Challenges in New Physics searches in top-like events at the LHC

The prospects of exploring physics beyond the standard model involving top quarks and top-like signals at the LHC based on Monte Carlo simulations at $\sqrt{s} =$~14 and 10~TeV are reviewed. A special attention is given to results that can be expected for the early LHC running in 2010-2011. Consequently, the first section deals with the implications of having a center of mass energy lower than what was simulated, $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV, for the first years of the LHC running. This will be done qualitatively by discussing the impact on the cross section of various production processes. Following this discussion, several searches for physics beyond the standard model that are related to the top quark are described: top-antitop resonances, 4th generation of quarks, top charge, W polarization, anomalous Wtb vertex coupling, top-antitop spin correlation, and Flavor Changing Neutral Current. Their order of appearance goes from lower to higher integrated luminosity needed to obtain meaningful results out of each analysis.