Never look at the Premier League table until November because it can tell you lies. Oh wait, it is November already.

And perhaps that table does not speak with forked tongue when it speaks of Manchester United out on top from champions City with Chelsea back in third and an almighty scramble going on for fourth place. That, I believe, is the shape of things to come this season.

United's firepower could be decisive. However many goals the opposition scores, Sir Alex Ferguson's array of strikers always look capable of getting one more. Last week's game at Aston Villa summed up this United side, slipping two goals behind and yet proving irresistible when asked to turn the match around.

If Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney don't get you, Chicharito Hernandez will. Not to mention Danny Welbeck. But Sir Alex knows his defence needs to tighten up, and I am not sure that will happen until a fully fit Nemanja Vidic is restored in the New Year. Until then, United's opponents will always feel they are in with a chance.

As for City, the worrying thing for their rivals is that they are still unbeaten and handily placed without coming close to last year's form so far. There is bound to come a time when the team engages a higher gear.

David Silva's return from injury was the difference against Spurs, as one sublime moment of creativity from the little man set up the winner for Edin Dzeko. The rest of the team need to shake off the hangover from last season's success and buckle down to the job of retaining the crown, particularly a defence which has leaked eight goals from set pieces.

Chelsea looked like champions in waiting when they won 4-2 at Spurs a few weeks ago, but momentum has been lost with a defeat to United and draws with Swansea and Liverpool. Brilliant as the three amigos Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar can be, the question now is whether they can last the course of the remorseless Premier League distance, especially with no real alternatives to a so-so Fernando Torres in attack.

In fact, Chelsea might get all the trouble it can handle Saturday at West Bromwich Albion, who impressed me mightily when we covered them against Southampton last week. The Baggies' blend looks right with Youssuf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob as good a pair of defensive midfielders as there are in the league, and with a fair bit of flair and pace ahead of them. No reason Albion cannot continue to surprise.

The same is true of Everton if they can keep everyone fit. David Moyes' team has so much extra menace now that Nikica Jelavic and the darting Kevin Mirallas are on board.

There is something a little flaky about both Arsenal and Spurs just at the moment, and their clash Saturday on ESPN2 is massive for both managers. It is a chance for American international Clint Dempsey to win over a few doubters among the Spurs fans.

Clint has had a mixed start but this is still a bedding-in period. He is a very good player and will deliver once his feet are under the table. At the bottom, the rival managers are under intense pressure as winless QPR takes on fellow strugglers Southampton. The Saints are a bit soft-centered but carry enough attacking threat to win this.

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