Premier League: 5 Clubs That Could Break the Dominance of the Top 6
When you think of the Premier League title race, there are six clubs that come to mind almost immediately: Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
Not only do they have the highest squad values in the league, they have also consistently proven to be able to maintain at the top of England's highest tier for the best part of a decade.
While the dominant fashion in which Manchester City charged to their third Premier League title was somewhat surprising, the expectations of many were met, as all six of the aforementioned clubs have found themselves challenging for the Champions League spots for the majority of the season.
As the rift between the top six and the rest of the league appears to grow larger by the minute, we take a look at five teams who have the potential of closing the gap to the Premier League's big boys.
#5 Southampton FC
Admittedly, the Saints desperately have to avoid relegation if the club's future is to remain bright. However, Southampton have an array of talent at their disposal and a fresh start to the new season is what this team truly need.
Southampton's downfall this season has been surprising as they appeared to become a regular feature in the Premier League, especially considering their strong cup displays in the past two years.
Falling short in last season's League Cup final against Manchester United, they made a deep run in the FA Cup this year, losing to Chelsea in the semi-final of a cup campaign that gave the club a welcome distraction from the dismal league performances.
If Southampton avoid the drop, they could once again become a force to be reckoned with in the English top flight and could pose a threat to the top six.
However, having to face the champions Manchester City on the last day of the season, the pressure is on the Saints to get a hugely important result at Everton before facing off with Swansea in a match that could prove to be the final nail in the coffin for either of the two clubs.