English Premier League 2009-10 Prediction and Analysis

Current league position: 3rd

Matches played: 9 (6W-1D-2L)

Earlier brief prediction: Chance of winning the league is there but it's slim. At the same time, the possibility of Arsenal dropping out of top four is small.

My updated prediction hasn't changed much. Arsenal doesn't look like they will drop out of the top four like what some people predicted ahead of this season. The team looks strong as the young players have all risen to a level capable of beating any team in the world.

Skipper Cesc Fabregas is becoming more and more important to the team. He has had four goals in the league so far and has made an impressive number of nine assists—leaving him top in the assist table.

Thomas Vermaelen is proved to be another great signing. He is not just reliable defensively, but he also gets goals for his team. He is currently the defender with most goals (four goals) in the Premiership.

Robin van Persie is already entering the peak of his career and he is currently undoubtedly one of the best strikers in Europe. Already scored four league goals thus far, the Dutch forward is expected to score more throughout the season.

And another positive thing for Arsenal is that all the players are fired up wanting to do well. I could see the burning determination in players like Niklas Bendtner, Emmanuel Eboue, and William Gallas who want to prove the critics wrong.

The setback for Arsenal is however, the fitness of Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky. I can't remember when was the last time this duo stay fit for a long period of time. However, Samir Nasri is declared fit again. The French midfielder, who is yet to make any appearance for Arsenal this term, is sure to give Wenger more options.

Updated detailed prediction: 15 percent top two finish, 70 percent 3rd or 4th spot finish, 15 percent outside top four.

Current league position: 7th

Matches played: 9 (5W 2D 2L)

Earlier brief prediction: Chance of breaking into the top four is near zero. Face a reasonably high risk of missing a Europa League qualification spot.

The consistent team in the Premiership, Aston Villa are a tough team to beat but I don't expect them to pose a serious threat of challenging for a top four finish.

Having beaten both Chelsea and Liverpool, Aston Villa are a side capable of getting respectable results.

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young remain the two prized assets of the club. Agbonlahor has scored five league goals thus far.

But apart from the duo, James Milner has also sealed his spot in the starting line-up. Having started all of Aston Villa's nine league matches so far, Milner's contribution to the team includes a goal and three assists—making him the Aston Villa player with the most assist.

And when Stewart Downing returns and makes his debut at the end of the year, that might be some additional spark for Aston Villa in a bid to improve their league position.

Updated detailed prediction: 50 percent Europa League finish, 50 percent 8th to 10th spot.

Current league position: 15th

Matches played: 10 (3W 1D 6L)

Earlier brief prediction: Probably will escape the relegation battle throughout the season. Mid-table finish is possible.

Despite not being the best-place team among the newly-promoted teams, I still believe that Birmingham City will be the best-placed among the trio come the end of the season.

The Blues certainly have a squad good enough to stay in the top flight, and to create problems to bigger teams that play against them.

Updated detailed prediction: 90 percent 11th to 17th finish, 10 percent relegation.

Current league position: 16th

Matches played: 9 (3W 1D 5L)

Earlier brief prediction: Anywhere in the top half is near impossible, but they are pretty much safe from the threat of relegation at the same time.

The only time fans took notice of them this season was when Chelsea and Arsenal trashed them.

Still looking for their first point away from home, I don't expect Blackburn to go anywhere far from the lower section of the table this season.

Possess reliable decent players though. However, the squad still lacks quality needed to finish at the top half.

Updated detailed prediction: 70 percent bottom five finish, 30 percent 11th to 15th finish.

Current league position: 12th

Matches played: 9 (3W 2D 4L)

Earlier brief prediction: Bottom half but far from relegation zone.

Always a difficult opponent to play against, I expect them to be involved in mid-table battle, overtaking each other throughout the season.

Squad lacks quality.

Updated detailed prediction: 15 percent 8th to 10th finish, 80 percent 11th to 15th finish, 5 percent bottom five finish.

Current league position: 11th

Matches played: 10 (4W 0D 6L)

Earlier brief prediction: Set to be struggling in the relegation zone throughout the season, bottom five finish is very likely.

Despite having quite a good start for a promoted team, Burnley are expected to slide down the table slowly.

They are strong at home, winning four out of five league home matches so far, including one over Manchester United. However, they lost all five away matches this season.

Updated detailed prediction: 45 percent 11th to 15th finish, 55 percent bottom half finish.

Current league position: 1st

Matches played: 10 (8W 0D 2L)

Earlier brief prediction: Will be consistently in the title race throughout the season. Stand a very high chance of winning the league title.

