English football correspondent Richard Jolly measures each Premier League team’s performance midway through the season.
ARSENAL
A promising season undermined by what Arsene Wenger branded “a horrible week”, featuring two away defeats, renewed questions about their powers of resilience and tactical nous and a descent into fourth place: typical Arsenal, then. So, too, the demoralising opening defeat. In between, Arsenal excelled, with Alexis Sanchez justifying Wenger’s decision to rebrand him as a striker and Shkodran Mustafi adding solidity to the defence. Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin and Theo Walcott have offered further cause for optimism but Santi Cazorla has been missed — another recurring theme — and much more was expected of the other main summer signing, Granit Xhaka.
Star so far: Alexis Sanchez
Prediction: 4th
BOURNEMOUTH
Mounted the comeback of the season in their remarkable 4-3 win over Liverpool. For different reasons, the 6-1 thrashing of Hull was also a highlight, along with the sight of Bournemouth in the highest place in their history — eighth — recently. Each was an endorsement of Eddie Howe, whose calm approach and commitment to good football mean his standing continues to rise. After defensive difficulties last season, a tally of five clean sheets represents an improvement, while centre-backs Nathan Ake and Steve Cook have also shown an eye for goal. The borrowed Jack Wilshere has brought class but Jordon Ibe is yet to justify his club record £15 million fee.
Star so far: Adam Smith
Prediction: 13th
BURNLEY
Their home record is better than Manchester United’s but their only away point came at Old Trafford, and that required terrific goalkeeping by Tom Heaton. There are reasons to believe this will be the first season Burnley stay up in the Premier League and others to fear for them. They have beaten Liverpool, proved obdurate opponents for the best and secured two potentially priceless late winners. Their trademark fitness and spirit has been allied with greater quality since the arrivals of Jeff Hendrick and Steven Defour and more tactical flexibility, with Sean Dyche no longer wedded to 4-4-2. But it could be touch and go.
Star so far: Michael Keane
Prediction: 18th
CHELSEA
In eighth after back-to-back losses to Liverpool and Arsenal and seemingly set for another season of struggle, the turnaround has been extraordinary. Eleven straight wins have made them title favourites. N’Golo Kante has been a catalytic signing, but David Luiz and Marcos Alonso have been unexpectedly excellent ones in the 3-4-2-1 system Antonio Conte has adopted, while the forgotten man Victor Moses has been a revelation at wingback. Diego Costa and Eden Hazard have returned to their best while Chelsea’s European exile has enabled Conte to make them the best-drilled, most consistent side around and the one who, from disarray, forged the finest defence.
Star so far: Diego Costa
Prediction: 1st
CRYSTAL PALACE
Instead of replicating their terrific form of the first half of last season, they have reproduced the terrible results of the second half, completing a sorry 2016 in the Premier League. A run of one win in 11 games cost Alan Pardew his job. Enter Sam Allardyce. While the loss of left-back Pape Souare is a factor, he must address why Palace have a solitary league clean sheet. The manner of many of the goals conceded, especially at set-pieces, is damning. The club record buy Christian Benteke has scored a respectable eight, but Allardyce should expect more of flair players Yohan Cabaye and Andros Townsend.
Star so far: James McArthur
Prediction: 16th
EVERTON
It all began so well. Everton made their best start in 38 years but have averaged under a point a game since then, losing their fluency and their biggest summer buy Yannick Bolasie to a season-ending injury. Gareth Barry and Phil Jagielka have started to show their age while Ross Barkley’s form has been an issue and, although Romelu Lukaku has an impressive nine goals, Everton rarely gel as an attacking unit; hence the pragmatic switch to a more direct approach. While the all-action Idrissa Gueye has added bite in midfield, they look in need of January reinforcements.
Star so far: Idrissa Gueye
Prediction: 7th
HULL CITY
Responded to chaos magnificently by starting with back-to-back wins despite only having 13 senior players, no manager and no summer signings, but have only taken six points from the last 15 games, despite belated arrivals and the caretaker Mike Phelan’s eventual appointment. The lack of goals from their strikers is one problem, injuries another. There is enough character in the camp but, with the notable exception of Robert Snodgrass, insufficient quality as they have lost their last seven away games. Those eventual signings have made a negligible impact, with Ryan Mason especially disappointing, and Hull should come to rue a wasted summer.
