How 2014 Is Shaping Up

Arsenal
- Top of the league going into 2014
- More points than any other team in 2013

Ozil arrived on deadline day for £42m

2013 was:
Great. The year they've rejoined the Premier League's elite and re-established themselves as a major force, now they are sitting pretty at the top of the table having secured more points than any other side over the calendar year. They've also finally got the marquee signing fans had been craving when Mesut Ozil arrived on transfer deadline day in September. The squad is better than it has been, arguably since the Invincibles when the likes of Henry and Vieira were in their pomp and Arsenal now look like legitimate title challengers for the first time since the 2007/08.


2014 will be:
The year they look to secure their first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup. Being knocked out of the League Cup so early on will have irked the fans no end as it was probably their best chance. They are top of the league but only by a point from a strong looking Manchester City who took them apart only a few weeks ago. A daunting tie with Bayern Munich awaits in the Champions League but having won their last year, Arsenal will know if they can knock out the holders they could well go on to win the prize for the first time.


Transfer Window:
They need a striker. Olivier Giroud is not good enough for them and the only alternative Wenger has at his disposal right now is Niklas Bendtner. There's not a whole lot of big name strikers on the market right now and given the fact it took Wenger so long to actually shell out a lot of money on a player which is what he did to get Ozil, don't be surprised if he looks for the cheaper option. Hertha Berlin's Adrian Ramos, leading scorer in the Bundesliga this season would likely fit the bill





Manchester City
- Runners-up in the Premier League and FA Cup.
- Perfect home record in the league in 2013/14.

City are yet another side under new management

2013 was:
Not good. Lost the league title they had spent so much money in wresting from the other half of the city and ended the season without any honours following a shock FA Cup final defeat to Wigan. Steps were taken to correct this immediately. Roberto Mancini was removed from his post within two days and in excess of £100m was spent on strengthening the squad. This season they've looked unstoppable at the Etihad but vulnerable at times on the road. The strength of their squad is what makes them title favourites right now.


2014 will be:
Their first full year as the undisputed dominant force in Manchester. It will also be the first time the fans can look forward to knock-out Champions League action, even if it is a nasty tie with Barcelona awaiting them in February. If they don't end 2014 as Premier League champions at least, they will be very disappointed.


Transfer Window:
Their biggest problem is how different they look defensively when Vincent Kompany is not in the side. Great sides in Premier League history have been built on the foundation of a solid triangle of goalkeeper and two centre backs. Think Schmeichel-Pallister-Bruce, Seaman-Adams-Keown, Cech-Terry-Carvalho, Van Der Sar-Ferdinand-Vidic etc. At the moment City have only one clear element of this in place in their Belgian captain. Sorting out one of the other two positions in January would be start





Chelsea
- Europa League winners and 3rd place in the Premier League in 2012/13
- Only 2 points off the top of the table going into 2014

The Special One came home in June

2013 was:
Pretty vintage. Turmoil and controversy galore,  Fernando Torres not scoring, multiple managers and a trophy. The highlight would probably not be the Europa League victory in Amsterdam but rather the long-awaited second coming of Jose Mourinho a few weeks later. This time however he has not been able to bring instant success. He hasn't got the players he wants at his disposal and it may take him time to build a team this time around. Turns out he is human after all


2014 will be: 
Hopefully, the first since 2010 (when they won the double) and only the second time since 2006 that they can start a year and end the year with the same manager. Mourinho will be given more time than his predecessors owing to his larger than life persona and reputation amongst the fans but he will need to produce trophies. They'll probably win the FA Cup again this year. The Premier League might be slightly out of reach and the Champions League would be a huge ask for any of the English sides right now.


Transfer Window:
This is perhaps the most obvious one. They need a striker. Six league goals between Torres, Ba and Eto'o in the first half of the season is a pathetic return. Hard to know exactly whom Mourinho will look to and it may be hard to find a long-term fix in January. Madrid are unlikely to want to lose Benzema, and Napoli won't be parting with Higuain. Falcao might be an option in the summer but they'd have to break the bank. I think it's unlikely they'll renew their pursuit of Wayne Rooney which took up most of their time and attention during the summer. They seem to be lining up a move for Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin who is another attacking midfielder and exactly what they don't need.





Everton
- First season under Martinez after 11 under David Moyes
- In a Champions League place going into 2014

Season salvaged on deadline day

2013 was:
Awesome. They'd reached as far as they could under Moyes and now Roberto Martinez has breathed new life into the club and with the help of some new signings, they are making a real push for Champions League football next year


2014 will be:
Even better I'd imagine as the Martinez era reaches full swing. The whole culture of the club looks very different to a year ago and it's hard to believe they would not continue to prosper greatly in 2014. They'll be fascinating to watch too with the new style of football implemented by Martinez.


Transfer Window:
In the long run, they need to either secure the permanent signatures of Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku or else sign suitable replacements. This may not be a job for January but rather the summer. A more reliable back-up to Lukaku would do in the short term and  they are also pretty lightly resourced at centre half.





Liverpool
- Led the league on Christmas Day 2013
- 11 points better off than one year ago

A relationship that has been put to the test in 2013

2013 was:
Very good. The best calendar year they've had since 2009 probably. They signed two amazing talents in Daniel Sturridge and managed to keep hold of Luis Suarez for a whole year despite his best efforts. Peace seems to have broken out between him and the club after the conflict over the summer. The side looks good at the moment, if a little over dependant on Suarez, and they've a wonderful manager in Brendan Rodgers whom the players and fans seem to have the utmost faith and belief in. The club is in good health right now.


2014 will be:
Getting back into the Champions League having been absent since 2009 would be a huge success for the club and would mark incredible progress. A title challenge is a bit beyond this squad but challenging for the top 4 is a viable aim. Hanging on to Luis Suarez for the entire year would be as big a result for them. His recent new contract and rumours of a get-out clause would indicate he might be off in the summer. The inevitable huge cash windfall if and when it comes must be invested wisely by Rodgers.


Transfer window:
There's no danger of Suarez leaving in January so additions will be the main focus for Brendan Rodgers. Another winger might not go amiss. Word is he intended to buy a new number 10 during the summer but did not for whatever reason so he may look to rectify that this time around. The defence is leaking goals at an alarming rate so could do with being beefed up. He may have to clear some names off the wage bill first though.




Manchester United
- Won their 20th title in April
- Have not been in the top 4 since August

Rooney stole the headlines this year

2013 was:
Forgettable and unforgettable in equal measures. United secured their 20th Premier League title with ease in April but just two weeks later news broke of Sir Alex Ferguson's impending retirement and the club was left facing the inevitable scenario, prolonged for some time now, of life without English football's greatest ever manager. David Moyes was always going to have a difficult job and the transitional period so far has been tough for United. Rooney wanted to leave, they were embarrassed in the transfer market and have struggled in the league so far, currently languishing in sixth place.


