I’m not ruling them out from winning the league, it will be a mistake to, we’re nearly halfway through the season and everybody is still expecting them to fall off but they are still going strong”- Chris Sutton speaks out on Aston Villa title chances as he says Villans are in the title race

Chris Sutton believes Aston Villa “cannot be ruled out” in the title race this season.

Unai Emery’s side are just one point off league leaders Arsenal after 17 games. Back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Manchester City have seen the Villans discussed as potential title contenders under their Spanish manager.

And Sutton has shared his belief that the boys in Claret and Blue cannot be ruled out in the title equation. He points out their consistency under Emery as well as there not being a “standout team” this season, although he did not go as far as to pick them for Premier League glory.

“They lost to Liverpool, well, big wow, Liverpool can beat anybody on their day,” he said on BBC’s Monday Night Club.

“The fact that they are one point off the top of the table at this moment in time shows you that the consistency has been there in the main.”

Sutton was then pressed by Micah Richards on the point that Villa’s form may not be sustainable for a title challenge. “I’m not saying they’re going to win the league,” Sutton replied.

“If they maintain the form, we’re nearly halfway through the season and everybody is still expecting them to fall off but they are still going strong, as they have done, they will be there and thereabouts, that’s what I’m saying.

“I’m not ruling out Villa winning the league because based on what we’ve seen over a long period of games. I agree with what you said about Watkins and I think it will be really interesting what happens in January, whether they go big in the transfer market and how Unai Emery actually sees that.

“But at this moment in time there’s no real standout team. Liverpool are finding a way, Arsenal are not as fluent as last season. We’re praising Aston Villa but they were fortunate the other weekend, weren’t they, to get the result against Arsenal

“Had Arsenal been more clinical but that one went the way and maybe they’ve deserved that. I’m not ruling them out from winning the league. I don’t think we can, it will be a mistake.”