Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool... what's wrong with Chelsea's rivals? Steven Gerrard (R), Rickie Lambert (C) andFabio Borini (L). BARCLAYS Premier League fans have been spoiled with thrilling down-to-the-wire title races in recent years. In May, Manchester City edged Liverpool on the last day of the season despite the title looking destined for Merseyside for much of the run-in. And who could forget 2012 and THAT Sergio Aguero goal against Queens Park Rangers to deny Manchester United with virtually the last kick of the season. But the way things are going, this season's race looks destined to be a cakewalk, a procession for unbeaten Chelsea, with many already predicting they could match Arsenal's 2003-04 Invincibles and go through the season unbeaten in the league. Adam Peacock: Chelsea will not be beaten this season The manager of that team, Arsene Wenger, has already conceded the title to his old foe Jose Mourinho. While Chelsea are enjoying life at the top, with another big win navigated on the weekend against Liverpool, their rivals are floundering. Southampton lead the charge in the race to catch the Blues, but they'll get a big test of their credentials with matches against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United coming up, while West Ham United and Swansea are also entrenched in the top five, City, in third, are eight points adrift of Chelsea, but that will balloon quickly if they don't turn around their poor recent form. Arsenal's inconsistencies see them 12 points off the pace, a point ahead of the equally frustrating Red Devils. On Merseyside, Liverpool and Everton have each picked up just 14 points in 11 games to start the season - less than half Chelsea's tally of 29. So what's gone wrong at the so-called big boys? Fox Sports football commentator Robbie Slater reviews all the action from round 11 of the EPL. After a strong start to the season it's unravelled quite quickly for the defending champions. Manuel Pellegrini's side has won just one of their past six games in all competitions, the solitary victory coming against 10-man United in the derby. Their defence is vulnerable against direct, robust play, especially without Vincent Kompany, as QPR ruthlessly exposed in a 2-2 draw on Sunday. They're missing David Silva's class in midfield as well as Yaya Toure's form from last season. There's a concerning over-reliance on Sergio Aguero to get them out of the jail. The Argentine, who scored twice to rescue a point against Rangers, and four against Tottenham recently, among 12 so far this term, may well be the best player in the Premier League on current form. But Pellegrini is playing a dangerous game relying on one player, especially one who has had injuries, to drag them through. Just ask Liverpool how that turns out when injury strikes. A combination of motivation and failing to renew the side tactically and in the transfer market has led to this underwhelming start. City picked up late last term, remember. But they weren't chasing this type of Chelsea side. The international break gives Kompany time to recover from his calf injury while also pleasing for Pellegrini will be the fact that, at least on paper, the most difficult fixture before the new year is Southampton away. Still struggling in big games, this year, Arsenal are slipping behind early for struggles in games they accrued points in this time last year. As Arsene Wenger concedes defeat, Gunners fans continue their frustration at the Frenchman's poor recruitment. While Alexis Sanchez looks the signing of the season so far (Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa may beg to differ) it is further back that's costing them time and time again. Former Saint Calum Chambers, a teenager, has been forced to play every game thanks to injuries, and the youngster was eventually exposed against Swansea in a game in which second-choice left-back Nacho Monreal played central defence. The squad is still crying out for a quality, physical holding midfielder who's not afraid to get dirty and can protect a back-four that is more vulnerable than Wenger ought to have let it be. Nemanja Matic at Chelsea and Victor Wanyama at Southampton are fine examples of the worth in investing in that position. Curiously for Arsenal, there's still a lack of fluency further forward to in the areas that they're supposed to be so strong. Aaron Ramsey hasn't hit his stride and Wenger needs to settle on combinations there as well. Arsenal will still likely finish in the top four. But when is that no longer enough for Wenger? They might have produced a respectable performance against Chelsea in Saturday's 2-1 loss, but Liverpool's problems against the Blues were the same that have hamstrung them all season - dire set piece defending and a blunt attack. For Gary Cahill's goal, central defenders Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren were standing on the edge of the box, with not a player anywhere near the Chelsea man. Further forward, Mario Balotelli failed to register a shot, or even look like doing so; Raheem Sterling was shackled and Steven Gerrard provided little thrust from midfield. Liverpool's confidence crisis is coming as Brendan Rodgers's blueprint from last year isn't working and fans are wondering what this year's template actually is. Luis Suarez's departure to Barcelona was always going to hurt, but has been compounded by Daniel Sturridge's injury troubles. The Englishman is confident he'll be back in the starting XI for the trip to Crystal Palace after the international break. While he'll be a welcome addition, and should free up Sterling, there's an awful lot of pressure on him to lift the Reds out of their slump. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits his constant changing of formation is hampering his side and preventing them from picking up any sort of momentum, something he'll need to settle on over the short term. The three centre-back system worked so heavily on during pre-season has been dropped, a more traditional 4-4-2 has come and gone and the unconvincing 1-0 win over Crystal Palace saw him deploy a 4-1-4-1, his third formation in 12 matches. After a blistering start to his time in England, Angel Di Maria has failed to assert himself in recent games; Robin van Persie's touch and pace seem to have deserted him while injuries saw van Gaal field a back four of Antonio Valencia, Paddy McNair, Michael Carrick and Luke Shaw, a unit Sky Sports" Jamie Redknapp described as "the worst Man United back four you'll see." Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal discusses his side's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in the EPL. Van Gaal was always going to need time given so much change and the spectre of doom and gloom isn't as bad as you'd expect. But there are a few quandaries to address, particularly when he has a fully fit Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Radamel Falcao and RVP to choose from. In his current formation, two will find themselves on the bench. What's Maurcio Pochettino's modus operandi with this Tottenham team? It is certainly a far cry from the hallmarks that endeared him at St Marys's last season. Spurs" home form has been wretched, with Emmanuel Adebayor even admitting that they'd prefer to play away. Lethargy has been a word to describe their attack, which is the frustration for Spurs fans given the riches, on paper at least, they're supposed to possess, given what the likes of Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli can produce on their day. Roberto Martinez's side have recovered from a very shaky start, particularly defensively, to steady the ship with an unbeaten six game run. One of last season's over achievers haven't had that element of surprise this term, have had a European campaign to contend with and with Ross Barkley injured, and Romelu Lukaku showing inconsistency, it's taken a while to get going. Originally published as What's wrong with Chelsea's rivals?