2014 will be:
Tough and far from vintage. United won't challenge for the title. Not without Cristiano Ronaldo and a Roy Keane-esque dynamic central midfielder showing up at Carrington in January. Qualifying for the Champions League is now the aim along with maybe a cup competition to give Moyes a trophy in his first season. The importance of Wayne Rooney to this side has become more and more evident over the last four months. If he's still a United player at the end of 2014 he will probably be one for life. If he hasn't signed a new contract by the summer, he'll be wearing different colours this time next year.


Transfer window:
The squad needs a bit of an overhaul but that's probably more of a summer project than a January one. For now a box-to-box centre midfielder would appease the fans and help the team fight back into the top 4. The type of player they should have targeted in the summer. I don't think another window spent chasing Leighton Baines is the answer right now although David Moyes may disagree.





Spurs
- Received a world record fee for Gareth Bale in August.
- Spent £107m on seven new players during the summer

Levy hasn't been far from the headlines all year

2013 was:
The end of Gareth Bale's time at White Hart Lane, Spurs' talisman departed for Madrid a season earlier than most people expected for a fee no one really expected of £86m after a very prolonged transfer saga. This was after they had missed out on Champions League football for the third year running, once again having been in the top 4 for a good chunk of the season and they've ended the year in disarray somewhat with the sacking of Andre Vilas-Boas and the appointment of Tim Sherwood as manager.


2014 will be:
It's hard to tell. Already they look much more adventurous and attack minded under the new manager so hopefully that continues. If Sherwood even lasts until next season. Hopes of a title challenge have long since evaporated but they are still going very strong in the Europa League and given the unpredictability of this season so far, I wouldn't write them out of contention for the top 4 just yet.


Transfer Window:
Unlikely to be very interesting. Having just spent over £100m this summer on new recruits, the chances of Sherwood being given further cash to bolster his squad in January seems highly unlikely





Newcastle
- Finished 16th in 2012/13
- Now 8th, 4 points off 4th

Newcastle's talisman Yohan Cabaye

2013 was:
Very mixed. The year began with them on a Europa League run that would end in the quarter finals and a very real flirtation with relegation following heavy home defeats to Liverpool and bitter rivals Sunderland. Summer and Autumn brought unrest from the fans as Mike Ashley hired Joe Kinnear in a director of football role. On the pitch results have picked up since August and the drama surrounding Cabaye's potential departure. Newcastle are one of the in-form teams in the league right now, sitting in 8th place just four points off the Champions League.


2014 will be:
Interesting. The club has been very unpredictable for the past few years. This has ranged from relegation in 2009 to near-Champions League qualification in 2012. It seems they are on an upward trajectory once again and stability at a good level would be something to aim for in 2014.


Transfer Window:
Holding onto Yohan Cabaye for the month of January would be a success for them. Even if Arsenal don't renew their interest, Man United and PSG among others look to be lining up the midfielder. Elsewhere it's up to self-proclaimed transfer window expert Joe Kinnear to work his magic and bring in some new faces.

Mersey Paradox

It's a joke that has been doing the  rounds for quite a while now, David Moyes spent eleven years trying to get Everton above United in the table, turns out all he had to do was join them. While that has proved to be the case, Everton's resurgence is significantly more down to their new manager Roberto Martinez than their former one. And they aren't the only Merseyside club enjoying an upturn in fortunes. Local rivals Liverpool have emerged from a turbulent summer, spearheaded by the direct cause of said turbulence Luis Suarez, they are enjoying by far their most competitive season since 2008/09 and have very real top 4 ambitions.

Given the flurry of high-profile managerial changes over the summer, you'd have been forgiven for forgetting entirely that Roberto Martinez, forever linked with a move to a top team, had finally abandoned ship at Wigan and filled the spot vacated by Moyes at Everton.

Martinez's appointment slipped under the radar last summer

Transfer activity at Goodison Park this summer took a while to get going. Arrivals were limited to a couple of old Martinez favourites at Wigan and really the only time Everton were in the headlines at all where when they had snubbed another derisory bid from United for the duo of Baines and Fellaini. The giant Belgian would eventually leave for what now looks a particularly hefty £27.5m on deadline day. That same evening saw the landscape of Martinez's Everton side change drastically with the arrivals of James McCarthy (also from Wigan), Gareth Barry on loan from Man City and a surprising move for Romelu Lukaku, also on loan, from Chelsea.

His three deadline day captures, along with the loaning of the incredibly gifted Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona have been inspired moves but it's not just in the transfer market where Martinez has excelled. Ross Barkley was given a total of 15 league appearances over the course of his three years in the first team under David Moyes. Martinez has shown incredible faith in the player and matched that number of appearances by Christmas of his first season. Barkley is repaying his manager in kind with some impressive performances. He's become on of their most important players, earned an England call-up and is surely a candidate for PFA Young Player of the Year come April.

Barkley has been a sensation this season

Injury to Leighton Baines has meant the introduction of Costa Rican full-back Bryan Oviedo to the side recently. He has been another revelation over the past couple of games, grabbing the winner at Old Trafford and following it up with an impressive display at Arsenal four days later. His form suggests Everton need not have had any worries about losing Baines over the summer. Elsewhere Seamus Coleman and Kevin Mirallas are two others who have developed further under Martinez this season.

Everton are playing a different style of football this season. They are more fluid, expressive and thoroughly more enjoyable to watch. I recall seeing a game at Goodison Park earlier this season where Everton had a free kick just inside the opponents half. Leighton Baines played a five yard pass along the ground rather than lumping it into the box and a very audible groan echoed around the ground. Martinez method of attack is centred around passing and incisive play rather than the more traditional 'hit and hope' method the fans were used to. Three months later and I doubt a similar scenario would generate the same reaction.

Upon his appointment in June, Martinez promised Everton he'd get them into the Champions League. After 16 games and just one defeat (fewer than anyone in the league) they find themselves just a single point off 4th place. It remains to be seen whether or not they can maintain this push until the end of the season, but just one mile away across Stanley Park there are another club with similar Champions League aspirations.

Luis Suarez has been a man on a mission this season. Having missed the first 5 games of the season through suspension, he's returned and looked better than ever since then. A Suarez-less Liverpool managed 5 goals in their opening 5 Premier League games (4 for Sturridge and an own goal). Since his return they've managed 34 goals in 11 games. Over two extra goals per game on average. Of these 34 he's scored 17 and assisted another 4. His form has ensured there can be absolutely no debate over who is the best player in the Premier League right now.

Suarez: Back, scoring and looking happy at Anfield

Suarez took up most of the Liverpool headlines this summer with his protracted transfer saga and desperate attempts to leave. The club didn't bring in a whole lot of players during the summer, instead investing in Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho last January. This proved beneficial, particularly for Coutinho, in terms of adjusting to Premier League football in a low-pressure environment where Liverpool has essentially nothing to play for towards the tail end of last year.

Sturridge carried the team in Suarez's absence and did quite well. Steven Gerrard has been his usual effective self now playing a deeper role than in previous years. Alongside him Lucas is establishing himself as a top defensive midfielder and the often criticised Jordan Henderson is enjoying a fine run of form lately. The defence however is undeniably this team's weak spot.

