English Premier League Power Poll: Week 6

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Clint Dempsey finally got his big stage, and the Deuce's big goal gave Tottenham Hotspur a famous win at the weekend.

But was that enough to move Spurs to the top of this week's B/R English Premier League Power Poll? Or did Chelsea hold onto the top spot for another week?

Keep reading for our rankings of every team in the English Premier League.

Methodology

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For these rankings, the voters cast their ballots based on the "power rankings" style.

That means voters ranked each club based on which teams they thought were the best, keeping in mind recent results and the league table.

Eight B/R personalities voted in this week's poll, and all the votes were counted on a points system. A first-place vote counted as 20 points, a second-place vote as 19 and so on.

 

Explanation of terms

Points: The total number of points the team received via our voters' rankings. A first-place vote counted as 20 points, a second-place vote as 19 and so on.

Last-place votes: The number of last-place votes the team received from our voters.

First-place votes: The number of first-place votes the team received from our voters.

Last week: The team's ranking in the previous poll.

Table: The team's position in the English Premier League table, along with current points total. Click here for the full table.

Results: The team's results since our last rankings.

Fixtures: The team's upcoming matches.

Meet the Voters

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Aliko Carter: B/R front-page editor. @AlikoCarter

John Greely: B/R front-page editor. @johnwgreely

Adam Hirshfield: B/R deputy editor. @ahirshfield

Dan Levy: B/R national lead writer. @DanLevyThinks

Brad Read: B/R world football newsletter. @ReadBrad

Sean Swaby: B/R featured columnist coordinator. @seanswaby

Will Tidey: B/R world football lead writer and editor. @willtidey

Michael Cummings: B/R world football lead writer and poll organizer. @MikeCummings37

20. Queens Park Rangers

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Points: 9

Last-place votes: 7

Last week: 19

Table: 20th, 2 points

Results: Lost 2-1 home to West Ham

Fixtures: At West Brom, Saturday

QPR lost again this week, and it's time to start wondering if this team just isn't as good as their expensive and impressive-looking roster would suggest.

Dan: Dear Queens Park Rangers, instead of the little engine that could, you're suddenly the big engine that can't.

19. Reading

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Points: 22

Last week: 20

Table: 19th, 2 points

Results: Drew 2-2 home to Newcastle

Fixtures: At Swansea, Saturday

Reading still haven't won a match, though that probably wouldn't be true if the ref had spotted a certain Demba Ba handball over the weekend.

18. Norwich City

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Points: 24

Last week: 18

Table: 18th, 3 points

Results: Lost 5-2 home to Liverpool

Fixtures: At Chelsea, Saturday

Norwich, Reading and QPR are the league's only winless clubs. They also occupy the bottom three spots in the league table and our rankings.

17. Southampton

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Points: 32

Last week: 16

Table: 17th, 3 points

Results: Lost 3-1 at Everton

Fixtures: Home to Fulham, Sunday

If nothing else, watching Southampton is entertaining. Through six matches, the Saints have scored 10 goals and allowed 18.

With high-scoring Fulham (13 goals scored so far) visiting this weekend, more fireworks seem inevitable.

16. Wigan Athletic

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Points: 37

Last-place votes: 1

Last week: 15

Table: 16th, 4 points

Results: Lost 1-0 at Sunderland

Fixtures: Home to Everton, Saturday

After another loss, Wigan's annual appointment with the relegation scrap is looking likelier.

Dan: Every week, I wonder why Roberto Martinez didn't leave for a better job when he was wanted.

15. Aston Villa

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Points: 49

Last week: 17

Table: 15th, 5 points

Results: Drew 1-1 home to West Brom

Fixtures: At Tottenham, Sunday

There's not a lot to be excited about with this team, but coming from behind to draw with high-flying rivals West Brom is a baby-step in the right direction.

14. Swansea City

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Points: 57

Last week: 11

Table: 11th, 7 points

Results: Lost 2-0 at Stoke

Fixtures: Home to Reading, Saturday

Remember when Swansea were mowing down all opponents at the beginning of the season? Yeah, neither do we.

Sean: Swans' dream start is fading away in a hurry.

13. Liverpool

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Points: 70

Last week: 14

Table: 14th, 5 points

Results: Won 5-2 at Norwich

Fixtures: Home to Stoke, Sunday

We all knew they were capable of that kind of game. Now we'll find out whether Liverpool can sustain a run of results.

John: That's more like it! Suarez needs to put on his Canary-tinted glasses every match.

12. Stoke City

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Points: 73

Last week: 13

Table: 12th, 7 points

Results: Won 2-0 home to Swansea

Fixtures: At Liverpool, Sunday

Stoke picked up a victory last weekend, and, rather inexplicably, it's been a couple weeks since Tony Pulis' team has drawn a match. How very contrarian of the Potters.

11. Sunderland

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Points: 74

Last week: 12

Table: 13th, 7 points

Results: Won 1-0 home to Wigan

Fixtures: At Man City, Saturday

Sunderland, the league's other draw specialists, picked up their first victory at the weekend. Steven Fletcher has scored all five goals for the Black Cats.

