Premier League Week 5 Power Rankings
Manchester City lead the Premier League, having yet to drop points, but how do the other 19 teams stack up?
20. Stoke City (LW: 20)
The carnival of human misery rolls on for Stoke, who were dismantled for four goals. Marko Arnautovic caught a sleeping Palace defense for a stoppage time consolation, but this train is going nowhere, fast.
19. Bournemouth (LW: 15)
In fairness, it could have been much worse for Bournemouth against the league leaders, but surrendering four is still horrendous. Even after Nolito was sent off late in the second half, the Cherries could do nothing. They never looked comfortable.
18. West Ham (LW: 17)
In one of the more surprisingly exciting matches of the weekend, the Hammers managed to dominate possession while giving up four goals. Michail Antonio continues his varied assault on Premier League goalkeepers. His goal brought his seasonal tally to five in as many games.
17. Sunderland (LW: 19)
A late red card for Manchester United loanee Adnan Januzaj notwithstanding, Sunderland played a disciplined and well-rounded game that nearly netted them points at White Hart Lane. A blown clearance led to the goal which sunk them, but otherwise the Black Cats defended well.
16. Burnley (LW: 14)
Though Ben Mee’s own goal was not particularly egregious, it likely put a halt to any notions of a comeback Burnley may have been fostering. Keeper Tom Heaton was under attack most of the afternoon, with little help from his back line.
15. Middlesbrough (LW: 12)
Alvaro Negredo’s aggressiveness on their goal aside, Middlesbrough had trouble stringing plays together and registered a total of zero shots on goal. Boro also suffered from disciplinary problems, and were too often beaten by straightforwards combinations on the wing.
14. Swansea (LW: 8)
Perhaps it was because they were away from home, but Swansea looked out of sorts. An already subdued attack could not generate anything on the counter, with Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson positively stifled.
13. Southampton (LW: 13)
Substitute Charlie Austin finished a Dusan Tadic cross for the goal, which proved to be decisive. Fraser Forster directed a sturdy back four and kept the clean sheet. Notably, Shane Long drew a yellow card and still has yet to score this season.
12. West Brom (LW: 18)
From the start, West Brom looked well in control, gunning out to a three-goal lead by halftime which included a sparkling James McClean finish from a corner. After netting another, the Baggies allowed their opponents back in to the match with two quick goals, cutting their lead in half. Holding the result to 4-2 and securing all three points showed massive resolve.
11. Hull (LW: 9)
Hull simply could not get the ball from Arsenal’s midfield and seemed more content to lie back in defense. Dieumerci Mbokani drew a crucial penalty that Robert Snodgrass finished to cut the lead in half late, but Hull proceeded to immediately give up two goals, ending their chances of a comeback.
10. Crystal Palace (LW: 16)
After beginning the season with two losses and a draw, Palace have now won each of their last two games, scoring six goals combined.
9. Watford (LW: 11)
Etienne Capoue’s strike to beat David de Gea was well-placed and he showed excellent poise. Better still was the Hornets’ reaction to giving up the equalizer; namely, going back ahead and having Troy Deeney put the final nail in United’s coffin with a late penalty.
8. Leicester (LW: 10)
Islam Slimani could not have been better on his Premier League debut. With Jamie Vardy drawing much of the defensive attention, Slimani headed in a Christian Fuchs cross and finished another from close range. The Tigers never let up in attack, building patient plays and making smart runs in the final third.
7. Manchester United (LW: 4)
In what should have been a relatively easy stroll following the loss to Manchester City the week previous, United never got their feet under them. Marcus Rashford displayed immaculate awareness for his equalizer, but Jose Mourinho’s team failed to go ahead after that. The Red Devils’ frustration became evident when Marouane Fellaini, Memphis Depay and Wayne Rooney all drew yellow cards in the closing minutes.
6. Chelsea (LW: 7)
Diego Costa is as punctual a finisher as he is temperamental an aggressor. With a relatively easy finish off a Nemanja Matic delivery, the striker now has five goals in five Premier League games this season. Chelsea’s defense played a much better second half than their first.
5. Tottenham (LW: 3)
Though Spurs held nearly three-quarters of the possession, they could only manage a single goal courtesy of Harry Kane cleaning up a missed clearance. Tottenham’s shot generation was encouraging, with nine on goal, but their finishing ability left something to be desired.
4. Liverpool (LW: 5)
The cliche that 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in soccer very nearly caught up with Liverpool, who jumped out to that score in the first half. When Jordan Henderson bent in a marvelous finish on an errant clearance, Stamford Bridge fell silent. Jurgen Klopp’s team was able to hold the lead after surrendering one to nab all three points on the road.
3. Arsenal (LW: 2)
After applying heavy pressure early, Alexis Sanchez finished a rebounded ball to put the Gunners up 1-0. Arsenal dominated the game from there and likely should have had a larger halftime lead, but goals from Theo Walcott and Granit Xhaka helped ease the pressure on Sanchez, who netted a brace. Mesut Ozil continues to have an indelible influence in the Arsenal midfield.
Next: Premier League Week 5 roundtable
2. Everton (LW: 6)
Negredo challenged Maarten Stekelenburg in the air early, with the latter dubiously coming away with an own goal, but Everton responded almost immediately. Seamus Coleman’s go-ahead effort just before halftime was especially cunning. Through five games, the Toffees have only dropped two points and are undefeated.
1. Manchester City (LW: 1)
Another week, another win for Pep Guardiola’s sky blue squad. The Citizens took control early on a Kevin de Bruyne free kick, and a splendid counterattack gave them two goals on the way to a 4-0 victory. Raheem Sterling is playing exceptionally well, notching a goal and an assist on Saturday.