Rodgers installed a 3-5-2 formation upon Suarez's return to the side in September in order to incorporate both he and Sturridge into his starting line-up. Whilst they looked impressive going forward, the three man defence was often exposed to pacey attacks, particularly at the Emirates where they suffered only their second defeat of the season. They've since reverted to the more traditional 4-4-2 but this has only garnished them a further 2 clean sheets in 6 league games with 8 goals conceded. They are deadly going forward, but the high-defensive line often leads to defensive frailties which may prove to be their undoing.

So, of the four Champions League slots available in the Premier League I think we can mark Manchester City down as certainties due to their sheer strength and Arsenal down as probable, barring a seismic collapse in the second half of the season. After them, Chelsea are the most favourable candidates for the final automatic slot which will leave Liverpool, Everton and Manchester United battling it out for the fourth slot. It may well prove to be a case of whichever Merseyside club finishes higher in the league, gets to dine at Europe's top table next season.

It's fairly hard to separate these two right now. On the one hand there's Martinez's Everton. An extremely well constructed and well balanced side, difficult to beat and amazing to watch. On the other hand there's Luis Suarez. Without him in the Liverpool side this wouldn't even be a debate. The game between the two this season was a thrilling 3-3 draw at Goodison Park. Everton looked the better team all-round, but Liverpool often looked more likely to win thanks to their more obvious superstar quality. It's just too close to call.

Champions League Power Rankings: The Last 16

16. Zenit

One win got Zenit out of the group

Zenit earned only six points in navigating what was a pretty favourable group, no team has ever found themselves in the second round with fewer. To do well in Europe, the minimum requirement is that you win your home games, because away games are tougher than domestically. Zenit have won none of their three ties in Russia this season which is not likely to change when Dortmund come to visit in February. Very much on borrowed time in this competition.





15. Olympiacos

Mission accomplished and nothing to lose

Greek champions in 14 of the past 16 seasons and well on their way to doing it again, Olympiacos have yet to make a significant impact on the European scene, making it to the knockout stages only twice since the turn of the century and falling at the first hurdle both times. Despite drawing probably the weakest group winners in Manchester United, Javier Saviola, Kostas Mitroglu and company will likely not change that record this year at least. Getting this far should be classed as a success itself.





14. Schalke

Weakest German side pitted against one of the favourites

Schalke have been average in the Bundesliga so far this season and face a bit of a battle to ensure qualification for next season's Champions League in what will be Germany's fourth spot. Aside from Chelsea, Schalke had a pretty weak group. They disposed of Basle with ease and struggled to a draw against whipping boys Steau. Against Chelsea they looked horribly outclassed in both games and, unless a drastic improvement is made over the winter, they can expect the same fate when they meet with Madrid in the last 16. Schalke reached the semi-finals in 2010/11 with a team consisting of the likes of Manuel Neur, Christoph Metzelder, Raul and Klass Jan-Huntelaar. The current crop does not match up with Julian Draxler and Kevin Prince-Boateng being the star names.





13. Galatasaray

Glamour names up front but so shaky in defence

Slightly fortunate to be here, the delay of their crucial tie with Juventus definitely had more of an effect on the visiting Italians than it did the hosts, but the Turkish champions under Roberto Mancini are into the knockout stages for the second year running.

Wesley Sneijder, champion in 2010 and Dider Drogba, 2012 are the two men spearheading this Galatasaray charge and both will look forward to their meeting with former boss Jose Mourinho in February. The furore around Drogba's return to Stamford Bridge will no doubt take up most of the headlines as the knockout rounds begin. Once the sentimental reunions are over with however, Galatasaray shouldn't cause Chelsea any problems. For them it came down to a win-or-go-home game with Juventus. They were poor for a lot of the group, shipping 14 goals in total, 6 at home to Madrid and even losing in Copenhagen. The atmosphere in Turkey may play in their favour for the home tie but they are far too weak defensively to go any further in the competition.





12. Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer definitely have potential for an upset or two

It' s  hard to know what to expect from Bayer Leverkusen week by week. Sami Hyypia's men definitely have two sides to them. They've taken two hammerings from United in the group stage, a 5-0 defeat in the BayArena being the worse of the two. But in contrast to this they beat Shaktar Donestk 4-0 to secure passage from the group and at home they've just won in Dortmund and are Bayern's closest domestic rivals this season, albeit seven points back.

PSG is far from the worst draw for them. I don't think they're a bad side, just prone to the odd  massive collapse. They'll either put up a stern fight to PSG and possibly beat them or else go down 9-0 on aggregate. It's one of those two.





11. AC Milan

Kaka has looked better since his return 'home'

Seven times champions of Europe, Milan are currently languishing in the bottom half of Serie A, 25 points behind leaders Juventus and just 5 clear of the relegation zone. Their European form has been good by comparison, with just one defeat (in Barcelona) in the group stage as they ushered Ajax into the Europa League on the final day with a draw. The return of the prodigal son Kaka to their ranks and the Champions League pedigree he brings may have a positive effect in the knockout stages. As should the fact that they have Mario Balotelli and are all wearing Milan shirts at the end of the day. The club is steeped in European history and, knowing that they may not be here next season, will want to at the very least advance past Atletico in the 2nd round.






10. Man United

Moyes European record so far is impressive

Any doubts over David Moyes lack of European experience look to have been allayed, United have gone about their business very impressively in European with 14 points from 18 and only 3 goals conceded. These numbers do paper over some cracks so to speak, there were some very forgettable performances, Shaktar at home and both ties against Sociedad were far from vintage Man United displays.

Olympiacos are probably the team David Moyes and any United fan would have picked given the choice. Whilst their form in the league has been pretty woeful, European football is a different story, particularly if a side has nothing left to play for on the domestic front. A midfield reinforced with extra steel in the new year would boost United's chances of advancing far in this tournament.





9. Chelsea

This is a very cool picture

Strangely lost two games to Basle but other than that, Chelsea coasted through a relatively straightforward group assignment and now Mourinho leads them into the knockout round where only twice in the since his first triumph a decade ago has he failed to reach at least the semi-finals.

There will be the emotional reunion with their 2012 hero Didier Drogba to witness first but after that, expect Chelsea to dispose of Galatasary. I think it irritates Mourinho that he hasn't yet won the biggest prize in the game with Chelsea. He may not have the squad to amend that this season (an extra striker would help) but they won't go down easily.





8. Borussia Dortmund

A return to the final may be beyond Dortmund

They had a good season last year and they're having an average one this year. It's unfair to judge them on the same level as Bayern, they haven't got anywhere near the resources and despite slipping to 3rd in the Bundesliga and being with minutes of dropping into the Europa League, Dortmund are not a club in crisis.

