English Premier League Power Poll: Week 9

Chelsea remain atop the English Premier League table, but after losing a controversial home match to Manchester United, did the Blues maintain their lead in our power rankings?

Read on to find out in this week's edition of the B/R English Premier League Power Poll. Inside, we have rankings for all 20 teams.

Here are the past week's results:

Chelsea 2-3 Manchester United

Newcastle 2-1 West Brom

Southampton 1-2 Tottenham

Everton 2-2 Liverpool

Man City 1-0 Swansea

Arsenal 1-0 QPR

Reading 3-3 Fulham

Stoke 0-0 Sunderland

Wigan 2-1 West Ham

Aston Villa 1-1 Norwich

Click here for the latest league table.

Methodology

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.

Six 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 time: The team's ranking in the previous poll. Click here for the previous rankings.

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

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

Points: 7

Last-place votes: 5

Last time: 19

Table: 20th, 3 points

Results: Lost 1-0 at Arsenal

Fixtures: Home to Reading, Sunday.

QPR came close to taking a point off Arsenal at the Emirates last weekend. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar turned in a sterling performance, but Mark Hughes' team was undone by a missed offside call and a moment of madness from Stephane Mbia.

Rangers have been propping up the table since losing 2-1 at home to West Ham on Oct. 1. Might that change this week against fellow strugglers Reading?

Sean: Stephane Mbia...do you want your downtrodden side relegated?

19. Southampton

Points: 12

Last-place votes: 1

Last time: 18

Table: 19th, 4 points

Results: Lost 2-1 home to Spurs

Fixtures: At West Brom, Monday

Southampton have allowed a league-worst 26 goals. That's almost three per match.

Who says football doesn't have enough scoring?

18. Reading

Points: 18

Last time: 20

Table: 18th, 4 points

Results: Drew 3-3 home to Fulham

Fixtures: At QPR, Sunday

Reading experienced almost every emotion in a dramatic, high-scoring game against Fulham in the league over the weekend—then went one step further against Arsenal in the League Cup.

If nothing else, the Royals have produced plenty of excitement in their return to the top flight.

17. Aston Villa

Points: 24

Last time: 17

Table: 17th, 6 points

Results: Drew 1-1 home to Norwich

Fixtures: At Sunderland, Saturday

Off to their worst start since 1969, the draw against Norwich at Villa Park isn't exactly what the doctor ordered.

Yes, it's early, but with results like this, the Claret and Blue might be near the relegation zone for the long haul.

16. Norwich City

Points: 29

Last time: 15

Table: 16th, 7 points

Results: Drew 1-1 at Villa

Fixtures: Home to Stoke, Saturday

Unlike their rivals Villa, an away draw isn't a bad result for the Canaries. The 1-1 scoreline—thanks to a late tying goal from defender Michael Turner—was also a nice slap in the face to ex-manager Paul Lambert, who left Norwich for Villa after the 2011-12 season.  

15. Wigan Athletic

Points: 38

Last time: 16

Table: 15th, 8 points

Results: Won 2-1 home to West Ham

Fixtures: At Spurs, Saturday

The Latics earned their second win of the Premier League campaign going two goals up, then holding on against top-10 side West Ham.

Also on the positive side, Shaun Maloney is among the league leaders with three assists.

On the negative side, they head to White Hart Lane this weekend.

14. Stoke City

Points: 45

Last time: 14

Table: 13th, 9 points

Results: Drew 0-0 home to Sunderland

Fixtures: At Norwich, Saturday

Last week we predicted a 1-1 draw between Stoke and Sunderland.

Apparently, we gave both clubs too much credit.

Sean: 0-0 draws for Stoke: As constant as gravity. 

13. Sunderland

Points: 46

Last time: 13

Table: 14th, 9 points

Results: Drew 0-0 at Stoke

Fixtures: Home to Villa, Saturday

Stoke and Sunderland couldn’t be separated on the pitch. In our rankings, the difference between the clubs is a single point.

12. Swansea City

Points: 51

Last time: 12

Table: 11th, 11 points

Results: Lost 1-0 at Man City

Fixtures: Home to Chelsea, Saturday

Swansea kept it tight against champions Manchester City. The reward: a home date against leaders Chelsea.

11. Liverpool

Points: 65

Last time: 11

Table: 12th, 10 points

Results: Drew 2-2 at Everton

Fixtures: Home to Newcastle, Sunday

Liverpool were denied three points against Everton by a bad offside call. Victory would have really sparked the turnaround.

As it is, the Reds are steadily improving.

Will: A few bright spots for Rodgers' revolution.

Dan: It's a shame what happened on the offside call at the end of the Everton match. I actually think the referees may have it out for Luis Suarez, which is terrible, but not hard to believe.

10. West Ham United

Points: 67

Last time: 6

Table: 9th, 14 points

Results: Lost 2-1 at Wigan

Fixtures: Home to Man City, Saturday

West Ham have been one of the league’s pleasant surprises this season, but last weekend’s loss at Wigan was a surprise of the unpleasant sort.