10. Fulham

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Points: 89

Last week: 7

Table: 9th, 9 points

Results: Lost 2-1 home to Man City

Fixtures: At Southampton, Sunday

With the potential for lots and lots of goals, the Cottagers' match at Southampton could be the under-the-radar game of the weekend.

9. Newcastle United

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Points: 97

Last week: 8 (tie)

Table: 10th, 9 points

Results: Drew 2-2 at Reading

Fixtures: Home to Man United, Sunday

Demba Ba can't stop scoring, in part because it's apparently kosher for him to use his hands in the other team's box. Hey, when you're in the zone, you're in the zone.

Dan: They should be better than 10th in the standings, shouldn't they? Maybe they need to give out more extensions.

7. (tie) West Bromwich Albion

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Points: 104

Last week: 6

Table: 6th, 11 points

Results: Drew 1-1 at Aston Villa

Fixtures: Home to QPR, Saturday

West Brom's fast start has slowed a bit, but Steve Clarke's men still qualify as one of the league's surprise packages.

7. (tie) West Ham United

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Points: 104

Last week: 10

Table: 7th, 11 points

Results: Won 2-1 at QPR

Fixtures: Home to Arsenal, Saturday

Monday's win over QPR put West Ham above Arsenal in the table. The two clubs will play this weekend in a suddenly tasty London derby.

6. Arsenal

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Points: 121

Last week: 4

Table: 8th, 9 points

Results: Lost 2-1 home to Chelsea

Fixtures: At West Ham, Saturday

It was all looking so good for Arsenal—until the old Gooners showed up again.

Sean: Missed offensive opportunities? Giving up goals on set pieces? Diaby hurt? OK, this is the Arsenal we've all gotten to know oh so well.

Mike responds: Yeah?! Well, yeah, you're kinda right.

Dan: I know it's early, but one loss in the league and still mired in eighth place seems like a terrible start, even though it's entirely mediocre.

5. Tottenham Hotspur

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Points: 132

Last week: 8 (tie)

Table: 5th, 11 points

Results: Won 3-2 at Man United

Fixtures: Home to Aston Villa, Sunday

Spurs recorded the result of the weekend by winning at Manchester United. It was the club's first win at Manchester United in 23 years.

Sean: Clint Dempsey wanted to showcase his talents on the biggest stage(s) possible. I think Old Trafford qualifies as a big stage.

Adam: Yes, they only had about three percent of the possession against United last weekend, but this is a very, very solid side top to bottom with semi-serious European aspirations.

4. Manchester United

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Points: 133

Last week: 2

Table: 3rd, 12 points

Results: Lost 3-2 home to Tottenham

Fixtures: At Newcastle, Sunday

United lost to Tottenham at the weekend, but somehow remained above Spurs in our rankings. How's that now?

Adam: I know, I know...how can they be ahead of Spurs? Well, the Red Devils dominated the game when they wanted to, they've been more impressive outside of that matchup and they have a higher ceiling as the season goes on. Still, their defense—especially Rio Ferdinand—is getting exposed more regularly than Kate Middleton in British lad mags. Seriously, Google it...Actually, don't.

Sean: United's defense and midfield have been exposed all season. In Spurs, they finally faced a team strong enough to expose them in whole.

Dan: Losses to Spurs and Everton are not how Sir Alex wanted to start this season. Or any season.

3. Manchester City

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Points: 141

Last week: 5

Table: 4th, 12 points

Results: Won 2-1 at Fulham

Fixtures: Home to Sunderland, Saturday

City left it late against Fulham, but ultimately deserved victory. Now, Roberto Mancini must figure out a way to shore up his defense. City still haven't kept a clean sheet this season.

Adam: They've looked surprisingly beatable at times, but it almost feels like they're playing dead with their opponents. I have a bad feeling they're going to go on a long winning streak at some point this season.

2. Everton

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Points: 152

Last week: 3

Table: 2nd, 13 points

Results: Won 3-1 home to Southampton

Fixtures: At Wigan, Saturday

The Toffees were a unanimous second-place pick after yet another victory. Can the strong start continue?

Or is this the new normal for Everton?

John: Is this Everton team for real? In a league with a whole bunch of flawed title challengers, these Toffees are looking mighty promising right now.

Dan: There is another shoe, somewhere, waiting to drop.

1. Chelsea

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Points: 160

First-place votes: 8

Last week: 1

Table: 1st, 16 points

Weeks at No. 1: 5

Results: Won 2-1 at Arsenal

Fixtures: Home to Norwich, Saturday

Another win and another week at the top of the B/R power poll for Chelsea. The Blues beat Arsenal and once again earned every first-place vote from our panel.

Adam: Drogba who?

Dan: Nearly a perfect start to the season, with just a draw to QPR as the lone blemish from perfection. QPR. I love this sport.

 

Follow @MikeCummings37