It would optimistic to suggest they could repeat their near-triumph of a year ago but Dortmund should advance past Zenit in the last 16. With Lewandowski, Marco Reus and now Mhikitarayan in their ranks, BVB remain a formidable opponent. No side will want to have to visit the intimidating Westfalenstadion on a European night. Just ask Real Madrid who crumpled and lost 4-1 underneath the Yellow Wall last April.





7. Arsenal

Its a different Arsenal side to recent seasons

The Premier League leaders escaped from the group of death on goal difference in the end (the third tie-breaker) and have been rewarded with a trip to Munich in the last 16 for the second year running. Strangely enough, a 2-0 win in Munich, whilst not enough to send them through, is widely credited as the catalyst which has sparked the 2013 Arsenal revival.

It was the worst possible draw for them. Again. This time however they should feel a lot more confident about their chances of beating Bayern over two legs. A collapse at the Emirates in the first leg made it pretty much mission impossible in the Allianz Arena and they nearly pulled it off. Always a great side to watch and the clash should be one to rememeber, regardless of who advances.





6. PSG

Becoming  a little less dependant on Ibra for goals would be a start

Remained unbeaten in the group stage until the final dead-rubber game with Anderlecht, the French champions are now setting their sights on going one better than last season when they fell to Barcelona on away goals.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has so far accounted for 50% of PSG's 16 goals in the competition so far. He's the most important piece in their jigsaw no doubt, but Edison Cavani will also be a threat, Lucas and Pastore also, PSG have a wealth of attacking talents that any side in Europe would be jealous of. They probably won't win the competition this year but given the money being invested, I don't think another quarter-final appearance would be enough.





5. Man City

Famous win in Munich will have given City belief

One goal away from toppling Bayern at the top of the group and securing a much much easier draw. City were always going to have their hands full with their last 16 opponent. Given their home form against their Premier League rivals, they will have absolutely no fear when Barcelona come to the Etihad.

While domestically their home form has been breathtaking and they look absolutely unstoppable, it is worth noting that they did go down 3-1 at home to Bayern in October in their only significant test at home in this competition so far. The side does lack the whole experience of 'Big European Nights' having failed to advance beyond the group stages until this year. It will be interesting to see if that proves to be a factor when they tackle Barcelona in the Camp Nou. Probably the toughest tie to call right now. City can be proud of finally making it out of the group, next year they can aim to win it and avoid ties like this so early in the spring.





4. Atletico Madrid

Newly Spanish Diego Costa is having a career season

It was slightly insulting to this club when people like Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports pinpointed Atletico as the weak link among the top seeds in the last 16 draw. Diego Simone, who for some unknown reason has been snubbed for the FIFA coach of the year award, has built a fantastic side. A side that is currently a single goal scored off the top of La Liga and 5 points clear of 'the other team' in Madrid.

From the on-loan Courtouis in goal to Koke running the show in midfield and the menacing Diego Costa leading the line brilliantly, Atletico are a quality side and are rightly considered favourites for their tie with Milan. Twice Europa League winners in the past three years, European nights are nothing new to them and now they should have some rather more illustrious clubs to play host to over the coming months.





3. Barcelona

Neymar has eased the burden on Messi

It's not the all conquering Guardiola Barcelona team of recent times, that particular era ended over eight days last April with two demoralising defeats to Europe's new superpower (and Guardiola's new employers) Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals. This season, with Neymar added to the side they've been rather low key under Tato Martino, going about their business quietly and getting the results.

The fact remains, this Barcelona side is very good and still among the best two or three in Europe. They've a new challenger domestically in Atletico Madrid and the prospect of maybe losing their iron grip on the La Liga crown should spur them on to aim to conquer Europe for the fourth time in nine seasons. Lionel Messi has been absent for half of the group games (he still has 6 goals) but Neymar has recently stepped up to the plate in his absence, bagging a hat-trick against Celtic and a brace against Villarreal on Saturday. Messi will be back for the knockout games and Barca will be a force to be reckoned with.





2. Bayern Munich

Bayern are aiming to be the first side to defend the title

The champions progressed through the group stage with minimal fuss but had a scare in their final game, one more goal and they'd have found themselves in the runners-up pot on Monday's draw. Despite hanging on to win the group they were dealt a bad hand and now must face their toughest possible opponents Arsenal in the last 16. Last year, Bayern took the Gunners apart at the Emirates, winning 3-1. They faced a much tougher Arsenal side back in Munich a few weeks later and lost 2-0, clinging on by the end and advancing on away goals. They will not have wanted to be paired with what is an even better Arsenal side this time around.

This Bayern side is the best they've had since the 1970s, probably the best squad they've ever had and the best in Europe currently in terms of quality in depth. Treble winners last year, unbeaten in 40 games domestically, dominating the Bundesliga again this year Bayern have every chance to become the first side to retain the Champions League title but they first have to put right the one let-up on their journey to success last year and put Arsenal away.





1. Real Madrid

The best in the world wants the giant trophy again

Cristiano Ronaldo scored 9 times in the 5 group games he was involved in. He's got a staggering 34 goals overall for club and country this season and it's only December. He's been a man on a mission this season, there are certain things he wants to achieve and there's no lengths to which he will not go to achieve these. First up is the Ballon d'Or which should come his way in January. Following that on his wish list is La Decima, a tenth European title for his club Real Madrid.

Madrid top these rankings based on the fact that they were the best side in the group stage, winning 5 out of 6 games, the only slip being a draw in Turin against Juventus. On the way they dished out a few hidings, 4-0 to Copenhagen, 4-1 and 6-1 to Galatasaray. Come May it will be 12 years since Zidane's volley in Hampden Park won title number 9, this year's final takes place in Ronaldo's home country and you can bet he's eyeing up what he believes to be his ultimate date with destiny.

The New Bosses

Unprecedented circumstances in the Premier League this summer as  the top three finishers from last season all changed managers over the summer. Rafael Benitez at Chelsea was only an interim manager anyway so his departure was always inevitable. Sir Alex Ferguson, having secured his 13th Premier League title, decided the time was right to finally walk away from Old Trafford and leave them in the hands of his chosen successor. Roberto Mancini was sacked as Manchester City manager in May following a trophy-less season, one year to the day after leading the club to their first league title in 44 years.

So we've had 15 league games to evaluate the new managers. How are they doing?

David Moyes - Manchester United

 After 15 games last season under Alex Ferguson, United were 1st with 36 points.

-After 15 games this season under David Moyes, United are 9th with 22 points.

Bedding in period has been tough for Moyes

The highest profile managerial departure of the summer was no doubt the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson after 27 years in charge at Old Trafford. Replacing him, and suffering comparison with his extraordinary record was probably the most undesirable job for any football manager but one that none of them could rightly refuse. Fergie was given the option to recommend his own successor and he picked his fellow Scot David Moyes, who was consequently dubbed 'The Chosen One'.

