There is no such thing as unbeatable

Sports - Football - Premier League

Chelsea have been portrayed as the invincibles by many throughout the start of the season, but surprise, surprise, they faltered against Wigan last weekend.

Andy Gray's season top-four predictions said not much has changed for the London team since last season, apart from the manager, and picked the side as his title-favourites. He was only one of many to do and say so.

Carlo Ancelotti is a top manager, he has proven that so far so good. But, so were and did Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and Luis Felipe Scolari. They started all hailed and praised and good but ended up fired and forgotten.

Gray also pointed out Liverpool's strong display and title challenge last season, but doubted their competence without Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard - like many have done and still do. Did they all miss last season?! Liverpool won-drew-lost as many matches with the duo as they have done without them. Dirk Kuyt scored a dozen, only a couple behind Gerrard and Torres, followed by Yossi Benayoun with eight.

With 22 goals so far this season in only seven games - a club record for over a century, I heard - I don't think the Reds are out of question or in a crises as assumed and checked off by many so-called experts because they had suffered defeats early on in the season (and both defeats were WITH Gerrard and Torres by the way).

Xabi Alonso is a miss, I am not denying it and am a big fan of him, but Liverpool have enough players to fill his shoes. Of course Gerrard, Torres and Alonso were and are the main players and contributors for Liverpool, but the world has not and will not stop revolving without them. Liverpool can and have progressed and won without them as well.

As for Manchester United and Arsenal, both teams have just as much shown their strengths and weaknesses already this season. They have enjoyed quality wins and suffered sorry defeats since they lost their main players - Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid; Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City, in case someone needs reminding. Again, many experts considered both will have a hard job getting used to life without their main players. But both teams can and have moved on.

They have done it before - losing their main strikers and players - the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy et al jump to mind - listening to all the doubters telling them they won't be the same and cannot do without them. But they proved them wrong with new players. Teams consist of eleven players, not just one or two. The main players rely on their providers and team's backup just as much as vice versa.

Regarding Manchester City, I do not know how they can expect people, fans and teams to take them seriously. Ok, they have started this season strong and have an over-the-top-strong team line-up, but to be considered a world team, it does not go by how much you spend but by the team as a whole and the players clicking and winning.

I am thinking of the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Ian Rush; Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard; David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs; I could go on and on. Homegrown greats! Those who breath and live for the club and last for a lifetime. Not those that just follow the line of where the biggest paycheck will greet them!

I said the same about Chelsea when the Roman Abramovich took over and went through countless players and managers - you can buy successful players, but success will not follow immerdiately and definitely and only to a certain extent. It will not be of long last if you do not show patience and give the team time to develope and build, step by step.

Legends are born and bred through time, years, decades, centuries, dedication and patience - like Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have proved with 49 titles between them. You just cannot buy that within an instant. Ask Alex Ferguson! Looking back at how he started at United, he would have been sacked and replaced for sure nowadays, where managers are lucky to see a full season if they have not reached all expectations within the first weeks or months.

Hence, I don't think City will set a serious challenge at the end of this season nor will Chelsea cruise the league. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool will make sure of that and have shown quality and determination to do so, even without their main players. And with over 30 games still to go, I think Aston Villa, Tottenham and Everton are not allowed to be forgotten either when it comes to the top-four challenge.

I see an open challenge for the title - unlike most of the panel experts estimate and find on various shows and channels and in various newspaper and website articles. Most of them like to place a stamp on teams from the outset without realising that the season has 38 games not just five or six. As summarised and analysed, all teams have already shown their strengths and and weaknesses, depending on the form of the day, with not much between them.

So far this season, all sides have opened with much more determination than in previous seasons, every team pressing for the win. There have been much less draws so far than last season at the same stage, which is going to be the most decisive factor in the title and top-four race, as Liverpool know best reflecting on last season and many seasons before.