Premier League Power Rankings 2014 Week 5: Latest EPL Title Odds and Outlook
Four weeks into the 2014-15 Premier League campaign, any pre-season bets hedged on Chelsea to run away with the title look strong.
The Blues sit two points clear at the table's summit, and, more importantly, they find themselves five ahead of chief rivals Manchester City.
Arsenal and Liverpool find themselves even further adrift, but points aren't necessarily an accurate indicator of a squad's strength and momentum. Brendan Rodgers' side, for example, have already travelled to Tottenham and Manchester City, whereas Jose Mourinho's men have enjoyed a rather easier run on paper.
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Paying closer attention to performances rather than points accrued, we rank the Premier League sides, provide up-to-date title odds and more.
| Team | Odds |
| Chelsea | 8-11 |
| Manchester City | 10-3 |
| Manchester United | 8-1 |
| Arsenal | 11-1 |
| Liverpool | 14-1 |
| Tottenham | 80-1 |
| Everton | 250-1 |
| Newcastle | 1,000-1 |
| Southampton | 1,500-1 |
| Swansea City | 2,000-1 |
| Stoke City | 2,500-1 |
| Aston Villa | 2,500-1 |
| Sunderland | 2,500-1 |
| West Ham | 2,000-1 |
| QPR | 7,500-1 |
| Leicester City | 7,500-1 |
| Crystal Palace | 5,000-1 |
| Hull City | 2,500-1 |
| West Brom | 4,000-1 |
| Burnley | 10,000-1 |
1. Chelsea
Nothing has changed at the top. Chelsea still occupy the throne of the Premier League for now, having scored 10 goals in their last two games, five of those coming from the irrepressible Diego Costa.
Wayne Veysey of Goal.com see the club's medical staff as having a big impact on this season, too:
Conceding five of their own in that same time frame would suggest there are defensive holes to be filled at Stamford Bridge, however, indicating Jose Mourinho's work isn't complete just yet.
That being said, in a league in which it's generally perceived that anyone can beat anyone, it's nigh impossible to envision the Blues suffering defeat in their current state.
2. Aston Villa
A 1-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday—at Anfield, no less—has preserved Aston Villa's unbeaten start to the Premier League season, their 10 points good enough to steer them into second place outright.
However, one concern for Paul Lambert may be his side's lack of conviction in killing off games. Villa have only once managed to score more than a single goal in their 2014-15 outings.
It seems inevitable that the Birmingham club will falter eventually, but for now, they'll simply enjoy the good fortune of being one of two sides still unbeaten this season.
3. Southampton
Southampton are currently two points better off than they were at this stage last season, showing that there may be some substance to the claims that Ronald Koeman has reshaped a superior model at St. Mary's.
A 4-0 win over Newcastle United last weekend was the second consecutive game in which the Saints managed to score three goals or more, the likes of Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic comfortably adapting to their English setting.
4. Swansea City
It was at the hands of league leaders Chelsea that Swansea City's winning streak had to end, although three wins in their first three games has Garry Monk's men retaining third place in the table.
Despite that defeat, the manager will be buoyed by his side's ability to stand up to the Premier League's big guns in an attacking sense, with two goals scored at both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge no small achievement.
If the Swans can extrapolate that killer instinct for all opposition, they can be expected to challenge for European spots this season, having scored in every game this term.
5. Arsenal
Had you asked Arsene Wenger prior to Saturday's 2-2 draw against Manchester City whether he'd settle for an albeit unambitious point, the Frenchman may well have said yes.
However, Jamie Carragher is quoted by Metro as saying the emergence of Chelsea casts Arsenal further down the Premier League pecking order:
Having negotiated a Community Shield win over City and Champions League playoffs, the Gunners have done well to maintain an unbeaten start to their season. They have already doubled the number of fixtures some sides have had, but resultant injuries currently see the squad looking threadbare at the back.
6. Manchester City
A draw at the Emirates Stadium showed a great deal more promise than the loss at home to Stoke City in the week preceding it, and Manuel Pellegrini will also have been settled with a point.
The Guardian's Michael Cox suggests a change in strategy hasn't necessarily worked to the team's advantage so far:
Currently five points away from table-toppers Chelsea, this doesn't quite look like the City of a year ago, despite holding an identical record of two wins, a draw and a loss after four games.
Now without a win for two games, the first time such a streak has come about since April, the club need to get back to their winning ways and consistently dominate.
7. Tottenham
The rousing effect of Mauricio Pochettino's promising start as Tottenham manager has quickly been replaced by a more stark realisation that things aren't all well at White Hart Lane just yet.
Spurs twice went ahead against Sunderland over the weekend, and twice they were pinned back by the Black Cats, who are the type of team they need to be beating if they're to clinch a Champions League spot this season.
Before that result came a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool, and it may now be coming to light that wins over West Ham and QPR at season's start were little more than impressive results against little fish.
8. Liverpool
On the eve of their Champions League return, Liverpool have asked some serious questions of themselves in allowing Aston Villa to get the better of them on their own turf.
After a busy summer of recruiting, the squad talent is certainly there—and in fine number—but it's hardly coincidence that Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, two key members in last season's surge, were missing for the visit of the Villans.
Therefore, one must ponder the depth of genuine star assets in Brendan Rodgers' squad and whether the Reds are overly reliant on several players in particular.
The attack looked surprisingly predictable against Villa, and a trip to West Ham will quickly provide another examination of Liverpool's true ambitions this term.