Ferguson didn't exactly leave Moyes with an easy job. A disgruntled Wayne Rooney, an ageing backline and an almost non-existent centre midfield were among the fires the younger Scot has had to fight over his first few months in Manchester. Rooney is back playing better than ever in his preferred position but yet to commit to the club long-term. Moyes has rotated his defence a lot, giving the likes of Evans and Smalling more games, Ferdinand and Vidic have not played together since September. The central midfield is still a massive issue. Injury to Michael Carrick has left them exposed lately and left Moyes relying on the 40 year old Ryan Giggs more often than he would have liked I'm sure.

Moyes transfer policy has not quite worked out

Moyes has shown a certain ruthlessness with regards to under-performing players. Anderson has barely featured since his abject showing in the defeat to West Brom. Ashley Young has suffered similar isolation following a few deplorable shows. Nani hasn't got much of a run either. Marouane Fellaini has found himself on the bench more often than not, despite being a Moyes favourite at Everton. Only a lack of any serious competition for places is keeping Tom Cleverley in the side right now. Moyes is much less patient with under-performers than Ferguson was. His introduction of teenager Adnan Januzaj into the side earlier on in the season highlights his complete lack of trust in his wingers.

Playing Phil Jones in midfield, which Moyes has shown a tendency to do lately, is a good move. He gives United an energy and a ferociousness that Carrick lacks. The two have the potential to be a fantastic pairing and I think when everyone's fit, they'll be his first choice pairing. That said, I can't see him letting January go by without attempting to make up for his failings in the summer transfer market. Expect an attempt to sign Atletico Madrid's playmaker Koke and/or Ander Herrera from Bilbao.

United under Moyes

An stunning 5-0 win in Leverkusen has papered over some cracks in Europe. United were unconvincing in both games against Sociedad and outplayed in Donestk. A different result in Germany would have them struggling to qualify from what looked a fairly straightforward group. United have topped the group however which is basically all they could do. Moyes deserves credit for this, it being his very first Champions League campaign.

In the league however, it's not gone well at all. Despite a 1-0 win over Arsenal, United now find themselves 13 points off the top of a league they won by 11 points last season. They can now forget about winning the title they've pretty much owned for 20 years under Ferguson and concentrate on the 'trophy' that is a 4th place finish. A Champions League season without Manchester United is almost an unthinkable scenario but it's what the club may have to face up to.

Verdict

The Chosen One has looked out of his depth, overwhelmed and tactically clueless at times. His first transfer window and a chance to make his mark on the team ended in embarrassing failure. Moyes doesn't seem to be earning the respect of the players who've all accomplished a lot more than he has. Hard to know how much time he'll be given as the owners have no history when it comes to failing managers. On thin ice.

Manuel Pellegrini - Manchester City

 After 15 games last season under Roberto Mancini, City were 2nd with 33 points.

 After 15 games this season under Manuel Pellegrini, City are 4th with 29 points.

The Engineer has gone about his work quietly

The most low-key by far of the three new arrivals, Pellegrini completed his long awaited move from Malaga in July, replacing Roberto Mancini at the Etihad. His low-key nature has continued so far as he's yet to cause any major headlines in England.

It's debatable how much of an impact, if any, Pellegrini had on City's summer transfers with quite a few of them being completed or virtually completed by the time he arrived. Nevertheless, Navas, Negredo and Fernandinho have all been excellent signings. Jovetic has yet to really be given a chance.

Perhaps the most notable decision Pellegrini has made with regards to team selection is to drop Joe Hart, England's No.1, from his side. Although it provoked debate throughout the country, it pretty much inevitable given his continuous poor form. He started the season with Dzeko up front but Negredo has since muscled his way in there. James Milner and Micah Richards are two who currently find themselves on the fringes of the team given the impressive form of those ahead of them.

I like the look of this City side under Pellegrini. They've mostly played a 4-4-2 with Jesus Navas on the right wing and David Silva or  lately Samir Nasri on the left side as an advanced playmaker. Fernandinho has been used in a purely defensive role and Yaya Toure has been given freedom to attack. The defence looks weak without Kompany and without the extra protection from midfield they had under Mancini, whose defensive mentality is well and truly gone from the squad now.

City under Pellegrini

City's inconsistency is remarkable. 100% at the Etihad averaging over four goals a game and yet only the 10th best away record in the Premier League, with a negative goal difference on their travels. The 14 points dropped away from home leave City 7 behind Arsenal at the summit of the table.

For the first time this season they've impressed in the Champions League. Pellegrini has a great record of overachieving with clubs in Europe, reaching the semi-finals with Villarreal and coming within minutes of repeating the feat with Malaga last season. Taking charge of a club which has so far underachieved in this competition, Pellegrini has matched Bayern stride for stride in the group stage and his side were one goal away from usurping them as group winners. Remarkably, it doesn't seem Pellegrini was aware of UEFA's head-to-head tie-breaking regulations and seemed to settle for the 3-2 win in Munich, not to be scoffed at. As a result of finishing as runners-up, City will now face a tough draw in the last 16.

Verdict

He's done pretty well. If he can improve their away form, City are capable of going on a title-winning streak. European form looks infinitely better than it did under Mancini and they are so much more enjoyable to watch. He still needs a trophy this season to justify the large investment made my the owners this summer.

Jose Mourinho - Chelsea

After 15 games last season under Di Matteo/Benitez, Chelsea were 3rd with 26 points.

After 15 games this season under Jose Mourinho, Chelsea are 3rd with 30 points.

"I want to be where I am loved"

Unlike the previous two managers, Mourinho's season opener against Hull was his 186th time to sit in the home dugout at Stamford Bridge as he returned to the club after a six year absence during which time both parties enjoyed a mix of success and frustration. Of the three new managers under scrutiny here, he's amassed the most points, has the best head to head record amongst the three and is the only one to have brought improvement to his side's points tally based on last year.

Upon his return, he announced himself as 'The Happy One', declaring he had mellowed and deciding under his own authority that he would fill the departed Sir Alex's role as the Premier League's Godfather, acting as a mentor for less experienced managers in the league. This charade didn't last beyond the opening week as he soon involved in a touchline bust-up with Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert. Normal service was quickly resumed and his targets in the media have included UEFA, Moyes, AVB, his old foe Pellegrini, his older foe Wenger, and perhaps his oldest foe and favoured punching bag Benitez. Even his own players can't escape with Torres, Hazard, Mata and the on-loan Lukaku coming in for public criticism.

He's done wonders for some players though. Oscar is continuing to blossom into a world-beater and the ever-present John Terry has already played more games this season than the entire previous  league campaign. Great managers bring out the best in great players and it seems that all the world-class talent that is Eden Hazard  needed was a top manager to give him that extra push.

Hazard: Massive potential finally being tapped

Leaving Juan Mata out of the team at the beginning of the season is a decision someone like Andre Villas-Boas or Rafael Benitez would have been crucified for, but the Chelsea fans trust Mourinho's judgement. Mata has since worked his way back into Mourinho's favour and now seems to have a regular berth in the side. The same challenge now faces Ashley Cole who has fallen foul of the boss and David Luiz. I don't think anyone is surprised that Mourinho hasn't favoured Luiz. When you talk about a 'Mourinho type of defender', he's probably the last name you'd think of.

