Whilst the top flight of English football is once again dominated by the same six names, an ever-evolving group of teams sit just outside of England's elite, desperate to break into the Premier League.

Each season the Championship throws up a new set of contenders, some looking to regain their status at the head table, others looking to join for the first time. 2017/18 is no different and, with half of the season gone, we have a quick look at those sides likely to be involved at the end of the season.

Too early in the season some may say, but a quarter of the way through this Premier League campaign and there are some clear runners and riders for the drop.

The newly promoted three:
No one really thought that Huddersfield or Brighton had a chance in their inaugural seasons in the Premier League did they? Well they have confounded the doom-mongers - Huddersfield claiming the scalp of Manchester United and with Brighton quietly going about their business gaining points neither side are looking anyway out classed in their first season mixing it with the billions of the EPL.

Former Manchester legend-turned-pundit Phil Neville believes that Jurgen Klopp has a major problem on his hands after having leaked goals in the opening stages of the Premier League campaign.

The Reds have looked sloppy at the back this term, and this saw them drop points in the curtain-raiser against Watford.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville does not feel Klopp has a solution to his defensive issues, he said: "Both Liverpool and Everton have had their problems, but they showed great character to record victories at the weekend to take the pressure of Jurgen Klopp and Ronald Koeman. Liverpool's defensive struggle is something we've been talking about for 12 months, so I don't know how they can rectify that with their current personnel. But what I would say is that they showed a lot of courage to beat Leicester and, while they'll always concede, they've probably got a forward line to match anybody when they get Sadio Mane back."

Germany international Mesut Ozil has cast doubts over his Arsenal future after admitting that he does know where his future will lie at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old has just 10 months left on his previous deal at the Emirates, and talks over an extension appear to have stalled, as of now.

Although it might bother mostly on the laughable, Liverpool looks set to pull an unimaginable utopian transfer deal by bringing Chile’s midfield “general” to Anfield.

The Reds are believed to be on the hunt for a capable central midfielder to add better bites to the team’s presence in the middle of the park most especially, given their tendency to foray forward in droves and leave their core exposed.

Of course Vidal’s age of 30 is the only pot of porridge that might tempt the Bavarians into cashing in on the veteran there bought from Juventus, the fact that they are fast slipping out of the perch Jupp Heynckes placed them 4 years ago, means they will have to think really hard before letting the Chilean depart Munich.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has reiterated his desire to keep hold of Alexis Sanchez despite the Chilean recently hinting that he could leave the Emirates this summer.

The Gunners forward has just a year left on his existing deal, and this has heightened speculation over his future at the Emirates. Speaking to Chilean radio station Radio Sport, earlier last week, Sanchez confirmed that he had made a decision over his future, but the final verdict would be taken by the north London club. He also expressed his desire to play and win the Champions League - a competition which the Gunners won't be participating in next season.