Let’s not pretend we haven’t all seen that Mark Carey video, which clearly proves that after ten games, we should all pack it in and stop watching the Premier League, because it’s all done and dusted. See you in 2025/26. But for the hardened unbelievers, i.e. those who need one more round of games after Week 10 to be convinced, Week 11 has come and gone, and should leave with no doubts as to how things will be in May.
But really, as we enter the final international break of 2023, and the one before a run of games till March, isn’t this the best time for a Premier League power rankings index?
Southampton
They managed their first win of the league season at the tenth time of asking against Everton (and top marks for the use of that Sean Dyche meme in-game). But it’s not so much that Southampton haven’t got going as it is the case that they don’t look like they’ll be in the league next August.
Wolves
Took even longer than Southampton to get their first league win (even though they’re above the Saints in the table), and all is far from well at the Molineux. Whatever optimism that was had (especially from me) going into the season has been swept away by Wolves’ poor recruitment and inability to replace key players in the transfer window (Max Kilman left in the summer, and they currently have conceded the most goals). Manager Gary O’Neil has gone from underrated savvy tactician to looking like one result away from the sack.
Leicester
Three places and three points above the bottom three after 11 games isn’t so bad for a Leicester side that came into the season with shrouds of uncertainty after coming up from the second-tier. They have managed wins against sides of near-similar quality, and Steve Cooper is earning his coin in the top division again. But this is still arguably the weakest squad in the league, and when the grind carries on into the second half of the season, whether they’ll remain on the right side of the line is very much in question.
Crystal Palace
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Oliver Glasner arrived last spring, and Palace found one in their step, and the attack caught the eye of everyone. Things were supposed to be looking up this season, but so far, the Eagles haven’t seem to either adequately replace Michael Olise or compensate for his absence; Eberechi Eze is number one for shot creation in the side, but he’s also underperforming, and the next on the list are Tyrick Mitchell, Adam Wharton, and Daniel Munoz. Significant areas in the side have been either stagnant or downgraded (not least at centre-back), and if there’s a solution to their struggles, there haven’t been much signs of it yet.
Ipswich
Going into the break on a high after that headline win at Spurs. Kieran McKenna’s team still look the most astute and most capable of the newly-promoted sides (even if they have less points than Leicester). Survival still seems a hard ask for that squad, but they appear to have a proper goal scorer in Liam Delap, and should stay in the fight for long, at least.
West Ham
It’s just not working so far. West Ham have shown some signs of looking decent, and you could attribute some of their misfortune to Lucas Paqueta’s quite poor form so far, but Julen Lopetegui’s side look sometimes dour, sometimes porous, sometimes toothless, and sometimes all three. The new signings haven’t really work, and they’ve shown that they might not be best for West Ham’s plan to transition from a post-Moyes side. You get the sense that Lopetegui might be out of a job soon.
Everton
Before the season began, the feeling was ‘meh’ with Everton. Then came a few defeats from being 2-0 up, and it looked like the bad kind of ‘meh’. They have picked themselves up since then, and strung a few wins together. But they’re only three points off the drop zone, while continuing to seem like nobody’s real cup of tea. Meh.
Brentford
Fun. Adventurous. Innovative. Scoring goals in the opening minute of games. Throwing away leads in the final moments of added time. Bryan Mbeumo in sparkling form. Joint top scorers. Second worst defence in the league. 0 goal difference. More of the same, you Bees.
Man Utd
On one hand, the only way now is up for Manchester United. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim spell yielded three wins in four games, 11 goals, and Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro looking alive again, and they’re only four points away from the top four. On the other hand, United belatedly sacked Erik Ten Hag even after the Dutchman showed no mark improvement with the side since the start of last season, and they let his presence fester for far too long. They’re in 13th place, and they’ve only scored more than three teams in the league. The Ruben Amorim era is up next, and optimism is being tendered with caution.
Tottenham
Spurs were booed off in the defeat to Ipswich, and will stew on that for a fortnight, before a trip to Manchester City. Excitement has given way to cautious optimism which may be turning to quiet unease. Spurs continue to oscillate between entertaining and open, and with Ange Postecoglou, it might not change. The neutrals may love it, but the fans are not exactly vocal with cheer right now.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth have won as many games as they’ve lost, but that doesn’t necessarily puncture the feel-good factor around the club. They’ve beaten last season’s top two already, taken points against Newcastle, and should have gotten at least one against Chelsea. There have been avoidable defeats, but the mood with Andoni Iraola in charge is more optimism than discomfort, and certainly much better than this time last season.
