Eight games into the campaign, patterns are expected to emerge as teams begin to check their mid-season form. This season the Premier League is no exception, unless there is a new model – wait for the chaos until further notice.
Several teams are experiencing growth in the middle after a rocky start to the season, evident by their outstanding weekend games. Aston Villa After a 2-1 win over Manchester City, Bournemouth defeated Juventus in style with a 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford and. Tottenham Hotspur they went from no wins to two in a week, a 2-0 win at Chelsea their heaviest in months. They also put their results behind them in the first season, but it feels like they are crashing down to the ground – Brentford were held to a 1-1 draw at Hull Citywhile the town of Gippewick unimpressively drew 1-1 Nottingham Forest.
A fascinating theme begins to emerge along the way. He feels that there are more middle teams than usual, even if someone sits down to seventh (he has someone, however). Then there are those that seem like relegation contenders, but there are more spots above the drop zone because, somehow, there are many teams worse than them. It’s a frenetic feeling at the Premier League table and, by extension, the latest edition of the power rankings but the show must go on.
Here’s how each Premier League team looks at the latest round of playoffs.
1. Armory (+ 1)
Arsenal wins 2-0 Verton not glamorous but Gunnerus doesn’t care. They are clearly on points with Manchester City and are well placed to compete for the title, as they have been all season.
2. Manchester City (1)
Manchester City briefly regained first place after defeat at Aston Villa, which raises questions about their ability to go the distance in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge.
3. Liverpool (+ 1)
Liverpool slowly but steadily things with Andoni Iraola remaining at the helm, 2-0 Brighton and Hove Albion win their most important event yet. From a top four position to the goal of this season’s reality feels, although not the only result of the work.
4. Brighton and Hove Albion (1)
Fabian Hurzeler’s side played well enough against Liverpool to ensure their stock didn’t drop too much, but the Reds are set to defy the morale-boosting tendencies they’ll borrow from their opponents in the coming weeks and months.
5. Chelsea (-)
This is where the ultimate force of the Premier League’s midfield comes in – Chelsea were completely unimpressive against Spurs, unconvincing at almost every turn. Most of the teams in England’s top flight, though, are worse off as the Blues hang in fifth, but they will be worth watching.
6. Bournemouth (+5)
Between AC Milan in the UEFA Europa League and their 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford, it’s been a fun week for Bournemouth fans. Those victories are a sign that things are finally clicking – they might be in the 13th league but they place a third goal differential, a sign that things are always trending in the right direction.
7. Aston Villa (+3)
Aston Villa’s slow start is officially a thing of the past, with Unai Emery’s side fiercely dominating City to prove it. Publicly, the team is on the rise.
8. Leeds United (-2)
Leeds UnitedThe bright but effective consistency of the midfielders continues to hang in the top half of the table, but also against unimpressive play. Sunderland The party is not the kind of thing that is applauded.
9. Brentford (-2).
There’s no reason Brentford shouldn’t be aiming for a top half finish but Leeds are a lot above them, even a game against relegation contenders Hull City doesn’t indicate the team’s overall qualities.
10. Juventus (-2)
Juventus really put their heart on the ladder as much as they can, don’t they? Red devil should’ better than this, but by its error-prone nature it continues to be expensive.
11. Tottenham Hotspur (+7)
A victory over Coventry City is one thing, but a Chelsea victory is another. More specifically, it’s the type that safely digs the Spurs out of their early hole and perhaps sets up some more normal results in the short term.
12. Verton (-3)
There’s no shame in losing to the reigning champions, but Everton haven’t made much of a dent in the competition, resigning the Toffees as permanent residents of the Premier League’s mid-table for the foreseeable future.
13. Fulham (-)
All their faults Fulham They did enough to get the points that were expected of them, winning the most recent visit to Coventry City. It barely cracked the 0.5 goals expected along the way, though it’s nothing to write home about.
14. Hull City (+2).
Conventional wisdom suggests the other shoe will drop for Hull City, but not yet, especially after picking up a deserved point against Brentford.
15. Nottingham Forest.
Add Nottingham Forest to the list of anomalies this season, sitting firmly in the relegation zone despite being fifth in the league on goal difference. Case in point – they expected goals of 2.29 to Gippewici’s 0.46, but a 1-1 tie anyway. Until they solve that problem, less-than-ideal table spots are doomed.
16. Gippewicum town (-2)
Gippswich were lucky to pick up a goal against Forest but this season’s success is a thing of the past for them too.
17. Newcastle United (-)
The eighth place New Castle United they seem to be riding their luck – 19 in the league expected to post a goal differential – but they are creating a five point cushion above the drop zone by way of a win over Crystal Palace it is worth something.
18. Sunderland (-6)
Sunderland will appreciate having picked up a point against Leeds, but they are unexciting in mid-season, which is hardly a position of strength for a team desperate for points.
19. Crystal Palace (+ 1)
Palace will take some comfort from what Newcastle have produced, but in their case, the results have actually reflected their form.
20. the city of Coventry (1)
Coventry were expected to be neck-and-neck with Fulham in the relegation zone, but considering the Cottons put up a small number, the newly promoted can’t boast much.