Current league leaders, Chelsea are looking strong and stand a high chance of winning the league title this year, as my initial prediction had suggested.

Have a large squad with lots of reliable players. Didier Drogba has been in fiery form, scoring eight league goals so far. Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka, and Michael Ballack all have three goals each.

Michael Essien is super solid, Florent Malouda is also playing well, and Joe Cole is getting his games back. Everything seems so positive at Stamford Bridge at the moment.

However, their big test will arrive on January next year when key players like Essien and Drogba will be away for one month for the Africans Nation Cup. Jon Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou won't be available as well.

That could be the month where Chelsea lose a little bit of momentum that could inflict a big damage to the team. But if they can cope with that, the remaining months will be easier for Ancelotti's men.

Updated detailed prediction: 60 percent top two finish, 40 percent 3rd or 4th finish.

Current league position: 14th

Matches played: 9 (3W 2D 4L)

Earlier brief prediction: Demanding for a top four finish might be too much, a Europa League qualification spot is very likely.

Not the best of start for Toffees but that is no big deal for David Moyes and the players. They didn't start of their precious seasons with a bang as well but always managed to rise back to the top half come the end of the season.

A very consistent squad capable of beating any team in the Premiership, Everton are expected to gain their momentum soon and start building on their league position.

Louis Saha has been good thus far, netting five times in the league already. Mikel Arteta hasn't featured in any league game yet and when he does, it is going to be a major boost for the Merseyside club.

Updated detailed prediction: 20 percent Europa League finish, 80 percent 8th to 10th finish.

Current league position: 13th

Matches played: 9 (3W 2D 4L)

Earlier brief prediction: Face a difficult task to better last season's position, likely to move up and down the mid table throughout the season.

Unlike last season, Fulham's defence so far has not been good enough. More is expected from Brede Hangeland throughout the season.

Fulham lacks reliable strikers and that could hinder them from finishing in a Europa League qualification spot again.

Updated detailed prediction: 30 percent 8th to 10th finish, 70 percent bottom half finish.

Current league position: 18th

Matches played: 10 (2W 2D 6L)

Earlier brief prediction: Realistic chance of avoiding relegation, bottom half of the table.

Hull currently have the worst goal difference among the twenty Premiership teams.

The loss of Michael Turner hurt the team a lot. But despite having Geovanni tied to a new deal and the attacking midfielder has scored three league goals so far, I'm afraid that is not enough for Hull to avoid battling against relegation.

Updated detailed prediction: 35 percent 15th to 17th finish, 65 percent relegation.

Current league position: 5th

Matches played: 10 (6W 0D 4L)

Earlier brief prediction: It all depends on the players availability throughout the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see them winning the league or dropping out of the top four.

Despite beating fierce rival Manchester United in their latest outing, six wins and four losses in the first ten league games doesn't look at all.

Lack of squad depth is seen as the main problem. Liverpool don't have reliable players to step up whenever Fernando Torres and/or Steven Gerrard are injured.

But then again, Liverpool are a team capable of doing something big out of nothing.

Fernando Torres has scored nine league goals so far and Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt, and Steven Gerrard all have three each.

There is no was why Liverpool won't win the league if Torres and Gerrard stays fit throughout the season.

Apart from that, Alberto Aquilani's debut is much awaited not just by Liverpool fans, but also fans of other teams. Many can't wait to see the Italian midfielder in action—whether he can or cannot fill the void left by Xabi Alonso.

Another summer signing Glen Johnson has been good so far. Not great yet, but his performance has been good nevertheless. Good at going forward helping attack and is beginning to develop defensive awareness under Rafa Benitez's guidance as well.

And Yossi Benayoun has cemented his place in the starting line-up of Liverpool. His creativity lifts burden away from Gerrard and Torres, and is always capable of producing something with his magical feet.

Updated detailed prediction: 20 percent top two finish, 65 percent 3rd or 4th finish, 15 percent outside top four.

Current league position: 6th

Matches played: 9 (5W 3D 1L)

Earlier brief prediction: Hard to say at the moment, but qualifying for Europe is more than likely. Whether it's Champions League or Europa League, it depends on how well the players gel.

One of the four Premiership teams yet to lose at home, Manchester City's summer spending has brought a positive outcome thus far. No doubt that the inclusion of new faces like Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott, and Emmanuel Adebayor has strengthened the team a lot.

Not to mention that the likes of Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland, who are also doing well at the moment.

Bellamy and Adebayor have four league goals each thus far.

They are now a team with reliable players in all positions, which is a reason why Manchester City might not be just going after the fourth spot.

