It's clear that Chel$ea will win the league by Xmas, it's also clear that there isnt a team in the country, maybe even Europe that can keep up with them. However the rest of the league is pretty even.

We have Man Utd who seem likely to get 2nd spot. Then theres a few teams that could be looking at a top three finish. Theres Arsenal of course who still have a good side, its just their squad that seems inadiquate, theres Liverpool who havent exactly got off to a flyer but on paper are a quality outfit and now we have Tottenham around these areas, who have been turned around by Martin Jol and Chairman Daniel Levy.

Personally i'd like to say Spurs will finish 3rd, and above the old enemy, but that's my heart talking, not my brain. Deep down i think Arsenal will eventually hit form and get their players back from injury. Then they'll go on a run and get 3rd spot.

That of course leaves us with Liverpool and Spurs. Now this is my brain speaking now, not my biased heart ;) . I really think Spurs will get 4th spot. Spurs paly like a team. They have two players for every position and could probably field three good sides.

They have Edgar Davids, whose experience is proving vital, Jermaine Jenas who after a sloppy start to his Spurs career looks like he's hitting form and a huge line of England players - present and for the future - in Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Michael Carrick, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Paul Robinson.

Liverpool on the other hand seem to be a one man side, built around Steven Gerrard. Whenever he's missing, the team seems laclustre and off the pace. Their forwards arent exactly lethal either.

Theres Cisse, who scores once every 6 games - Morientes, who cant be bothered and wants to be in the cool Madrid climate rather than the English rainy weather - Crouch, who should be a basketball player or an actor in childrens plays, specialising in "Jack and the beenstalk" and finally Sinama Pongolle, who hasnt really set the Premiership alight.

So it's all this that really makes me believe that Spurs can really challenge for a top three or four finish this year and finally put the club where it belongs: In the Big Time!