EPL 2017/18: What three weeks of Premier league football tell us about last season's top six 

Chelsea

The Blues won't relinquish their title so easily. What crisis?

Champions Chelsea started off on a disastrous note. A 3-2 defeat at home to Burnley was only the start of a long list of problems for Antonio Conte. The Italian who saw two of his men sent off in the first game had to contend with an extensive injury list along with mercurial striker Diego Costa going AWOL.

While Costa seems to have no way back, Conte does. A Wembley clash with London rivals Spurs saw Conte pragmatically outmanoeuvre his counterpart Pochettino with limited resources. Having to do a lot of work without the ball, Chelsea wrestled three points away from Wembley with two Marcos Alonso goals.

A tricky fixture with Everton followed at the Bridge but Chelsea made easy work of Koeman's men. In cruise control throughout the game, Chelsea showed just why any reasons to brush them aside as title contenders are unfounded. An under pressure Conte, who has had unnecessary noises to contend with off the pitch, has maintained Chelsea's presence on the pitch. New signing Alvaro Morata has shown himself to be worthy although a lot more may be needed from him especially in the big games.

With the Belgian wizard Eden Hazard still to make a return to the first team, not all is doom and gloom at the Bridge, is it?

Manchester City

Sterling ensured no spoils were shared over at Bournemouth

Pep Guardiola has been a firm favourite to be the winning manager this campaign. His owners at City have loosened their purse strings to assemble a side that Pep deems fit to challenge in the English top tier as well in Europe. After an inevitable victory against newcomers Brighton, a firm test against Everton on Matchday 2 saw City play out a draw.

Guardiola's frustration was almost compounded when his side at Bournemouth was staring at another draw only to be quelled by Raheem Sterling in the dying embers of the game. While possession based football has again been the mantra for the former Barcelona manager, his side is still to kick into top gear.

Gabriel Jesus seems to be the first choice striker to play ahead of a stacked midfield of Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, David Silva et al. With enough firepower up front, Pep will hope that his insurance policy in Vincent Kompany does not lapse through injury.

A side that has had significant changes in personnel will take time to click but Pep's unflinching belief has been rewarded in the past and it might not be any different this time around. It remains to be seen though as to how much and to what extent that belief will be tested over the course of the season.