Up front I'm sure Mourinho would love he had an extra striker. Neither Torres, Eto'o nor Demba Ba have shone for more than the odd game here and there. Expect movement in January or Schurrle to play a more central role.

Chelsea under Mourinho

In the league Chelsea have been most un-Mourinho-like in terms of their defence. They've already leaked more goals than during his entire first season in charge in West London, lost three games and came perilously close to losing his precious unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge, saved only by a contentious stoppage time penalty against West Brom.

In the Champions League they've cruised through a relatively simple group and will be  a force to be reckoned with in the knockout stages, probably going further than any of the other English sides due to Mourinho's European savviness. In both domestic cups too Chelsea will probably start as favourites. Jose has an incredible desire to win every single football match he's involved in. While other managers might tend to not take the FA Cup or League Cup quite as seriously, this mentality simply does not apply to Mourinho's Chelsea.

Verdict

 He has found the league a bit more difficult this time around. The squad he's inherited and not being able to spend what he wants to bring in his own players has been a big part of that but that's part of being a football manager. His activity during the next few transfer windows will go a long way to determining the success of the second Mourinho-Chelsea era. Despite falling short of his own high standards, he's still done the best job of these three.

Premier League Power Rankings - 15 Games

20. Sunderland

- Bottom of the table with 8 points from 15 games

- Dropped 11 points from winning positions this season

A mixed week at best for O'Shea

They're not playing as bad as they were under PDC earlier on in the season which should give fans some optimism. However they are still losing most games, 11 so far, the most in the division. They've picked up just 8 points in total. To put that into perspective, relegation rivals Palace picked up 6 in just four days last week. Sunderland are now 5 adrift at the bottom of the league. They need to start winning games to try get themselves out of this hole. Away to West Ham next Saturday would be a great place to start.





19. West Ham
- 17th in the table
- Lost to Crystal Palace on Tuesday and at Liverpool on Saturday

Red for Nolan on Saturday

After their gift of a goal to bring it to 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday, they did look from a while like they might grab an equaliser and make a game out of it. They couldn't, conceded two more goals and their misery was compounded when skipper Kevin Nolan was sent off for a malicious stamp on the back of Jordan Henderson's leg. That sort of reckless indiscipline from your captain is deplorable and Ravel Morrison's thuggish behaviour after Tuesday's loss is a sign of a clear lack of content at the Hammers right now. To top it all off they lost Stewart Downing to injury too (to a mistimed rather than intentional challenge). Andy Carroll's return can't come soon enough for big same.





18. Fulham
-  Replaced Martin Jol with Rene Meulensteen last week
-  Ended a run of 7 straight losses with a win over Villa on Sunday

Finally the boss - Rene

Martin Jol's reign ended with a shambolic collapse to West Ham last week. Rene Meulensteen's first week in sole charge has ended with a win over Villa and a narrow defeat to Spurs from which there were encouraging signs. One particular positive note is the apparent resurgence of Dimitar Berbatov under his old Manchester United colleague Meulensteen. So far this season he just hasn't fancied life at the bottom of the table, scrapping about for the odd point here and there but he looked revived and up for it on Sunday. Well, about as revived and up for it as it's possible for Dimitar to look. Trouble is, he's made quite loud noises about wanting out in January and performances like this will put him in the shop window. Fulham will probably get a few more good games out of him, then he'll be off to pastures new.





17. Crystal Palace
- Off the bottom of the table
- 3 wins in 4 games since the appointment of Tony Pulis

Palace are finally looking like a PL team

What an impressive impact Tony Pulis has had at this club. Only three weeks ago they looked like they were already looking ahead to next season in the Championship. With 9 points from 12 since his appointment, they're off the bottom and looking like they will at least make a fist of staying in the Premier League this season.

Cameron Jerome, who publicly criticised Pulis after playing under him at Stoke has found himself back in the manager's favour and back amongst the goals on Saturday as Palace secured a vital win against potential relegation rivals Cardiff. Marouane Chamakh was on hand to score his 2nd goal in a week. He has three now this season from only four shots on goal. Pulis has a proud record of never having been relegated as a manager and he looks very much like he intends to keep it this year.





16. Cardiff
- Just 2 points won in the last 5 games
-  Lost to Crystal Palace on Saturday, haven't scored in 3 games

Mackay is enduring a tough season

They're not scoring goals and, consequently, not winning games. Their last goal was Kim Bo-Kyung's stoppage time equaliser against Man United. They haven't won since Steven Caulker gave them that famous victory over Swansea in the derby on November 3rd. They've won many fans over this season by putting up a good fight against the big teams. They held United, beat City and ran Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs close until the final stages. This is an admirable quality in a team but if you give your all in those games, your unlikely to have a lot left for the games that really matter to their survival bid, against the likes of Crystal Palace where the results are far more important.





15. West Brom
- Lost at home to Man City and Norwich this week.
- Just 1 win in 9 since the success at Old Trafford.

Another home defeat for WBA

Steve Clarke left both Saido Berahino and Shane Long out of his starting XI at home to Norwich on Saturday which seemed a strange decision. He went with Victor Anichebee and the horribly out of form Stephen Sessegnon up front. This backfired. Despite creating a few decent chances, particularly in the 2nd half, West Brom suffered the indignity of another home defeat.

They had a couple of games they should have won but didn't at the start of November. This has turned into a winless streak of five games, three of which were at home. They are the 2nd biggest fallers in the Premier League from the table one year ago. Steve Clarke now finds himself unfortunately in the 'manager under pressure' category.





14. Stoke
- Just 1 defeat in 6 league games
- First league win over Chelsea in 38 years

'Ireland 32' was in form on Saturday

What is it about certain player manager combinations that bring out the best in players. In Italy, Arsenal flop Gervinho is enjoying a rejuvenation at Roma under his former Lille boss Rudi Garcia whilst in the much less glamorous surroundings of the Potteries, Stephen Ireland is getting his career back on track under Mark Hughes. Ireland came off the bench in the first half and played really well against Chelsea, scoring a goal and creating the chance for Assaidi to score his wonderful winner. Having had a breakout year under the Welshman in 08/09, Ireland has been pretty anonymous since Hughes left Man City in late 2009 and he consequently lost his place in the side under new boss Mancini. He's currently enjoying his best run of form since then having been reunited with Hughes.

Stoke overall seem to be in much better shape than last year. Players like N'Zonzi and Walters are playing better. Defensive solidarity is not quite what it was in their early Premier League days . If they can get that right they will be very tough to beat, particularly at the Britannia.





13. Norwich
- Beat West Brom 2-0 away on Saturday.
- 3 wins out of 5 since losing 7-0 at Man City

Norwich in the midst of a mini-revival

A turning point for Norwich was half time in the home game against West Ham on November 9th. They went in 1-0 down at home against another struggling side and had last week endured a 7-0 humbling at the Etihad. Defeat here would have been disastrous and perhaps have splelt the end for Chris Hughton, but they managed to turn it around and win 3-1. Since that evening, Norwich have looked a much better side.

