'This could be a City-Liverpool shootout'
- Published
The top five clubs in the Premier League are separated by only six points just past the midpoint of the season.
Ex-England goalkeeper David James used to play for each of the current top three - Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City - and has been assessing their chances.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, James said: "I think Aston Villa's away form is going to be the thing that costs them a chance of winning the title but I think they'll still be there making a lot of noise though.
"Manchester City are just sat there purring, Kevin de Bruyne was on the bench for the last game. This could be a City-Liverpool shootout."
Leaders Liverpool could be without winger and leading goalscorer Mohamed Salah for up to four league matches if Egypt progress to the latter stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.
James added: "He scores a lot of goals but he gets a lot of opportunities to score those goals. With Darwin [Nunez] coming back and [Diogo] Jota back fit now, there's an opportunity for someone to fill the gap and keep this title race going."