Star so far: Robert Snodgrass
Prediction: 20th
LEICESTER CITY
The inverse of last season. Leicester have underachieved, being awful away, looking off the pace and desperately missing the sold N’Golo Kane while Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have scarcely resembled the reigning Footballers of the Year and Robert Huth no longer look the most defiant defenders in the division. With none of the summer arrivals really succeeding, Leicester have appeared more like the team who propped up the table two years ago. Their focus on the Champions League came at a cost but, with two months’ break, they ought to climb the standings again. But they have shown what a one-off last year was.
Star so far: Kasper Schmeichel
Prediction: 12th
LIVERPOOL
An encouraging, entertaining campaign. The division’s top scorers have been imbued with Jurgen Klopp’s positivity. With Sadio Mane providing an extra ingredient, their fast, fluid, interchangeable attacking midfielders have prospered: each of Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana is having a fine season while the decision to reinvent Jordan Henderson as an anchor midfielder has looked inspired. Joel Matip has proved a fine addition at the back but dropped goalkeeper Loris Karius has been a cause for concern in a defence that has been questioned. Liverpool may come to lament their only defeats, to Bournemouth and Burnley, because their record against their peers is fantastic.
Star so far: James Milner
Prediction: 3rd
MANCHESTER CITY
After the heady days of their superb start, when they won their first 10 games in all competitions, a more troubled time has followed as City’s players have struggled to adjust to Pep Guardiola’s tactics. Wins over Manchester United, Barcelona and Arsenal have provided highlights, while the 4-2 loss at Leicester was a nadir. Sergio Aguero’s disciplinary record has presented a problem, the defending has been decidedly mixed and some arrivals, such as Claudio Bravo and John Stones, have endured mixed starts. But Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho have all offered signs they can flourish in Guardiola’s brave new world.
Star so far: Kevin de Bruyne
Prediction: 2nd
MANCHESTER UNITED
The game of catch-up is underway. The problem is that United left themselves with so much ground to make up; certainly to win the title, even to finish in the top four. Jose Mourinho’s was an uncharacteristically poor start, with the 4-0 hammering at Chelsea a low point, and his side proved unusually prone to conceding late goals. Michael Carrick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were omitted for too long. Now the vice-captain, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba have formed a midfield trio that is bringing more from the world’s most expensive signing, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is proving prolific and the defence has improved. But it took time.
Star so far: Ander Herrera
Prediction: 5th
MIDDLESBROUGH
Boro’s strengths and weaknesses are clear. Only four sides have conceded fewer goals. Only two have scored less. Striker Alvaro Negredo’s form was criticised before a recent goalscoring burst, but he had too little support, despite the pace of the lively Adoma Traore, because of Aitor Karanka’s safety-first tactics. They have helped Boro secure encouraging away draws, but demoralising home defeats have stripped them of momentum. Boro have showed solidity in the centre of midfield and their centre-backs have been excellent, a formula that should keep them up, but the balance between defence and attack is not quite right.
Star so far: Ben Gibson
Prediction: 15th
SOUTHAMPTON
Consolidation, if not excitement. After the loss of Ronald Koeman, Graziano Pelle, Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane, Claude Puel’s seventh place is highly respectable, if a little flattering. No team’s games have produced fewer goals, which is an indication of the excellence of a defence where Virgil van Dijk has been outstanding. Yet the reliance on Charlie Austin to score was apparent before he required surgery on his shoulder and Saints have only mustered two goals in a league game three times. Record buy Sofiane Boufal has offered flickers of flair in a campaign that may be defined by EFL Cup progress or Europa League elimination.
