We’re 25% through the Premier League season, but there isn’t a true quarter-mark due to 38 games. After the next round of fixtures post-Thanksgiving, we’ll have passed it. The Saudi Basketball League may poach NBA stars. Anyways, the Premier League will soon enter its pivotal chicane. It’s the last international break until March. While most leagues will have a break a month later, the Premier League plays three times from Christmas to New Year’s, with a midweek set of fixtures in early December. Whoever comes out near the top of the table when January becomes February can be considered challengers until City accelerates in February or March. Liverpool is only one point behind City, whom they face first game out of the international break with a chance to go top. The midfield overhaul signaled a multi-year project and the defense may still need a post-Van Dijk exit plan. But after a 3-0 win over Brentford, Liverpool looks strong, with Mo Salah leading the attack. Salah was close to heading to Saudi Arabia last summer and may still leave after the season. However, any replacement will be hard to find, and his impact on Liverpool has been substantial. There’s a lot to consider going forward, especially with Salah’s future and Liverpool’s success in the coming months. City and Chelsea’s 4-4 match showed cracks in City’s usual magic, while Chelsea displayed weaknesses in their midfield. Tottenham struggled without James Maddison, indicating the difficulty of replacing a true No. 10.