9. Newcastle United

Points: 73

Last time: 10

Table: 10th, 13 points

Results: Won 2-1 home to West Brom

Fixtures: At Liverpool, Sunday

Does Liverpool’s visit on Sunday count as a marquee matchup or a midtable snoozer? Just asking.

8. West Bromwich Albion

Points: 74

Last time: 7

Table: 8th, 14 points

Results: Lost 2-1 at Newcastle

Fixtures: Home to Southampton, Monday

West Brom have lost two in a row, which raises a couple questions.

Is this the beginning of the expected slide down the table? Or should we give the Baggies credit for hanging tough at home to Manchester City and at Newcastle?

7. Fulham

Points: 82

Last time: 8 (tie)

Table: 7th, 14 points

Results: Drew 3-3 at Reading

Fixtures: Home to Everton, Saturday

Never a dull moment when the Cottagers are playing.

Sean: That Berba bloke's still got it, apparently. 

6. Arsenal

Points: 90

Last time: 8 (tie)

Table: 6th, 15 points

Results: Won 1-0 home to QPR

Fixtures: At Manchester United, Saturday

What a match that was Tuesday night against Reading in the League Cup. Now the question is whether the Gunners have anything left for Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford.

Also, how great was it to see Jack Wilshere playing again in the Premier League?

Sean: Arsenal got "back on track" thanks to an offside goal against relegation fodder. At least...Jack's back?

5. Everton

Points: 96

Last time: 4

Table: 5th, 16 points

Results: Drew 2-2 home to Liverpool

Fixtures: At Fulham, Saturday

That makes three straight league draws for Everton, and in fairness the Toffees would have lost if Luis Suarez’s late goal had not been ruled out incorrectly for offside.

David Moyes must right the ship if Everton are to remain in the race for a Champions League spot.

Dan: The freefall has begun. They are already out of the top four and a bad result away from the middle of the table. Fellaini coming back should help, but they need to get back on track soon.

4. Tottenham Hotspur

Points: 101

Last time: 5

Table: 4th, 17 points

Results: Won 2-1 at Southampton

Fixtures: Home to Wigan, Saturday

Spurs have won four of five in the league and should expect to win again at home to Wigan on Saturday. Is a sustained winning run ahead?

Will: In Clint they trust.

Sean: Clint Dempsey wanted to play in Europe's top competition. Because of him, Spurs may just get there.

3. Manchester City

Points: 109

Last time: 3

Table: 3rd, 21 points

Results: Won 1-0 home to Swansea

Fixtures: At West Ham, Saturday

Manchester City have won four straight matches, and with all the controversy surrounding the game at Stamford Bridge over the weekend, it was easy to miss the fact that Roberto Mancini’s men are just one point off the top of the table.

Another encouraging fact: For all of City’s so-called struggles this season, the Blues are the league’s last unbeaten team.

Will: Not pretty, but they keep on winning.

Dan: Now the only team in the EPL without a loss. As "bad" as they have been, they are still in great shape to win the league, which means Mancini will be facing the firing squad all season.

2. Chelsea

Points: 116

First-place votes: 2

Last time: 1

Table: 1st, 22 points

Results: Lost 3-2 home to Man United

Fixtures: At Swansea, Saturday

Chelsea lost at the weekend but remained atop the league table. Up next is a tricky trip to Swansea City. Can the Blues bounce back?

If so, there's a chance Roberto Di Matteo's team could reclaim their previous perch atop the B/R EPL Power Poll. Until then, Mark Clattenburg might have become the most unlikely name to affect the title race significantly this season.

Dan: Their comeback against United was classic and the referees really screwed them out of a point. Could Chicharito's offside goal be an eventual league-deciding event?

Adam: If ever there were a time for John Terry to renegotiate his contract, this would be it. The Blues' defense looked more lost on Sunday than Flight 815.

Sean: With his luck, Fernando Torres would have been ruled offside where Chicharito wasn't. Probably would have been his hair's fault. 

1. Manchester United

Points: 117

First-place votes: 4

Weeks at No. 1: First week

Last time: 2

Table: 2nd, 21 points

Results: Won 3-2 at Chelsea

Fixtures: Home to Arsenal, Saturday

The all-or-nothing theme continues for United, who have won seven matches and lost two this season. Those 24 goals scored look mighty impressive, but the 13 allowed create cause for concern.

Adam: I honestly don't think they'll be in the top spot for long, but I have to put them No. 1 after beating Chelsea. "Bad red card," blah, blah, blah. "Offside Chicharito," blah, blah, blah. I know, I know. But the Red Devils dominated the first third of this match, and they hung in despite playing the EPL's top side at Stamford Bridge.

Will: Finally some drive and purpose against Chelsea.

Sean: They get the top nod this week to avoid the THEY-JUST-FREAKIN'-BEAT-CHELSEA-SO-SHOULD-BE-HIGHER counter argument. United's prolific attack is bailing out a glaringly porous defense and midfield. 

Follow @MikeCummings37