Star so far: Virgil van Dijk
Prediction: 8th
STOKE CITY
Made their now habitual slow start but while they are safely ensconced in mid-table now, four of their five wins have come against the bottom five. It indicates that a talented group have failed to hit the heights, with the notable exception of the borrowed goalkeeper Lee Grant and the surprise top scorer Joe Allen. But Wilfried Bony has been dropped, Marko Arnautovic has only scored once, Xherdan Shaqiri has been inconsistent and Bojan Krkic has been in and out of the team. Giannelli Imbula remains an enigma and while Stoke have only lost twice in 12 games, improvement is required to secure a fourth straight top-10 finish.
Star so far: Joe Allen
Prediction: 9th
SUNDERLAND
After the joint worst start in Premier League history, it feels an achievement to be only one point from safety. Certainly David Moyes’ methods seem to be paying off with four wins in seven and his free-transfer signing, Victor Anichebe, looks an astute acquisition. But only Jermain Defoe has really sustained form across the campaign and, while Vito Mannone’s shoulder problem allowed Jordan Pickford to excel, other injuries have been debilitating and Jan Kirchhoff, out again, will be missed. But with limited funds in January and a downbeat mood around the Stadium of Light, the annual scrap for survival promises to be another gruelling affair.
Star so far: Jordan Pickford
Prediction: 17th
SWANSEA CITY
Francesco Guidolin won the opening game at Burnley and the sack race, but nothing else. Bob Bradley has won more games but has suffered heavier defeats, without convincing that he is an upgrade. Both have been hampered by the club’s dealings. The sold Ashley Williams has been sorely missed as Swansea have conceded 25 goals in their last 10 games. Club record buy Borja Baston has not even been on the bench at times, although at least Fernando Llorente has started scoring. Most of the more winnable home games are still to come which, given their increasingly awful away form, is just as well.
Star so far: Gylfi Sigurdsson
Prediction: 19th
TOTTENHAM
No one has lost fewer games but no one has drawn more, a reason why Spurs sit fifth. Coupled with their Champions League exit, it could lead to accusations of regression when their defence has continued to be frugal, despite Toby Alderweireld’s injuries. While Harry Kane has regained form and fitness and Christian Eriksen has recaptured his spark of late, Spurs have been inconsistent further up the pitch. It has not helped that their three attacking signings — Vincent Janssen, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Moussa Sissoko — have been underwhelming. Only Victor Wanyama of the arrivals has prospered, a reason why others have overtaken Spurs.
Star so far: Jan Vertonghen
Prediction: 6th
WATFORD
The gamble of firing Quique Sanchez Flores seems to have paid off. Watford have been inconsistent under Walter Mazzarri, but the 3-1 win over Manchester United represented a historic high and they seem to be plotting a path to safety. It is all the more admirable as Troy Deeney’s goals have dried up and Odion Ighalo has been so ineffective he has been dropped. Etienne Capoue proved a surprise early-season scorer, Roberto Pereyra has shown moments of class and Nordin Amrabat’s unpredictability has been an asset. Despite the annual summer upheaval, this season may end in a similar position to last.
Star so far: Sebastian Prodl
Prediction: 14th
WEST BROM
Tony Pulis’ future was in doubt as recently as September but it feels a long time ago now the Welshman has a new contract, Albion have proved more prolific than his previous teams and the veteran manager looks on course for his highest finish. While Pulis felt let down by Albion’s summer business, Nacer Chadli began with a flurry of goals and Matt Phillips has been a revelation, adding incision from the wings which, with Salomon Rondon’s goalscoring, has meant the marginalisation of Saido Berahino has hardly mattered. While the football has improved, the defence has remained resilient. It is a fine blend.
Star so far: Matt Phillips
Prediction: 10th
WEST HAM
A huge disappointment. A side that threatened a top-four finish last season have spent much of this campaign in the bottom four as the move to the London Stadium has not reaped the expected dividends. The Hammers have only five wins, all 1-0 and four against relegation-threatened sides. In between that, they have conceded too many goals while their specialist strikers have mustered one between them. Simone Zaza was the worst of a 12-man summer recruitment drive where it is hard to name a success. At least the exuberant Michail Antonio has kept on scoring, but the second half of the season must be better.
Star so far: Michail Antonio
Prediction: 11th
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