Aston Villa
Lower in the rankings mostly because of the other teams above them, Villa may be ninth in the league, but are only a point off the top four. This season so far could be better, and Ollie Watkins doesn’t quite seem like the Ollie Watkins of last season, but they’ve already become an opponent no one wants to face, both in the league and in Europe. Also, they have Jhon Duran.
Newcastle
Three big wins on the bounce after a shaky spell, Newcastle are also breathing down the necks of the current top four sides. Questions remain about their ability to break down teams, and their recruitment in the summer should have been better, but the Toon are finally not just winning games, but also deserving of the victories. That can only be a good thing.
Fulham
Heralded by next to nobody, Marco Silva’s Fulham are currently seventh, heights of the Roy Hodgson days. Whether they stay there is another thing, as they haven’t exactly had the toughest of runs and have lost to sides superior to them (although they should have gotten something from the games against Man City and Man United), but they’ve coped well with the loss of Joao Palhinha so far, and are currently beating teams in front of them. Good times.
Nottingham Forest
Great times! Forest were many’s bets for, if not relegation, ditching their manager. It may still happen, but that would require a dramatic shakeup in form. Because Nuno’s men are in fifth, level on points with Arsenal and Chelsea, have taken points at Stamford Bridge and Anfield, and only one player in the league has scored more than Chris Wood. Nikola Milenkovic in defence has not so much being a revelation as he’s had people wondering how on earth Forest managed to get him. The midfield hasn’t been shy to put in the grunt work, and there are game-changers in the aforementioned Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Their last game before the break was a defeat to Newcastle, but things are coming up Forest so far.
Chelsea
Doing better than most expected under Enzo Maresca, and with an incredibly young squad. They have arguably the most exciting player in the league in Cole Palmer, and haven’t exactly looked phased against tougher sides, despite their age. Chelsea struggle to break down teams, though, and so far, they do seem to have a ceiling, tactically and physically against the better sides. Fix that, and we may even start whispering the T-word.
Brighton
Fun. Bold. Delightful. Under Fabian Hurzeler this season, Brighton have beaten both Manchester teams and Spurs, held Arsenal to a draw, and should have run away with the points at Anfield. One of the Hurzeler’s traits so far has been to double down on the risky part of the play, and it’s paying off. Whether winning or losing, they’re incredibly great to watch.
Arsenal
Runners-up for the past two seasons, Arsenal were expected by many to be champions this term (me). They still could be, but so far, it’s not going to plan. Martin Odegaard was out for a few months, and his return should aid creativity in attack, and in three of the six league games where they’ve dropped points, they’ve had a man sent off. But something just feels off with Arsenal at the moment; a willingness to settle for a result after 52 minutes and let the game state play itself out, a lack of thrust in attack, and the Gunners are starting to seem even more formulaic. Perhaps the returning skipper will inject some verve into this side after the international break, as right now, the pieces are not exactly working.
Man City
Speaking of pieces not working… All is not well at Manchester City. Losing four in a row is one thing, conceding the same archetypal big chance game after game is another. There are obvious injuries (not least Rodri, the elephant in the treatment room) which means certain profiles are lacking on the pitch, but the pressing and counter-pressing problems City showed last season have very much been exacerbated this term, and every lineup indicates Pep Guardiola struggling to find a solution. Their next three league games are against Liverpool, Spurs, and high-flying Nottingham Forest. Find a solution.
Liverpool
Liverpool are five points clear at the top, have the best defence, the best goal difference, and arguably the best player in the league right now in Ryan Gravenberch. Only 11 league games into the Arne Slot era, and the Reds look formidable, and if they ever do have a bad start, they know how to kick into gear afterwards. It’s not quite ‘Jurgen Who?’ yet though, as Liverpool still lack conviction in breaking teams down, and even in victory, flaws have reared their heads, and we haven’t seen Slot react to any sustaining setback. But at the moment, this team is adapting and developing, and doing so with a margin for error at the top of the league (while also being top of the Champions League). So far, so very very good.
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