The gulf in class in the Premier League is once again taking shape in early 2018, with a significant gap opening up between the top six and the other 14 clubs in the division, who are seemingly competing in the domestic cup competitions and for survival alone year after year.
Of course, Leicester City broke the mould not too long ago, with Claudio Ranieri delivering a Premier League trophy for the Foxes, but normality has been resumed over the course of recent years, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal competing at a different level both on and off the field.
There is a significant gap between runaway leaders Man City and the chasing pack, but also a huge gap between Arsenal in sixth and those from seventh downward. Burnley had been the team occupying seventh for the majority of the campaign, though Sean Dyche's side have struggled in their quest to finish 'best of the rest' and potentially grabbing a Europa League spot, with the Clarets struggling for form since Christmas.
Burnley don't score many goals, but are renowned for their defensive steel, which is reflected by Oddschecker and their Premier League tips, with the site tipping punters to back Swansea to win to nil in their clash in early February. That contest finished 1-0 to the Swans - further hindering Burnley's quest to finish seventh and end a miserable start to 2018.
Leicester and Everton, who many were expecting to be strong contenders to break into the top-six this season, are coming strong heading into the final third of the campaign, with it looking likely that one of that duo could pip Burnley to seventh and potentially secure a place in the Europa League.
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Everton's spending power, which was demonstrated during the summer, should have led to the Toffees challenging for the top six, yet in comparison to what the likes of Man City and United, Chelsea, Liverpool Spurs and Arsenal were willing to spend – in both the summer and January – it is easy to see why Everton aren't pushing that group at this stage.
There is a huge gulf in class at the top of the Premier League, with the top six competing in their own separate league on the field, and also off it, with their spending power making it extremely difficult - barring something remarkable like Leicester - for the other 14 clubs to compete and challenge for a place in Europe.
