At the midway point of the season, Chelsea's principle threat to winning the title appears to be the risk of self-destruction amid infighting and an inability to rally behind manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

You hear talk of individuals complaining about the Brazilian's methods and that the training has changed but there are always going to be differences when a new man takes over.

What the squad have to accept is that Jose Mourinho is gone. The hangover from his departure consumed Avram Grant but there is now somebody else in charge - and he is a World-Cup winner with an excellent pedigree.

On the pitch, Scolari could benefit from playing Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba together in attack.

Chelsea have dropped 14 points at home this season and where the counter-attacking style driven by forward-thinking full-backs works on the road, it is too easy to stifle at Stamford Bridge.

Due to a lack of width in the Blues' midfield, visiting sides know they can play 4-5-1 and form a compact unit on the edge of their own box - Scolari's counter-punch system is not always suited to taking the initiative at home.

Problems in wide areas have also undermined Arsenal's season. Tomas Rosicky is the forgotten man at Emirates Stadium, while the loss of Theo Walcott to a shoulder injury robbed the Gunners of a player who was showing signs of realising his huge potential. Samir Nasri cannot seem to play more than a handful of games before suffering an injury and the players who have deputised on the wings have not helped link the play in the same way Freddie Ljungberg or Robert Pires used to. Neither wanted to ply their trade on the touch line but they both drifted in the field at the right times while providing width when necessary.

Arsenal's problems are all about a lack of partnerships. The centre-back pairing has changed from game to game, Cesc Fabregas's injury has left an unfamiliar combination in central midfield, while in attack Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor need more time to develop an understanding akin to Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

Liverpool go into the New Year at the top and it must be remembered they have achieved this without their main striker Fernando Torres. In his absence, Steven Gerrard had to step up on the goal-scoring front and for his driving force enrol as the catalyst of everything that is good about the Reds. He has to be my player of the season so far - despite his current off-field problems.

Manchester United have quietly ticked along but it is a surprise they have scored just 29 goals in 18 games. When Dimitar Berbatov first joined the Champions, teams found it easier to play through them as they did not defend from the front in the trademark style of Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney. But last night's win over Middlesbrough was proof of their ability to grind out results - United have won four out of their last five games 1-0 - while not playing well has endured and they will mount a strong challenge again.

Away from the title race, Tottenham have enjoyed the Harry Redknapp revolution and his impact has been psychological more than tactical. Redknapp has simply restored certain players to their natural positions and partially dispelled the myth forwards Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko cannot play together. Bent now plays on the shoulder of the last defender, while Pavlyuchenko drops deep to link the play and in turn create space for his strike partner to play in. Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric look reborn and I'm convinced Spurs will stay up because Redknapp has instilled a resolve and new sense of self belief.

West Ham have a tougher task, though manager Gianfranco Zola has made them a more compact outfit. It seemed for a long time no Hammers midfielder ever received the ball on the back foot, able to pick a pass. Now the approach is more measured as Zola works out who his best players are. But Craig Bellamy, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker must all stay in January otherwise they may find themselves in real trouble.

After having tasted that kind of relegation strife last year, all credit must go to Roy Hodgson at Fulham for guiding the team to the lofty heights of eighth in the league. Hodgson has crafted a well-organised and hard working team, and is reaping the benefits of the fine form of the talented Jimmy Bullard and Brede Hageland.

Special mentions must go to Hull, Aston Villa and England. My team and manager of the season so far has to be Villa and Martin O'Neill with his improving young outfit typified by the exciting Ashley Young. Villa don't have a great deal to fear from the big four, it is just a question of how long they can live in this company. The same could be said of Hull because you fear for them and hope they can sustain their excellent start. And when Fabio Capello names his next England squad he has a difficult task because English players are now hungry for international football. Long may it continue.