Premier League interesting rankings: City still top, Burnley at it again
Manchester City pass a big test while Burnley continue their unbeaten streak. Here’s our updated Premier League interesting rankings.
20. Southampton (Last Week: 19)
The Saints drop to last place in our rankings thanks, in part, to a 2-1 away loss against former most-boring-Premier-League-team Stoke. Southampton are now level on points in the table with Stoke, falling to 12th place. Taking over for West Brom as dead last in our interesting rankings is actually pretty impressive, and the Saints should definitely not be proud of it.
19. West Brom (LW: 20)
The Baggies escape the basement floor of these rankings after they drew with Watford 2-2 Saturday at the Hawthorns. West Brom were moments away from their third win of the season but decided to give up a goal in the 95th minute. Oh dear. Anyway, they’re still very boring.
18. Leicester (LW: 13)
Leicester continue their descent into the boring abyss after a scoreless draw with Bournemouth. The Foxes conceded 60 percent of possession and managed one shot on target. They’re winless in their last five Premier League matches, losing three. Leicester are one spot above the drop zone in 17th place. All of that is bad. I’m happy to report, however, that The Villain Jamie Vardy did not score this week.
17. Swansea (LW: 15)
The Swans have scored one goal in their last four league matches. They didn’t score a goal against West Ham on Saturday at London Stadium. Swansea allowed the game-winning goal in the 90th minute to secure the loss. Paul Clement and his players are having a rough go at the moment. They will hope to turn things around against visiting Huddersfield in their next match.
16. Bournemouth (LW: 18)
The Cherries collected a point without scoring a goal on Saturday against Leicester, although Jermain Defoe pinged the woodwork. Bournemouth are currently in 19th place on four points. Nineteenth place is effectively last place in the table since Crystal Palace don’t qualify as a real soccer team anymore.
15. Everton (LW: 12)
Wayne Rooney came off the bench as Everton fell 1-0 to upstarts Burnley at Goodison Park on Sunday. The Toffees just can’t find the back of the net. They have four Premier League goals, tied for third worst, and only two different players have scored. That’s not very effective or interesting.
14. Stoke (LW: 17)
Peter Crouch may be 36 years old but he’s still out here scoring game winners. He scored his second league goal of the season 15 minutes after coming on to hand Stoke their first win in five tries as they beat Southampton 2-1. Currently in 13th, the Potters are now level on points with the 12th-place Saints. Unfortunately for them, Stoke now get to travel into the belly of the beast as they visit Manchester City following the international break.
13. Brighton (LW: 11)
The Seagulls fell 2-0 to an improving Arsenal side at the Emirates on Sunday. Brighton weren’t terrible but the difference in talent was quite noticeable. Interesting rankings favorite Solly March did hit the post, but the Seagulls would only muster one shot on target. They’ll feel better about their chances as Everton limp into the Amex the other side of the international break.
12. West Ham (LW: 16)
West Ham climbed out of the relegation zone and up our interesting rankings this week as they beat Swansea 1-0. The Hammers left it late, however, as substitutes Arthur Masuaku and Diafra Sakho combined for the winner in the 90th minute. They bumped up to 15th place in the league table, and are only three points behind ninth-place Newcastle. A couple more decent performances could see them settle into a good spot.
11. Huddersfield (LW: 8)
It breaks my heart to move Huddersfield out of the top 10 in these rankings, but the Terriers are winless in their last five, including two losses. One of those losses came on Saturday as they were dismantled by Tottenham 4-0. It was their first loss at John Smith’s Stadium this season. Here’s hoping they can bounce back against Swansea when the Premier League returns in two weeks.
10. Crystal Palace (LW: 14)
I don’t care what any of you say, Crystal Palace are amazing. And by amazing I mean the worst Premier League club that has ever existed. A week after getting embarrassed by City 5-0, the Eagles rolled over for the other Manchester club, losing 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday. Now they have to travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea for their next match. I feel really bad for Crystal Palace supporters but I am positively giddy to see how long they can go without scoring a goal or earning a point.
9. Watford (LW: 4)
The Hornets really let us down this week. Drawing with West Brom? Really Guys? And it took a 95th-minute equalizer from Richarlison to secure the point. Anyway, Watford are still in eighth in the league table, and just a point outside the top four, but Arsenal come to town for their next match. I’m warning you again, Hornets, don’t mess around and get bumped to the bottom half of the interesting rankings.
8. Newcastle (LW: 10)
Newcastle got a big result Sunday, holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw. Joselu’s second goal of the season equalized for the Magpies in the 36th minute. They were able to hold off the Reds for the rest of the match and hold onto an important point. DeAndre Yedlin watch: started and played the full 90 for the third straight Premier League match.
7. Liverpool (LW: 5)
The draw with Newcastle left Liverpool in seventh place. They’ve only won once in their last four matches. But Philippe Coutinho did do this. That makes it three straight matches with a goal in all competitions (including Liverpool’s midweek draw with Spartak Moscow in the Champions League) for the Brazilian. I think it’s safe to say he’s all the way back. But it probably won’t matter how good Coutinho is next time out, because United are coming to Anfield.
6. Tottenham (LW: 9)
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to be Harry Kane at the moment. OK, not in the looks department, but you know what I mean. Kane scored a brace against Huddersfield on Saturday after scoring a hat-trick in Champions League play against Apoel on Tuesday. He has six goals in seven Premier League games this season (is that good?). Tottenham have the most points of any non-Manchester club right now and sit in third place. They may even break their Wembley curse in their next match, at home against Bournemouth.
5. Arsenal (LW: 7)
Arsenal fans will be breathing a bit easier after the Gunners put away Brighton 2-0 for their third win in four matches. They’re now up to fifth place in the table, tied on points (13) with fourth-place Chelsea. Nacho Monreal got a rare goal and Alex Iwobi finished off an insane back-heel pass from Alexis Sanchez to give Arsenal the win on Sunday.
4. Chelsea (LW: 3)
The defending champs weren’t punished that much in these rankings for losing 1-0 to Manchester City on the weekend (losing Alvaro Morata for an extended time period is punishment enough). Mostly because any team that holds City to one goal should be commended. It was their second loss of the Premier League season. For reference, they only lost five all of last season. That being said, they’re only one point behind third-place Spurs and get to take their frustration out on poor old Crystal Palace this Saturday.
3. Burnley (LW: 6)
Folks, I have some news: Burnley are at it again. They held on against Everton to collect all three points on Sunday. The Clarets are now in sixth place and one point out of the top four. They’ll feel confident of extending their current five-game unbeaten streak against Newcastle at Turf Moor in two weeks.
2. Manchester United (LW: 2)
Oh look, another 4-0 United win. Had it been against any other club besides Crystal Palace it may have moved them back into first place in the interesting rankings. Alas, that was the minimum they should have scored. Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku book-ended a Marouane Fellaini brace (wait, what?) to ensure the Red Devils kept pace with their crosstown rivals.
Next: GoT characters as Premier League players
1. Manchester City (LW: 1)
City made it five in a row Saturday, beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. They’re certainly the team to beat at the moment. A wonderful left-footed rocket from Kevin De Bruyne was all they needed to outlast the defending champs. But they had a firm hold on the game, enjoying the lion’s share of possession and taking 17 shots, six on target. The Citizens will expect to get back to winning by four or five goals next week as they host Stoke on Saturday.