Positions the top 5 Premier League teams should strengthen in January 2019

After 11 matches, a clear picture of what the Premier League may look like come June is beginning to emerge.

Defending champions Manchester City have started the season the same way they ended the last one; on fire and in control. Pep Guardiola's Cityzens have scored 27 goals and conceded just 3 in ten games. It is interesting to note that were it not for a handball (Wolves) and a missed penalty (Liverpool), the team would have maximum points in 10 games.

Liverpool has been far better than they were last season. After 11 games, they are still unbeaten and have improved dramatically in the defensive half. The trio of London giants; Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also had good starts to the season with the Blues under new manager Maurizio Sarri, still unbeaten and playing better than last season.

Manchester United's struggles have been well documented this season although they seem to have turned a corner. With the January transfer window approaching, these teams will be looking to strengthen in certain problem areas and increase their chances of success in the 2nd round.

Here is a look at 5 top teams and the positions they could strengthen in January:

#5 Manchester United (Centre-Back)

Mourinho's United are in desperate need of a commanding centre-back

The Red Devils have been a disaster at centre-back this season. Before the season started, Jose Mourinho had made very clear his desire for a new centre-back.

Big-name defenders like Jerome Boateng, Toby Aldeweireld and some smaller-named but capable defenders like Harry Maguire were linked. Nothing came out of these rumours and the results have been disastrous.

Coached by a man who has made a career out of being resolute defensively, Manchester United have conceded 18 goals in the league in just 11 games. This has come despite having had a kind fixture list (only played two of their fellow Big 6 rivals so far).

After lots of chopping and changing, it seems Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling are now the preferred centre-back pairing at the Theatre of Dreams.

A commanding centre-back will be the priority for Mourinho and vice-chairman Ed Woodward. One who can organize the defence and be commanding in the air will be of a priority for Mourinho. The usual names; Raphael Varane and his ilk will be impossible to get in the winter so United may have to get creative.

Names like Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina), Martin Skriniar (Inter Milan) and Nathan Ake (Bournemouth) have been linked. Anyone of them could cost up to £50m but the team is desperate and will be ready to pay.

#4 Arsenal (Centre-Back)

Arsenal need a reliable partner for Mustafi

The early signs of the Unai Emery era at the Emirates Stadium have been one of positivity everywhere.

The new Spanish manager has the team playing in a vivacious, attacking style that has gotten the fans back on side and hopeful for the immediate future.

However, the old issues with the defence have continued. Despite the addition of the experience of Sokratis Papasthopolous and the addition of Lucas Torreira in midfield, the Gunners are still shipping goals.

Shkodran Mustafi has been less calamitous this season as Emery has gotten the German international to defend better by simplifying his game and making better use of his qualities: passing and aerial ability

With Laurent Koscielny getting older and Rob Holding not improving as much as expected, a new centre-back will be needed in January.

Given the Gunners' current transfer policy, players that may cost between £10m-30m will be the targets. The likes of Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig) or Ismaila Sarr (OGC Nice) fit the billing. Given chief scout, Sven Mislintat's Borussia Dortmund connections, a move for one of Die BVB's impressive young centre-backs; Abdou Diallo or Manuel Akanji has been mooted.

Given the Black & Yellow's impressive start to the season, this seems highly unlikely.

#3 Chelsea (Striker)

Morata has not been brilliant

Life under Sarri is good at the Bridge. Unbeaten in all competitions, the Blues have surprised everybody with how quickly they have adapted to life under the new Italian manager.

Eden Hazard has been in fine form, Jorginho has slotted in seamlessly and Ross Barkley has been like a new signing.

However, the team's strikers have been the only major issue with the team so far. Alvaro Morata has been hit-and-miss once again. While he has scored 3 league goals so far, his general play, demeanour and finishing have been poor.

Olivier Giroud has continued his goalless streak. Despite his brilliant hold-up play, the French World Cup winner has continued to be wasteful and is yet to score this season.

A striker will be a priority in January as Michy Batshuayi isn't pulling up any tree either at Valencia. The likes of Polish hotshot Krystof Piatek (Genoa) have been mentioned as potential targets. If Chelsea is to continue its title challenge, strikers of his calibre will be needed.

#2 Liverpool (Playmaker)

Klopp might be searching for a creative midfielder in January

At the beginning of the season, Liverpool was mooted as the most likely challengers to Manchester City. So far, it has turned out exactly as predicted.

The addition of Virgil Van Dijk in January and Alisson Becker in the summer came at great cost. However, these two men have given the defence a solidity it has not had since the Rafa Benitez era.

It has been a case of pendulum swings. While the defence has improved, the attack has looked laboured at times. The Fab Three; Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino have not been as devastating as they were last season.

The team has been winning by the odd goal most times. While the midfield has continued to look energetic and active, the lack of creativity from the middle is hurting the team.

Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri have done their bit on the occasions that they have been given the playmaking role. However, they have not shown that they have the guile and nous to be effective consistently. Teams have sat back and denied the forwards and fullbacks space to run into, disrupting Klopp's gegenpress style.

The German manager had wanted Lyon's Nabil Fekir to play in the hole but due to unforeseen injuries, the deal fell through. A return for the Lyon captain may happen again in January. Another likely option would be Bayer Leverkusen's exciting young German, Kai Havertz who is already drawing comparisons to Mesut Özil.

#1 Manchester City (Defensive Midfielder)

Fernandinho has been excellent but will need help

Manchester City has every right to feel slightly aggrieved with the state of the Premier League table. After 10 games the Cityzens sit in first place, two points better than second-placed Liverpool.

However, for a horribly-placed Riyadh Mahrez penalty against the Reds and a clear handball not called against Wolves, they would have a maximum of 33 points from 11 games.

Just like last season, Fernandinho has been one of the pillars of Guardiola's team. The Brazilian international has been near faultless (like he was last season). His tackling, intercepting, intelligent shielding of the ball and passing have contributed greatly to the Cityzens' good run.

Well aware of Fernandinho's age (33) and the law of diminishing returns, Guardiola tried to get Jorginho before the Italian international decided to move to London and join Chelsea instead. He may dip into the market again in January as none of the other midfielders: Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden or Kevin De Bruyne offer Fernandinho's defensive solidity.

The likes of Tanguy N''Dombele (Olympique Lyon), Ruben Neves (Wolves) have been linked with the French international looking the likeliest to join. He really impressed in Lyon's 2-1 win over City in the UEFA Champions League clash and may cost up to £40m to prise from Les Gones.