Updated personal prediction: 35 percent top four finish, 55 percent Europa League finish, 10 percent 8th to 10th spot.

Current league position: 2nd

Matches played: 10 (7W 1D 2L)

Earlier brief prediction: Fourth straight title is likely but I wouldn't be surprised to see them ending up at the base of top four. The race between the top teams is going to be close, with little points separating the teams.

The defending champions have just lost the top spot to Chelsea after crashing to a 2-0 defeat in the hands of Liverpool at Anfield.

However, the Red Devils still stand a very realistic chance of winning their fourth consecutive title and hence, becoming the most successful club in England.

Wayne Rooney has got six league goals so far but I believe his goal per match ratio will improve very soon.

New boy Antonio Valencia is also beginning to gel with the rest of the team.

Probably their only slight weakness lies in their centre-midfield.

Updated detailed prediction: 40 percent top two finish, 55 percent 3rd or 4th finish, 5 percent outside top four.

Current league position: 20th

Matches played: 10 (1W 1D 8L)

Earlier brief prediction: Bottom half finish.

Other teams would love to play at home, but not Pompey at the moment.

They have lost all their five league home matches so far. With only four points from ten games, Portsmouth look likely to struggle throughout the campaign, getting involved in the relegation dog-fight.

Although they have lost key players like Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch in the summer, there is still a light of hope in the current crop of players to deliver.

Updated detailed prediction: 10 percent 11th to 14th finish, 60 percent 15th to 17th finish, 30 percent relegation.

Current league position: 9th

Matches played: 10 (4W 3D 3L)

Earlier brief prediction: Struggle at the base of the table throughout the season.

The surprise package in the first ten matches, Stoke are sitting on the ninth spot after two months.

Like Burnley, I predict that Stoke will slide lower down as the season progresses. The big question is by how far?

Updated detailed prediction: 80 percent 11th to 15th finish, 20 percent bottom five finish.

Current league position: 8th

Matches played: 10 (5W 1D 4L)

Earlier brief prediction: Bottom half finish.

The Black Cats have always been one of the underachieving Premiership teams in recent season.

After ten games, Sunderland are at a respectable 8th spot.

The deadly partnership of Darren Bent-Kenwyne Jones has produced 13 goals for Sunderland in the league thus far. That's 72 percent of Sunderland's league goals!

Michael Turner, Lorik Cana, and Lee Cattermole were all good signings and Sunderland could well end up in a Europa League qualification spot if they get things right.

Updated detailed prediction: 15 percent Europa League qualification, 50 percent 8th to 10th finish, 35 percent 11th to 15th finish.

Current league position: 4th

Matches played: 10 (6W 1D 3L)

Earlier brief prediction: Top half finish guaranteed, very likely to finish top seven.

Definitely the dark horse this season, Spurs are on the fourth spot in the league table at the moment.

Sebastien Bassong and Peter Crouch were indeed good signings and Wilson Palacios has been superb.

The return of Luka Modric will also provide Harry Redknapp with enough options when teams head into the time of the season with heavy fixtures.

Updated detailed prediction: 10 percent top four finish, 70 percent Europa League finish, 20 percent 8th to 10th finish.

Current league position: 19th

Matches played: 9 (1W 3D 5L)

Earlier brief prediction: Mid-table finish.

The Hammers are currently lying in the second place from the bottom, a very disappointing display by Gianfranco Zola's men so far.

However, I don't think West Ham will be haunted by the fear of relegation throughout the season though, They will get out of there soon and climbs up the table.

Carlton Cole is their main weapon up front and Robert Green is always reliable. In general, West Ham have a squad good enough to upset any team in the Premiership.

Updated detailed prediction: 30 percent 8th to 10th finish, 60 percent 11th to 15th finish, 10 percent bottom five finish.

Current league position: 10th

Matches played: 10 (4W 1D 5L)

Earlier brief prediction: Mid-table finish, higher end of the bottom half.

Currently sitting at the top half of the table, the Latics are expected to finish in the mid-table.

A good squad with decent players. Hugo Rodallega, who already has five league goals so far is expected to score the goals needed for Wigan to stay away from the relegation zone.

Updated detailed prediction: 10 percent 8th to 10th finish, 90 percent 11th to 15th finish.

Current league position: 17th

Matches played: 10 (2W 3D 5L)

Earlier brief prediction: Battling relegation throughout the season.

Wolverhampton have a realistic chance of staying in the top flight.

However, their squad lack the spark that can help them to get results against bigger opposition.

Updated detailed prediction: 5 percent 11th to 14th finish, 30 percent 15th to 17th, 65 percent relegation.