Premier League Table 2013 Week 8: Updated Standings Following Matchday 7

With Liverpools easy 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday and a 1-1 draw by Arsenal at West Brom, we have a tie atop the Premier League table. 

Both teams have 16 points, which is good enough to give them a two-point lead over Chelsea and Southampton. 

Saturday's other action included Manchester City beating Everton, 3-1, Newcastle taking down Cardiff City, 2-1, Fulham besting Stoke, 1-0, Hull City and Aston Vila plying to a draw and Manchester pulling out a 2-1 win over Sunderland. 

Sunday followed up with Chelsea cruising 3-1 over Norwich City, Southampton beating Swansea, 2-0 and West Ham trouncing Tottenham, 3-0.

Take a look at the table following all of this action and then we'll continue our discussion. 

While Liverpool's stay at the top may be very short, that shouldn't change the promise that is growing in Anfield. After a wild season of expressed unhappiness and a desire to leave was followed by serving out a suspension to start the year, Luis Suarez is finally on the pitch for Liverpool, and it is working well. 

It took Suarez just 13 minutes to net a quality opener against Crystal Palace. Just four minutes later, his running mate, Daniel Sturridge netted the game's second. 

It is the power of that combination that tells us this team is in a position to contend all campaign. Sturridge has now scored a goal in eight of his nine matches this season. He has also now scored 19 in 24 games with Liverpool. 

It's taken Suarez two less games to get to 19. He's tallied that number over the course of his past 22 games. 

Meanwhile, both of the Manchester teams avenged EPL losses from the previous week. Manchester City went to Everton and pulled out a 3-1 victory. This was a needed win for the Citizens. and despite their inconsistent start, they sit just three points behind Liverpool. 

As for the other Manchester team, the Red Devils went into the Stadium of Light and emerged with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland. The Red Devils improved to 10 points.

The win was badly needed, and new boss David Moyes may already be on thin ice, However, it's not all rosy for United. They were outplayed in this match and trailed most of it trailing 1-0. However a brilliant double by teenager Adnan Januza, with the first goal coming in the 55th minute, saved United from another embarrassing loss. 

Things went a little more according to script this week in EPL play than they had been, but it doesn't take long to stare at the table and realize we are in for a wild ride.