It's fair to assume that Manchester City will be pretty happy with their start to the Premier League season.
After four wins, two draws and one defeat from seven games they sit third in the standings on 14 points, two off league leaders Chelsea. Bearing in mind that Pep Guardiola's side have already faced Tottenham, Leicester, Chelsea and Liverpool away from home this season, that is not bad at all.
With another two-week international break upon us and Premier League stars jetting off all over the world, now seems like a good time to take stock of how City's title defence has begun, as well as how their challengers are getting on.
1: Chelsea
It may seem surprising that Chelsea top the table given the way in which City dominated them at Stamford Bridge, but Thomas Tuchel's side, while not playing spectacularly this season, are still getting results.
The demoralising and draining 1-0 loss to City on September 25 appeared to have taken its toll when the London club suffered a disappointing 1-0 reverse to Juventus a few days later. Similarly, Chelsea were not great at the weekend, but after Southampton went down to ten men the hosts scored two late goals to win.
Like last season Chelsea's defence has impressed, while in attack Romelu Lukaku is showing that it's only a matter of time before he hits top form.
But as City showed at Stamford Bridge, pressing Chelsea and cutting off the supply lines to the strikers is the way to hurt them. Hopefully other teams can follow City's lead.
2: Liverpool
Liverpool sit second in the table with 15 points and, based on Sunday's game they look to be the side best equipped to challenge for City's crown.
City dominated the opening 45 minutes of the 2-2 draw at Anfield, starving the hosts of possession and forcing them to play aimless long balls.
But as we saw in the second half, Jurgen Klopp's side posses the individual quality to escape even the strongest of City strangle holds.
Unlike Tuchel, Klopp has the perfect players at his disposal that can hurt City on the counter and at close quarters, as we saw with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah's goals.
If they can address the defensive frailties that have seen them concede five goals in their past two league games, then Liverpool will be right up there come the end of the season.
3: City
The start of City's title defence had a 'here we go again' feel about it, with an opening day defeat at Tottenham and a poor display against Southampton not doing much to inspire confidence.
But those early concerns appear to have been unfounded, with Guardiola's side putting in three excellent away performances in the space of eight days against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool.
The Blues took a win, a defeat and a draw from those games, but their dominance in each arguably deserved three victories. In going to the homes of three of the best teams in the world and dictating the play they showed that they are the best team in the Premier League, or at least the one that plays the best football and is the most tactically sound.
Question marks still remain over how clinical City can be in front of goal, with a host of chances going begging in both the trips to PSG and Liverpool.
Some might say a classic number nine would solve that, but without the false nine system, City would lose the ability to control games and limit the chances their opponents get. If the likes of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne can put more chances away, then City should be favourites for the title.
4: Manchester United
United, of course, did sign a striker during the transfer window. But it's fair to say that Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't exactly solved all their problems.
After a thumping opening day win turned heads, United have won only three of their seven games in all competitions since the previous international break.
Ronaldo has had a few quiet games of late and there is a fair argument that United are actually a better side without him. Holding midfield is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's main issue, with Fred and Scott McTominay failing to really gel as a midfield duo.
Without a solid base in midfield, United are struggling to control posession and provide their forwards with quality service.
Defensively they have looked weak too, with new signing Raphael Varane not entirely convincing without Harry Maguire alongside him.
United are only behind City in the table on goal difference, but of the Blues' title rivals, United are definitely the weakest.
Do you think City will successfully defend their Premier League title? Follow City Is Ours writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
