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Tottenham: 6th, 29 points after 19 games
Why they will top the trio
Tottenham have a squad packed with key players who are all motivated for differing reasons. Harry Kane has been heavily criticised for what many believe is the start of his decline, though the captain has 16 goals and two assists across all competitions this term.
Dele Alli's inconsistent form was also another target of frustration in the wake of Pochettino's sacking, though the playmaker has stepped up significantly in recent months - since scoring a late winner against Watford on October 19, he has six goals and three assists across all competitions. Club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele has shown flashes of individual brilliance but the Frenchman is yet to really shine under Mourinho and questions over his fitness remain, after he wasn't involved whatsoever during their 2-1 win vs. Brighton.
Christian Eriksen's contract expires in six months' time and he'll be eager to show prospective clubs across Europe why they should be offering him a lucrative deal, with the Denmark international free to speak to interested clubs from January 1. After his silly red card against Chelsea, Heung Min-Son is suspended until January 5 but don't let that detract from the fact the 27-year-old has scored 10 and created nine more goals already this term.
With all of those players in mind, you'd be silly to bet against them surprising everyone again after their UCL heroics last season. After all, they were fortunate to finish runners-up in Group B and ultimately finished 90 minutes short of lifting their first Champions League trophy. Currently, only three points separate themselves and the Blues, while plenty of players have a point to prove under Mourinho if they value their long-term future at the club.
Why they will not
That being said, Spurs' sluggish start to 19-20 hasn't improved significantly and they've made it clear not to expect much winter business during Mourinho's first transfer window in charge of his new employers.
Many justifiable suggestions claim the bulk of their existing squad seem tired and past their peak as a collective unit who powered themselves into title races in recent seasons. Kane - besides his goals - looks a shadow of his former self, while there are continued questions about their defensive situation and a midfield that Mourinho hasn't seemed to help settle yet.
The buzz from the Portuguese's arrival has already started to wane and they have been exposed by pragmatic sides. Conceding too many goals, he doesn't yet have a settled first-choice eleven when everyone is fit and that much is clear by his substitution choices.
Some of those same key players continue to underperform against big teams, while there's a handful of first-team players who either aren't being utilised properly or are struggling for regular minutes - Lucas Moura just isn't a centre-forward, Giovani Lo Celso has played sparingly while Mourinho is not using Eric Dier extensively in midfield.
