Chelsea have all but locked up the league title, and Liverpool legends are criticizing the team’s owner. How’s the rest of the league faring?
20. Arsenal (LW: 18)
In the biggest game of the season, one which had major implications on the title race, the Gunners fell so flat, it’s hard to tell if they were ever upright. Solely for their part in solidifying what looks to be a boring homestretch at the top of the table, Arsenal are dead last this week.
19. Middlesbrough (LW: 19)
Whence will Boro find a consistent scoring presence? Another tough match against a good opponent resulted in another 1-0 loss, and Middlesbrough continue to languish.
18. Sunderland (LW: 20)
Jermain Defoe scored two first half stoppage time goals in leading the 4-0 route over Palace, again proving that he’s an unstoppable force amidst a sea of readily movable objects. Afterward, David Moyes advised Jack Rodwell, loser of 39 consecutive starts until this match, to start dominating games. Easy!
17. Bournemouth (LW: 16)
The Cherries played too poor of a first half against Everton to make up the ground in the second, which was much tighter and far more organized. Bournemouth still have yet to win since New Year’s Eve and could be putting themselves in serious danger of the relegation zone if they don’t steady the course.
16. Watford (LW: 15)
They made it tougher than it needed to be when they conceded a penalty in the second half, but the Hornets pulled out a one-goal victory against Burnley. M’Biaye Niang scored on his home debut, and Walter Mazzarri is confident he can get the best out of the Milan loanee.
15. Southampton (LW : 9)
The Saints underwhelmed against West Ham, Manolo Gabbiadini’s insane debut goal aside. The defense in particular looked mostly lost on the Hammers’ goals, but no matter: word is that the Saints are close to signing former Juventus and Barcelona defender Martin Caceres on a free transfer, and not a moment too soon.
14. Tottenham (LW: 12)
Spurs escaped with a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough, and though he didn’t have to do anything, Hugo Lloris registered another clean sheet. That seemingly instilled enough confidence in Real Madrid to turn their attention to Lloris, who just signed a new long-term contract in December.
13. Stoke (LW: 10)
The tie with West Brom was bound to be contentious, given the nature of Saido Berahino’s move, and Ryan Shawcross was more than willing to (ahem) stoke the flame. Following the loss, Mark Hughes was evidently upset with Tony Pulis’ lack of a handshake, or he wasn’t.
12. Chelsea (LW: 13)
Chelsea played the hand they were dealt, and now they sit atop the table with a nine-point cushion. Equally unsurprising was the retirement of long-time beacon Frank Lampard. Happy trails, Lamps.
11. Manchester City (LW: 17)
After scoring a game-winner in stoppage time against Swansea, the emergence of Gabriel Jesus has raised some questions about Sergio Aguero’s long-term place at the club, with the latter already proclaiming his allegiance to the Citizens. It’s likely up to Pep Guardiola to measure one against the other over the next three months, but Aguero is still the team’s leading scorer.
10. Hull (LW: 14)
The Marco Silva revival tour continues, the Tigers’ 2-0 victory over Liverpool capping off yet another strong performance. Though it will be tough to escape relegation after digging such a tremendous pit, Hull look to be rounding into form at just the right time.
9. Burnley (LW: 6)
A questionable red card for Jeff Hendrick proved fatal for what then became a 10-man Clarets side. Following an encouraging run over the past two months, Burnley begin a tough stretch at home against the league leaders on Saturday. Joey Barton is already hedging against a potential no-show performance.
8. Manchester United (LW: 5)
The Devils delivered a resounding 3-0 victory over the reigning champions Leicester, edging them closer to the top four. Word then broke that Antoine Griezmann’s advisors would find a move to United in the summer “ideal.” I feel similarly about my own move to United in the summer.
7. West Brom (LW: 7)
Did the Baggies leak the drug test that got Saido Berahino banned? The forward, who hadn’t played since September, finally found a way out of the Hawthorns, only to end up right back there just in time for a 1-0 loss. Tony Pulis’ men looked typically tidy in their dismantling of the Potters.
6. Everton (LW: 11)
Romelu Lukaku rules everything around us. Following his four-goal performance in the win over Bournemouth, it’s safe to say Lukaku has had enough of second-billing to the Zlatans and Costas of the world. Not to be outdone, Tom Davies came away with Player of the Month honors for January.
5. West Ham (LW: 3)
Winners of six of their last 10, the Hammers rebounded from an ugly loss to City a week ago to handily defeat Southampton. With Dimitri Payet finally gone, Slaven Bilic saw fit to turn to Andy Carroll as his talisman. With whispers of Roberto Mancini waiting in the wings, Bilic’s confidence was rewarded.
4. Swansea (LW: 1)
Swansea fell just short of an upset bid against City, and Gylfi Sygurdsson fell similarly short in Premier League Player of the Month voting. Paul Clement expressed his disappointment in the officiating during the match, particularly in the build-up to Gabriel Jesus’ winning goal.
3. Crystal Palace (LW: 4)
What to make of the Eagles? Palace followed up what skipper Sam Allardyce called their “best” performance, a 2-0 win over Bournemouth, with a 4-0 loss to Sunderland. Again, they’re in the relegation zone, perpetually unable or unwilling to show fight after conceding the first goal.
2. Leicester (LW: 8)
Following a 3-0 loss at home to United, the Foxes are just a single point above relegation. Goalkeeper Kaspar Schmeichel spoke out about the team’s recent run, and major questions are arising at King Power Stadium with regard to the players’ loyalty to Claudio Ranieri.
1. Liverpool (LW: 2)
A 2-0 loss to Hull drew criticisms from the likes of Jamie Carragher and Didi Hamann, among others. Carragher specifically denounced the Reds’ lack of depth, directing his jibes at owner John Henry. The cracks are becoming valleys at Anfield.