EPL Power Rankings 2013 Week 8: Projecting Where Each Club Stands

The Premier League table is starting to take shape through seven matches of the 2013-14 season slate, setting up power rankings for each club heading into Week 8.

While the season is a grind and there's plenty of time left for struggling clubs to mount comebacks and high-flying squads to suffer setbacks, things are starting to clear up for each club.

With the weekend off EPL action, there's never been a better time to judge where each club stands in regards to the rest of the league.

Let's take a look at the power rankings for the Premier League for Week 8, including the most notable clubs:

Check here for the full league table

Clubs of Interest

No. 1 Liverpool

Just avoiding giving up their franchise star in Luis Suarez and not picking up much steam over the offseason, Liverpool have shocked the football world by being the most in-form club through seven weeks of the Premier League season.

As the giants fall week after week around them, the Reds are doing nothing but winning with stingy defensive play. Other than a 1-0 letdown against surging Southampton and a 2-2 draw to Swansea, it's been a perfect campaign for Brendan Rodgers' squad.

Most recently, Liverpool throttled Crystal Palace, 3-1, with goals from its stars—Daniel Sturridge, Suarez and Steven Gerrard. That was enough to give them 16 points on the season, tied with Arsenal, who sputtered to a 1-1 tie against West Brom.

Liverpool and Arsenal are seemingly going back and forth atop the league, and that's the case in the power rankings as well.

Some struggles offensively happen to emerge from time to time, but you can't say different about any other EPL club. As long as Liverpool continues to shut opponents down in their own third, they'll continue to peak.

No. 2 Arsenal

Not to be outdone by their Merseyside opponents, Arsenal have captivated the league as well with their play behind a newly-arrived forward who is already making waves in England. 

Ever since coming over just minutes before the deadline, Mesut Ozil has emerged as one of the league's most dangerous attacking threats. Along with top form from teammates Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and many others, this squad is clicking on all cylinders.

A 1-1 draw to West Brom in their last action leaves sore feelings in many critics' minds, especially given Liverpool's relative ease over the same weekend. The different results allowed the Reds to get back into a tie for the top of the league.

As Liverpool faces Newcastle and the Gunners enjoy a match against Norwich City, these power rankings have the potential of getting shaken up yet again.

No. 5 Manchester United

Even when the wins come, they don't come easy for Manchester United.

The Red Devils had to shake off a fifth-minute goal from Sunderland, and stage a second-half comeback that included two netters from Adnan Januzaj in his first EPL start.

For perspective, Sunderland is alone at the bottom of the table with one point in seven matches.

At this point, David Moyes and company have to look at the table and think they certainly will take a win. After all, even after that, they're tied for ninth in the league with Aston Villa and Newcastle at 10 points.

Rankings Manchester United at No. 5 is a bit generous given their on-pitch performances. With this ranking comes the knowledge of the immense talent they have, and the likelihood that they'll get things turned around enough to at least climb into the top four somewhat soon.