Players who should no longer play in the first team for top Premier League clubs

After missing out on the league title last season, Liverpool have failed to produce similar performances this season. Arsenal were tipped to challenge for the title, but the Gunners are battling out for a top 4 finish once again.Manchester United spent big money in the summer transfer window but are struggling to win games. Tottenham are also heavily dependent on Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane to give them a top 4 finish.We take a look at players who should be dropped from the starting XI if these teams are hoping to change their fortunes in the second half of the season.

#5 Tottenham

Roberto SoldadoThe Spaniard has just scored seven goals in 40 appearances for the London outfit since his £26 million move from Valencia. Harry Kane has been the flavor of the season for Tottenham and it's time for them to cut losses on the £26 million signing.

Emmanuel AdebayorSpurs’ last season top scorer with 14 goals, but he has never been able to settle at the White Hart Lane. Adebayor is one of the highest earning players in the squad, but has failed to deliver this season with just two goals in 9 league appearances. Adebayor finds himself begind Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado in the pecking order of strikers.

Aaron LennonAnother player Spurs should be desperate to offload is England international Aaron Lennon. The 27-year-old has played just over 500 minutes of football this season and the likes of Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela are preferred ahead of him.

Moussa DembeleDembele is Spurs fourth choice central midfielder behind the likes of Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb and Capoue. The Belgium international has just five league starts to his name this season and he simply doesn’t offer much going forward or defensively.

#4 Liverpool

Glen JohnsonThe England international has just six months left in his contract at Anfield, and on-loan Spaniard Javi Manquillo has done enough to provide more stability to the Reds defense. Johnson will also find it difficult to regain his spot in the 3-4-3 formation Rodgers has been using since the past few games. Lazar Markovic and Jordan Henderson have been used often at the right wing back position while Alberto Moreno has cemented his place on the left.

Fabio BoriniThe Italian striker has just one goal to his name this season and he will find it difficult to get sufficient playing time with Daniel Sturridge imminent return from injury. Reds tried to offload him in the summer and even struck a deal with Sunderland, but the 23-year-old preferred to stay at Anfield. He is simply not good enough for a Champions League side and the Reds should definitely try to offload him again.

Joe AllenJoe Allen arrived in Merseyside with Brendan Rodgers from Swansea and since then he has not done anything to justify his £15 million price tag. Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva and Emre Can are all preferred and rightly so. Allen has also failed to contribute much in the attacking third for the Merseyside outfit.

Dejan Lovren

The Croatian international has failed to replicate his last season performance since his £20 million move from Southampton. Lovren has just two clean sheets to his name in the 17 games he has started this season. The 25-year-old has also created panic at the back when he has started, and he has been rightly dropped by Brendan Rodgers in the last few games.

#3 Manchester United

Chris SmallingThe England international has never performed consistently for the Red Devils and with youngsters like Paddy Mcnair and Tyler Blackett coming from the youth setup his career at Old Trafford should be over. Apart from his injury concerns, Smalling has never looked comfortable in the 3-5-2 formation and has looked nervous at the back for Manchester United.

Radamel Falcao

Falcao came to Old Trafford with a huge reputation of a proven goal scorer but has found the back of the net only 5 times in 16 appearances. The 28-year-old has just scored once in his last six appearances. Manchester United have enough world class attacking options in the squad to replace the Colombian international and the likes of Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney can find the back of the net more regularly for the Red Devils.

#2 Arsenal

Danny WelbeckWelbeck has just 3 goals to his name in his last 15 appearances for the London outfit and the return of Giroud and Walcott gives Wenger better goal scoring options up front. Giroud has proved himself to be a better goal scoring threat than Welbeck and Walcott contributes more as a wide player.

Mikel ArtetaWith rumours linking Arsenal to Sami Khedira and Morgan Schneiderlin, Arteta should get rid of their skipper if they want to the challenge for titles next season. Arteta has six months left in his current contract, but recently committed to the club for a year more after signing a contract extension. However, it's clear to see Arteta is simply not good enough as a holding midfielder, with the likes of Flamini and Coquelin more suited in the position.

#1 Chelsea

John Obi MikelAfter spending 9 years at Stamford Bridge, John Obi Mikel is finding it difficult to cement his place in the starting XI this season. Nemanja Matic has sealed his spot as a defensive midfielder in the starting XI and Jose Mourinho simply doesn't trust him anymore. The Nigerian international has been a fine servant to the club, but it's time for him to move on.

Petr CechThibaut Courtois performance against Liverpool last week in the League Cup semi-final once again proved why Petr Cech time at Stamford Bridge is up. The 32-year-old experienced goalkeeper has made 482 appearances for Chelsea and will find it difficult to spend time on the bench. There will be no short of offers for Cech if he decides to leave Chelsea at the end of the season.