Premier League mid-season power rankings: Arsenal slip, Spurs soar
The second half of the Premier League season gets underway this weekend after a busy holiday slate. Chelsea remain top, but how do the rest of the teams rank?
The Premier League’s hectic holiday schedule is now behind us, and it’s time to look ahead to the second half of the season. Chelsea remain the team to beat, despite seeing their 13-match winning streak brought to end by Tottenham in their first match of 2017. But the race for the top four has never been tighter, and the relegation scrap looks to be as hotly contested as always.
20. Hull
Former Olympiacos skipper Marco Silva stepped in for Mike Phelan and immediately grabbed an FA Cup victory against Swansea, but don’t expect much to change in league play. Silva has a monumental task ahead of him to keep the Tigers from getting relegated, and the second half of the season features some of their toughest matches.
19. Crystal Palace
Palace played Arsenal more closely than the 2-0 scoreline indicates on New Year’s Day, and they carried that momentum into their next match with Swansea. After falling behind, Wilfried Zaha equalized, only for Palace to relinquish agonizingly minutes later.
18. Swansea
Off the bench, Angel Rangel found himself on the end of a Leroy Fer ball and snatched a valuable victory for the Swans. With Bob Bradley gone mere weeks after arriving, Swansea remain in danger of relegation, and every point is vital in the second half of the season for the Welsh club.
17. Sunderland
The Black Cats have taken to falling behind early in matches and finding themselves woefully unable to dig out of the deficit. Sunderland scored only three goals in all of December, though a 2-2 draw with Liverpool to begin this year showed signs of life.
16. Leicester
Islam Slimani has been a notable bright spot for this year’s Foxes, and his goal sealed a Claudio Ranieri-approved victory over West Ham to close out 2016. Their Premier League season looks much like the team’s history prior to 2015-16, but the magic remains in Europe, where Leicester have an upcoming home tie with Sevilla in the round of 16.
15. Watford
Since their thrilling 3-2 victory over Everton a month ago, the Hornets have had a tough go of things. Two losses in the first three days of 2017 set a poor precedent, and Watford will have to push against the rising tide to keep from falling into danger of relegation.
14. West Ham
A statement 4-1 victory over Swansea completed a run of three straight league victories for the Hammers before losses to Leicester and Manchester United. West Ham have rarely shown anything approaching their exciting form of last season, but they’ve been picking up just enough points not to be seriously worries about relegation.
13. Middlesbrough
Boro have won two games out of their last 11 across all competitions. They have the talent to beat nearly anybody (their performances against Arsenal and Manchester City were both impressive) but they rarely put it all together. Momentum is going to be key for Aitor Karanka’s side, and right now, it’s against them.
12. Burnley
The Clarets had a decent December, taking winnable games and challenging superior clubs. Burnley face one of the easier January schedules in league play and could substantially improve their position with an upset victory or two, in addition to the games they should win anyway.
11. Southampton
Southampton stumbled through the holiday fixtures, losing three in a row to Tottenham, West Brom and Everton. The biggest concern was the performance of their formerly imposing defense. Claude Puel’s side conceded nine goals in those three games and center-back Jose Fonte has since handed in a transfer request. All is not well with the Saints, despite a talented squad.
10. Stoke
Conceding four goals in consecutive games is no admirable feat, even when the opponents are Liverpool and Chelsea. Stoke’s shaky backline was at its weakest then, but a comfortable 2-0 victory against Watford in their next match showed the Potters at their best. As with Southampton, the problem with Stoke isn’t talent, but consistency and focus.
9. Bournemouth
But for an extra time stunner from Olivier Giroud, the Cherries would’ve had their biggest victory of the season in the first game of 2017. As it stood, a draw was a fine result, and Eddie Howe’s men remain one of the toughest clubs to beat in any given match.
8. Everton
The away draw with Hull to close out 2016 was perfectly representative of how Everton have been thus far: so much good undone so quickly by a few extraordinarily untimely mistakes. Even so, a 3-0 win over Southampton to begin this calendar year showed a team still hungry for success.
7. West Brom
Following a tough 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Boxing Day, the Baggies have shaped up and capitalized on necessary opportunities for points. Beating teams like Hull and Southampton may seem a prerequisite for serious consideration as a European challenger, but West Brom followed through nevertheless and look to remain formidable opposition in the second half of the season.
6. Manchester United
It feels like United haven’t lost in years, doesn’t it? Weeks after Jose Mourinho was nowhere to be found after getting ejected during a draw with West Ham, the Red Devils are the hottest team in the Premier League, sitting within shouting distance of the top four. This run is the most they’ve looked like a Fergie side since the days of Sir Alex himself.
5. Arsenal
The Gunners went two matches without giving up a goal, and have since nearly lost to both Preston North End in FA Cup play and Bournemouth in the league. Arsenal’s yearly slippage is like clockwork. Given the strength of the teams around them, however, this is the first time in decades it could cost them a Champions League spot.
4. Manchester City
A grueling New Year’s Eve loss to Liverpool gave way to a 2-1 victory over Burnley that was nearly as challenging. Sergio Aguero remains as indefatigable in front of goal as ever.
3. Tottenham
Spurs took a massive step forward in their most recent match, a 2-0 victory over rivals Chelsea which will likely stand as the flashpoint of the Dele Alli revolution. With his magnificent brace against the league leaders, Alli’s rise to preeminence in the Premier League has its “Beatles on Ed Sullivan” moment, albeit on a Wednesday.
2. Liverpool
Liverpool followed up a necessarily stubborn 1-0 victory over Man City with a disappointing draw at Sunderland. Of note, Sadio Mane looked good in the latter game, scoring what should have been the decisive goal. He’ll now head to the African Cup of Nations for what could be up to a month, which certainly won’t help the Reds.
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1. Chelsea
Despite stumbling on Jan. 4 against Tottenham, the Blues remain five points clear at the top. Prior, comfortable wins over Bournemouth and Stoke gave Antonio Conte’s men the cushion they needed for an inevitable stumble, whenever it would arrive.