The annual Luis Suarez pillage of them aside, they've looked pretty impressive in every fame since. On Saturday they withstood heavy West Brom pressure in the second half and scored a breakaway goal through Leroy Fer to wrap up the game. Gary Hooper had given them the lead early on with his third goal of this mini-revival. He's taken a while settling in but is now starting to replicate some of his Celtic form in the Premier League.





12. Hull
- First ever win over Liverpool a week ago
- Highest placed of all the promoted sides

Graham may have forgotten how to celebrate

It had been 342 days, 1626 minutes, almost 30 hours of football spanning 28 appearances for 3 different clubs but Danny Graham finally ended his monumental goal drought at Swansea on Monday night. Of course as Swansea are his previous club (the one he last scored for) he did the customary non-celebration so his delight was not so obvious.

Hull suffered a home loss to Crystal Palace a few weeks ago but aside from that they've been mostly consistent in their results. The win against Liverpool being the first real upset victory this season, they've lost to most of the top teams but generally done well against the teams around them in the table. They'll look to continue that against Stoke next week.





11. Man United
- 2 points from the previous 12
- 5 defeats from 15 games

Misery upon misery for David Moyes

A tweet I saw on Saturday summed up United's current in humorous fashion: "The transition from Ferguson to Moyes at Old Trafford has gone about as well as King Robert to Joffrey on the Iron Throne". This weekend one year ago, a last minute Robin van Persie free-kick at the Etihad sent Ferguson's Man United 6 points clear at the top of the table. This year, a Yohan Cabaye strike for Newcastle condemned David Moyes' United to another home defeat and left them 13 points of the top of a league they walked last year. Replacing 'The Godfather' was never going to be easy, but the job Moyes is doing is simply not up to standards.

Moyes seems really out of his depth here in pretty much every department. His training methods have been called out-dated by some. He was criticised by Rio Ferdinand this week for leaving his team announcements until matchday. His media handling seems bizarre with quotes about Shinji Kagawa eating too much this week being the latest in a string of 'Did you really just say that?' moments. Above all else his tactics and mentality are not up to scratch. Surely him saying he'd have taken a point from Cardiff should have set alarm bells ringing among the United faithful but saying before this game that they were going to 'make life difficult for Newcastle' was a step too far. You don't 'make it difficult' for visiting teams at Old Trafford, you go out there and dominate them. The underdog mentality he had at Everton should have been left there but it's obviously carried over.

It's hard to know how long Moyes will be given as the Glazers' have literally zero history of dealing with under performing managers. Given that he has a 6-year contract, I imagine he'll see out this season at least. Everton's success and United's decline since his switch has maybe revealed that he's not cut out to manage at the top level.

On the plus side, Class of 92 is a quality watch!





10. Aston Villa
- Five game unbeaten run stopped at Fulham on Sunday
- 5 points better off than this stage last year when they narrowly avoided relegation

Delph's first goal was worth the wait.

Chrisitan Benteke isn't scoring, and as a result Aston Villa aren't scoring. Aside from the bizarre win over Southampton, they've really struggled to hit the back of the net this year. It's worrying that the out-of-form Belgian is still their top scorer in the league with 4 goals. Gabby Agbonlahor doesn't score as much these days. He opened his league account for the season against Southampton. Big Czech striker Libor Kozak has picked up an injury too so its hard to see where Villa are going to get goals.

Villa's win over The Saints last Wednesday was similar to their triumph over Man City at Villa Park earlier in the season. They had just 25% possession during the game and just six shots on goal. But goals win games and Villa made their chances count, a wonderful breakaway strike from Fabian Delph, who's impressed in midfield this year, won them the game.





9. Swansea
- Look likely to advance to the knockout stage of the Europa League
- Yet to win consecutive league games this year

Shelvey worked his magic against Newcastle

Swansea, like Newcastle last season, are finding that their Europa League exploits on a Thursday night having quite the knock-on effect on their Premier League form the following weekend. They've failed to win any of their previous four league games off the back of a European tie and these include very winnable games against West Ham and Stoke. Whilst advancing as far as  possible in the competition will benefit the club in terms of revenue, it will probably continue to hurt the team in terms of league results.

Michu is back earlier than expected which is good news for them. They had been looking a bit short up front, particularly with Bony also absent. Jonjo Shelvey played in a forward role against Newcastle and did very well despite the fact that he should have been sent off. His footballing contribution was massive as Swansea ripped them apart. When they play well they're a very very good side. Just too inconsistent.





8. Southampton
- Ended a run of 3 defeats with a draw on Saturday
-  Conceded more goals in the 3 defeats than the rest of the season combined

Osvaldo produced a magical moment

The wheels have come off the Saints bandwagon recently. It all began with Artur Boruc's moment of madness at the Emirates which led to a Giroud goal and a defeat. They followed this up by surrendering a lead at Stamford Bridge before going down surprisingly at home to Aston Villa. The defensive discipline that was so stringent for the opening ten games seemed a distant memory as they conceded some very soft goals in these games.

The manner of their draw against Man City on Saturday will have been much more encouraging than the actual result as it proved that the previous run was merely a slump and not the whole bubble bursting. Southampton were on top for much of the game and probably should have won. Dani Osvaldo scored a brilliant goal, humiliating the best defender in the league and chipping a 6'8 keeper. It was his biggest contribution since his move to England, but didn't really do much else. He's undeniably got quality but I fear he's not as good a fit for this Southampton team as Ricky Lambert. He is making an effort to play their high tempo pressing game but seems to lack the fluidity and mobility which this attacking philosophy requires.





7. Spurs
- 7 points out of  last 9
- Two away wins to Fulham and Sunderland this week

Back to something like normality

Spurs have recovered well from their castration by Man City a few weeks ago. A draw at home to United has been followed up with two wins on the road. And four goals from open play, which have been hard to come by for Spurs this season. The four they managed against United and Fulham were all long range efforts. The two the got at Sunderland (albeit one an own goal) were both as a result of crosses. It's these type of goals that Soldado should have  been contributing whilst he was in the team.

Jermain Defoe started both of Spurs recent wins as AVB seems to have lost patience with his expensive Spaniard. He didn't score either game but looked very sharp at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Another who impressed was Paulinho, now playing in a much more suitable attacking midfield role. He should thrive here leaving Dembele and Sandro/Capoue to shield the defence.

Side note, Andre Villas Boas really needs some PR training. The media have a great deal of power in the game and its wise to keep them on side, regardless of how wrong you think they might be.





6. Newcastle
-  5 wins out of 6 in the league
- 3 points off a Champions League place

Cabaye was on the spot to beat United

Should we even be surprised at teams coming to Old Trafford and outplaying the home side anymore? Newcastle followed West Brom, Southampton and Everton in besting their  famous opponents at what was once such a dreaded venue for visiting sides. Yohan Cabaye ensured Newcastle won away at United for the first time in 41 years.