9. Leicester City
Of all the Premier League new boys, Leicester City are undoubtedly coping best with their newfound status as a top-flight side, currently 12th in the standings.
It's a fine achievement to say their only loss of the season thus far came against Chelsea, and what's more, the 2-0 result represents the fewest number of goals Mourinho's men have scored in any game this term.
A 1-0 win over Stoke City on Saturday gave Nigel Pearson's minnows their first win of the campaign, building on draws against Arsenal and Everton, with Leonardo Ulloa looking to be worth every bit of his big summer outlay.
10. Manchester United
Finally, Louis van Gaal knows what it feels like to win a game as Manchester United manager. Even though some will argue their prey was just QPR, a 4-0 win nonetheless showed signs of what the Red Devils are capable of in what was a terrorising result.
The win sees the Red Devils soar from a dire 13th-place position to a slightly more acceptable ninth, and the club can take some solace in the fact that they're unbeaten in their last three.
Juan Mata, per the official Manchester United Twitter account, has posted on his blog to affirm that things are on the up:
Having made his debut against the hoops, only more can be expected of Radamel Falcao in the weeks to come, while Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo also slotted into a formation that looked more at home with four at the back.
11. Everton
Level on five points with United but two places below, Everton bounced back from a discouraging 6-3 defeat to Chelsea with their first win of the season, a 2-0 triumph over West Brom.
Having seen his team challenge vigorously for a Champions League place last season, it's still a somewhat sombre start to the 2014-15 season for Roberto Martinez's men.
That being said, the first clean sheet of the season will nonetheless be appreciated by the Toffees, especially before their Europa League campaign gets underway against Wolfsburg on Thursday.
12. Sunderland
Despite failing to claim a win as of yet this term, Sunderland are by no means a club in crisis just yet, even though their three points in four games might suggest otherwise.
An away defeat to QPR, for all the attacking pressure asserted, was undoubtedly a disappointment, but draws against Tottenham, Manchester United and West Brom have all shown signs of promise.
Gus Poyet can at least be pleased that his men have been able to score in equal measure to their rate of conceding, considering their tally of goals scored last season fell so far below that which they let in.
13. Hull City
Perfectly average in every way, Hull City sit 10th and with a neutral goal difference, giving your average Tigers fan no reason for urgent elation or alarm.
However, Steve Bruce's men were fortunate to claim a draw at home against West Ham on Monday evening and are making a habit out of gifting their opposition attacking chances, yet to keep a clean sheet at the KC Stadium.
14. West Ham
It was an Enner Valencia strike against Hull that gave those travelling Hammers fans reason to delight in Monday's trip, as the Ecuadorian showed he can be the reliable scoring threat Sam Allardyce has been searching for.
Unfortunate not to take a second win of the season from Yorkshire, West Ham look an impressive outfit away from home, having netted five in their last two trips outside Upton Park.
The Sun's Dan Silver praised the gumption of the East Londoners in foreign territory:
15. Stoke City
It was a disappointing path for Stoke City to follow up their 1-0 shock raid on Manchester City with defeat at home to Leicester, the second time in their first four games the Potters have failed to score.
Despite the perception that Mark Hughes has imbued a new attacking impetus on this team, they've so far struggled in front of goal.
Only two other teams have managed to score less than Stoke's total of two goals this season, which is especially worrying in that they only have the one clean sheet to their name.
16. Crystal Palace
A scoreless draw at home to vulnerable Burnley wasn't the most positive result for Crystal Palace after managing three goals at Newcastle United the week prior.
With Tony Pulis at their helm, it was relatively simple to know where the Eagles' priorities laid, but under Neil Warnock, it's not as easy to assess the club's identity, the style of football their manager's hoping to promote.
Avoiding defeat for two matches in a row holds its share of positives, but tougher tests than Burnley await.
17. Queens Park Rangers
Harry Redknapp may have as much Premier League experience as almost any other figure in the division at present, but it doesn't appear to be rubbing off on his defence.
In fairness, the Hoops did survive a Sunderland barrage to claim a 1-0 win a fortnight ago, but 4-0 losses to Manchester United and Tottenham already put the club at a major disadvantage.
Unless they can unearth some routs of their own, they'll find such dramatic defeats could come to haunt them come a relegation scrap in May.
18. Burnley
Sean Dyche's men may be in the relegation zone at present, but Burnley can be hopeful of springing their way out of the bottom three soon, gradually adapting to the ways of the English first tier.
Having claimed back-to-back draws, things have looked up for the Turf Moor club of late. Consecutive 0-0 stalemates will do little to excite, but they prove Dyche is getting his defence right before assessing matters further.
The team have not scored a goal since their opening-day defeat to Chelsea, and injury to Danny Ings doesn't bode well for the future. The club are in desperate need of an offensive threat.
19. Newcastle United
It's common knowledge that Alan Pardew is currently the odds-on favourite to be the next sacked Premier League manager, per Oddschecker, and despite spending big this summer, Newcastle remain planted to the table's foot.
Little by little, results have gone from bad to worse, with positives on display in their opening defeat to Manchester City all the way to the weekend's 4-0 defeat at Southampton.
Nine goals conceded and only two scored in their opening four games show there are problems all over the pitch at St. James' Park, and Pardew will know things must change quickly if he is to retain his job.
20. West Brom
West Brom are another team whose season appears to be worsening by the fixture, and two draws in their first two games have swiftly been followed by successive defeats.
Alan Irvine's side have failed to score since the opening day, conceding seven in the meantime and only barely beating Newcastle in the standings, although Tottenham may see to that this coming weekend.
