Premier League Power Rankings
Premier League heads toward the new year. Chelsea have built a sizable lead, but how did the rest of the league fare?
20. Hull (LW: 19)
Dieumerci Mbokani pinged Hull’s best chance of the day off the post. That is, until Andrew Robertson and Robert Snodgrass each had spinetingling near-misses for the Tigers.
19. Swansea (LW:18)
It simply was not to be for the Swans, despite Fernando Llorente’s best efforts. He and Gylfi Sigurdsson each had a notable look at goal without converting, but Swansea’s troubles extended far beyond those in attack.
18. Sunderland (LW: 20)
Jermain Defoe has always been the linchpin of the Sunderland attack, and he finished his break with the pass that led to Patrick van Aanholt’s decisive strike. Just enough free kick defense held the line for the Black Cats, who nevertheless remain in the relegation zone for now.
17. Crystal Palace (LW: 17)
Palace did well to test Chelsea in unfavorable conditions, executing timely clearances and lulling the Blues defense at times. Yohan Cabaye had perhaps the best chance of the day for the Eagles, whose excellent goal differential seems to speak to a team slightly better than their record, which includes four losses out of the last five.
16. Leicester (LW: 14)
That the Lions managed to come back from two down with less than 20 minutes remaining long after Jamie Vardy garnered a red card is plenty impressive. That the Lions had to do that at all, however, is problematic and sheds light on many issues boiling underneath the surface. Claudio Ranieri’s men should never have been in that position in the first place, and with perhaps the toughest stretch of the season coming in January, a continued lack of discipline will hinder them.
15. West Ham (LW: 16)
The Hammers benefitted from a lack of finishing touch from their opponents, and Michail Antonio found himself in the right place at the right time to draw a penalty. Mark Noble knocked home what ended up being the only goal of the day as West Ham won its second straight.
14. Burnley (LW: 11)
A splendid bit of team play, as well as a lucky bounce or two, saw the ball land at the feet of Ashley Barnes, whose sliding shot rocketed the opener under Hugo Lloris. Unfortunately, too many cracks in the Claret defense ultimately doomed them.
13. Stoke (LW: 13)
Bojan nailed the penalty following a handball. Joe Allen found himself exactly where he needed to be, slotting home a rebound to put Stoke ahead by two just after halftime. Still, the Potters should have won the game after being up two goals and with Leicester down a man.
12. Middlesbrough (LW: 15)
Alvaro Negredo continues to shock and amaze, his brace the focal point of Boro’s dominating performance. Naturally, he added a late yellow card for a foul on Jay Fulton for good measure.
11. Bournemouth (LW: 12)
Nathan Ake’s diving header opened the scoring, and it looked as though Joshua King would add a second before launching his shot directly at Fraser Forster. From there, the Cherries lost momentum and let the match slip, having now alternated wins and losses each week since the beginning of November.
10. Watford (LW: 10)
Nordin Amrabat would surely like another shot at Etienne Capoue’s corner, one which he redirected with a curl harmlessly toward Jordan Pickford. Though Watford had other chances, especially on free kicks and corners, this was arguably the best. Walter Mazzarri’s squad continues to have a severe problem generating sustainable offense.
9. Everton (LW: 8)
At home against a formidable Liverpool side, Everton deserves credit for dragging Liverpool to its level for most of the match. A Ross Barkley challenge on Jamie Henderson incited a scuffle, and it seemed that the Toffees would gain some momentum. Alas, they fell in stoppage time — more dropped points in an increasingly wayward season.
8. West Brom (LW: 9)
The Baggies had trouble slowing United’s attack, which spelled danger for their own offensive movements. They only managed one shot on goal at home, inconsistency beginning to become the norm for Tony Pulis and his men.
7. Southampton (LW : 7)
Early missteps aside, Southampton played a well-balanced game, building plays from the back and capitalizing on the counter. Jay Rodriguez’s second-half brace made the difference, and his first was the result of spellbinding trickery deep among the Bournemouth defense.
6. Manchester United (LW: 6)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic simply cannot stop scoring. It took five minutes for his first, a magnificent header courtesy of Jesse Lingard, who was marvelous throughout the first half. The Swedish giant tacked on another in traffic in the second half, in case there was any doubt whatsoever.
5. Tottenham (LW: 4)
The insane shot differential – 30-5, in Spurs’ favor – spoke to an overall effort which the score does not. Dele Alli and Danny Rose were the beneficiaries of two lovely bits of teamwork, their goals making up for the difference and bestowing three points to the home side.
4. Arsenal (LW: 2)
During the holiday season, we take care to remember the most important traditions. In that spirit, Arsenal has begun its annual march toward disappointment. Even after Theo Walcott gave the Gunners a lead on the road, it was not enough, and Arsenal has fallen from second to fourth in the table.
3. Manchester City (LW: 5)
David Silva played in a sensational ball, dropping behind the Arsenal defense, which led to Leroy Sane’s first goal for Man City. Raheem Sterling finished from an impossibly tight angle in the box for the winner. Kevin De Bruyne has been one of the best playmakers in the Premier League this season, and this game was a testament to that.
2. Liverpool (LW: 3)
Out of the jaws of defeat arrived victory, courtesy of Sadio Mane’s rebound off a Daniel Sturridge effort. As with any potential title challenger, the Reds’ consistency in the second half of the season will be key. The good news? Jurgen Klopp hopes Philippe Coutinho could return in time for Liverpool’s New Year’s Eve clash with Man City.
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1. Chelsea (LW: 1)
In the low-hanging fog at Selhurst Park, it was Cesar Azpilicueta’s high, curling cross that Diego Costa met with his head, redirecting it for the only goal of the game. Costa has now scored in three of the last four league matches, and Chelsea is well clear at the top of the table.
Author’s Note: Despite the Premier League’s insistence on continuing play through the holidays, there will be no new power rankings until after the new year. Happy holidays and a wonderful new year to you and yours.