Premier League's Perfect Three: Who Will Blink First?

While France continued to celebrate their World Cup triumph, and Croatians trooped out en masse to receive their heroes in Zagreb, Premier League romantics around the globe licked their lips in anticipation of what the 2018/19 campaign had in store.

The most exciting league in the world was set to return in August. Once more, we'd go through 38 match weeks of electrifying madness, except, in this edition, before the first international break of the season, only three teams have maintained a perfect record, but how far will they go? And who will blink first?

#1 Liverpool

Last season, the Reds finished fourth in the league, just above Chelsea and Arsenal. In actuality, they did score more goals and draw fewer games than Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United who finished third and second respectively, but Liverpool's defensive troubles and inability to finish off opponents became their undoing.

Jurgen Klopp's men roughed up the best team in England - handing Manchester City their first league defeat of the season in January, before dispatching them in the Champions League quarter-finals, but the Reds couldn't quite put their domestic affairs together.

In their first ten games last season, Liverpool managed four wins, four draws, and two losses including heavy defeats to Manchester City (5-0) in September, and Tottenham Hotspur (4-1) just a couple of weeks later, but today, as we speak, Jurgen Klopp's men are dancing to a different drum.

It started with a 4-0 demolition job against a supposedly resurgent West Ham side, and then a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Mohamed Salah's solitary goal against Brighton gave Liverpool their third successive victory, and a week later at Leicester's King Power Stadium, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino did their thing to keep the Reds head and shoulders above the rest.

After the international break, Jurgen Klopp's men will be walking through the valley of the shadow of death, two trips to London in three weeks.

First, they line up against Tottenham at Wembley, and in a fortnight's time, travel to Stamford Bridge where Maurizio Sarri and Chelsea will be waiting with completely unrighteous motives, but sandwiched in-between is an equally important meeting with Southampton at Anfield.

It's probably too early for conclusions of this magnitude, but If Liverpool scale through this period unscathed, the Premier League title could be theirs to lose.

#2 Chelsea

Chelsea have put a disappointing season behind them

Maurizio Sarri has hit the ground running in his opening four league fixtures, guiding his Chelsea team to convincing victories over Huddersfield, Arsenal, Newcastle and Bournemouth, and joining an elite list of managers to have settled perfectly in their first month in charge of a Premier League club.

A number of Chelsea fans have gone from "how will Sarri settle?" to "hope the players adapt to his theories early enough" to "so you're saying there's a chance we're contending for the title this season?".

With each passing fixture, the Blues have kept the momentum alive, and although they've struggled a bit defensively, it's probably only a matter of time before Maurizio Sarri gets it right with his back four.

Although the Pensioners won three from four in the early weeks of 2017/18, it was the opening day defeat to Burnley at Stamford Bridge, and a couple of off-field distractions, that set the tone for a disappointing title-defense.

Things are slightly better now, Maurizio Sarri has the full support of the Chelsea hierarchy, and while the International break unfolds, it is the upcoming fixtures against Cardiff and the vulnerable West Ham, that will occupy the Tuscan's mind.

#3 Watford FC

Watford FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

After a suffering a mid-season slump that culminated in the dismissal of Marco Silva, the Hornets barely escaped relegation in 2017/18, eventually settling for a 14th-place finish in the league, but not without upsetting the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton.

The team Marco Silva left behind - with a few tweaks, a new direction and Javi Gracia barking orders from the touchline - seem to be enjoying a rollercoaster ride in their first full season under their new manager.

Thus far, the Hornets have been convincing at Vicarage Road - an opening day 2-0 defeat of Brighton and a hard-fought 2-1 win over Crystal Palace - but it is entrancing away victories at Turf Moor vs Burnley, and at Wembley vs Tottenham that have the Watford faithful wearing a smug look wherever they go.

Abdoulaye Doucoure's own goal gifted Pochettino's men the lead but Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart turned it around for the Yellow army on a marvelous afternoon of Premier League football.

Next up for Watford are Manchester United, Fulham, and Arsenal. It will take a miracle to remain unbeaten after this litmus test, but then, for a club of its size and budget, winning your opening four fixtures, and sitting third in the league after matchday four, is enough indication that a miracle is already underway.

Manchester City and Tottenham are lurking in the dark though, waiting to capitalize on any slip-ups, but as the Premier League takes a break, Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford can breath easy knowing their perfect start to the season could set the tone for a remarkable campaign.