Pardew changed his tactics for the United game, omitting Shola Ameobi from attack and playing an extra centre midfielder in order to control the game. In all honesty he probably didn't even need to. Tiote was everywhere chasing down the ball and winning it back. Cabaye was excellent as usual. The pair are among the best centre midfield duo in the league. Newcastle weren't really troubled by United.

They were by Swansea as they collapsed to a pretty surprising 3-0 defeat in midweek, the only blotch in their recent results which have also included wins over Chelsea and Spurs. Pardew has some very capable French talent in his squad with serious Champions League ambitions. At the moment I don't seem them challenging for a Champions League spot (which unfortunately means Cabaye, Debuchy etc) may want to leave.





5. Chelsea
- 3rd defeat of the season against Stoke on Saturday
- Conceded 12 goals in the last 5 games

Schurrle has been somewhat underused so far

By the time Jose Mourinho had lost three league games in his first stint as Chelsea manager, it was March 2006 and his side were on the cusp of a second consecutive Premier League title. This time it's only taken until November of his first season, the defeat at Stoke, a place they normally do quite well, could prove vital come the end of the season.

They had a lot more trouble than they should have had midweek at Sunderland, the brilliance of Eden Hazard being the main reason they escaped with a 4-3 victory. Fernando Torres started that game and again on Saturday looking equally hopeless in both game. Andre Schurrle started against Stoke and contributed two goals. He's played up front for Germany before so perhaps he's another alternative to Chelsea's current crop of misfits up front. At the back, Cech made a costly mistake whilst they were leading. The 3 goals he shipped on Saturday makes it 17 for the season, already more than the entire 2004/05 season.

They will probably count themselves lucky to be only 5 points adrift of Arsenal considering how poor they seem to have been this season. They play the Gunners in two weeks and by then they could even be looking to leapfrog them if results go their way. Grinding out points without hitting your best form is the hallmark of a title-winning side. If they hit their stride in the new year we can expect a serious title push.





4. Man City
- 4 points from 2 away games this week
- Host leaders Arsenal next Sunday

Toure and Nasri both in top form

A win at West Brom and a good point at Southampton suggests that whilst they aren't anywhere near replicating their home form on the road, they are improving outside of Manchester. The win against West Brom, only their 2nd of the season away from home, should have been a lot easier than the scoreline suggests. City raced into a 3-0 lead before getting sloppy and giving away two goals in a frantic finale. Against Southampton they took the lead but were outplayed for much of the game and by their manager's own admission, lucky to escape with a draw.

City are still every bookies favourites to win the title with no one offering prices of better than 7/4. They're six points behind Arsenal whom they face next week. A win here is pretty much essential if they want to mount a serious title challenge in the new year. Don't be surprised to see them rest a few players midweek for what is surely an impossible mission in Munich. They must beat European Champions Bayern by more than 3 goals to top the group.

David Silva has been missing through injury for over a month now and Samir Nasri has started every game in that time and given Pellegrini a selection headache once the Spaniard is fit again. Nasri is universally unpopular amongst away fans but no one can deny he's playing wonderfully right now. Two more goals for him against Swansea last week capped off another fine performance. Yaya Toure has been impressive going forward too and Sergio Aguero's ridiculous run of form is going almost unrecognised due to the proficiency of another in-form South American...





3. Liverpool
- 2nd in the table on goal difference
- Luis Suarez has 14 goals in 10 league games

Take that Norwich! For whatever you did!

Is there a team in the Premier League more dependant on one player? And is there a better footballer in the league than Luis Suarez? Probably no. To both.

What is it about Norwich that brings out the best in him? He bagged his third hat-trick against them on Wednesday night with four goals, three of which were absolutely world class and the fourth itself probably a  goal of the week candidate any other week but this. If he keeps going at this rate he's going to smash the record for most goals in a Premier League season. The 38 game record currently stands at 31 set by Alan Shearer in 96 and matched by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Suarez is on track to better this, despite being suspended for the first 5 games.

Without him, or when he doesn't dominate games, they look a different side. They went down meekly to Hull a week ago when he had an off day. With Steven Gerrard joining Daniel Sturridge on the sidelines after the weekend, their dependence on their Uruguayan will be greater than ever. The defence looks pretty creaky. It seems that simply hitting the ball near Martin Skrtel in the 18 yard box is enough to earn opponents a goal against them. They look pretty awesome at home as they did in their prime under Benitez of 07-09. Away form will determine whether or not they can break back into the Champions League places.





2. Everton
- 4 points from trips to Old Trafford and The Emirates
- A single defeat all season, fewer than anyone

First Old Trafford win in 21 years

A lofty position, but anyone who has seen either of their past three league games would find it hard to argue against this ranking. Everton have been phenomenal recently and probably deserved to have added Arsenal's scalp to United's this week. The mental block Roberto Martinez talked about of not being able to beat the big sides away from home is well and truly gone.

The victory against United had an element of smash and grab about it. They were under the cosh for stages of the game and looked like they might concede early in the 2nd hald. But the defence held firm and they capitalised late on to strike through Bryan Oviedo, overall they were good value for the win. They played even better at the Emirates, outplaying Arsenal in the first half before the hosts got back in the game and took the lead. Going 1-0 down with ten minutes left away to the league leaders would be the end of most teams but not this Everton side. They showed amazing resilience to equalise through Deulofeu, who will not look out of place in the Barcelona side next year, and might even have snuck a winner late on through Lukaku.

Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman both deserve to be singled out for praise too. Both were brilliant against Arsenal. Kevin Mirallas was impressive against United too. One big problem for Everton is that three of their key players (Deulofeu, Barry and Lukaku) are all only on loan and two at least are expected to be wanted back by their parent club next season. This is not really ideal in when it comes to long-term building but Martinez is a clever manager and with him in charge they'll have no trouble finding replacements. Surely a Manager Of The Year candidate.





1. Arsenal
- 5 points clear at the top
- Beat Hull and drew with Everton at the Emirates this week

Slowly becoming 'runaway' leaders

Week by week they are further emphasising their title credentials. This particular week they navigated a potentially tricky visit to Cardiff with relative ease, rotated the team to play Hull but again won with relative ease and took a point from an enthralling clash with an in-form Everton.

Against Everton they did look 2nd best for most of the opening hour but started to impose themselves on the game and looked like they would nick it when Mesut Ozil struck on 79 minutes, only to be denied by a moment of brilliance from the magical Gerard Deulofeu. Player of the season so far Aaron Ramsey was rather quiet on Sunday but destroyed Cardiff all by himself the week before and contributed greatly against Hull in midweek. Bacary Sagna was a notable absentee through injury. He's been excellent this season and they'll hope he won't miss too long.

Amazing that despite them being the only team in the Premier League to show any sort of consistency, people still rank Chelsea and Manchester City as title favourites ahead of the Gunners. Should they become the first side this season to take anything other than a beating from the Etihad next week then even the most stringent doubters might start to believe that this threat is genuine.