Premier League Table: Updated 2014 EPL Standings Following Matchday 7 Results
Much-needed wins for Liverpool and Manchester City highlighted Saturday's slate of fixtures from the seventh matchday of the Premier League season. Sunday's matches saw Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United emerge victorious, the latter two leaping over Arsenal in the standings.
The updated Premier League table:
| 1 | Chelsea | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 19 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| 3 | Southampton | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 13 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Swansea City | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 11 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 11 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 10 |
| 8 | Arsenal | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 10 |
| 9 | Liverpool | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 10 |
| 11 | Hull City | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 9 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 9 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 8 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 8 |
| 16 | Stoke City | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 8 |
| 17 | Everton | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 16 | -3 | 6 |
| 18 | Newcastle United | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 4 |
| 19 | Burnley | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 4 |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 15 | -11 | 4 |
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
With Chelsea and City first and second, respectively, the top of the table has the look many would have expected. Here is the breakdown of the results:
| Hull City | 2 - 0 | Crystal Palace |
| Leicester City | 2 - 2 | Burnley |
| Liverpool | 2 - 1 | West Bromwich Albion |
| Sunderland | 3 - 1 | Stoke City |
| Swansea City | 2 - 2 | Newcastle United |
| Aston Villa | 0 - 2 | Manchester City |
| Manchester United | 2-1 | Everton |
| Tottenham | 1-0 | Southampton |
| Chelsea | 2-0 | Arsenal |
| West Ham | QPR |
Sunday Update
Manchester United survived a late flurry from Everton to win 2-1 on Sunday, with David De Gea putting in a standout performance.
The Red Devils had taken the lead through Angel Di Maria, but Steven Naismith equalised early in the second half. Radamel Falcao scored his first goal in a United uniform to restore the lead, and despite several excellent late chances, the Toffees couldn't put a second goal past De Gea.
The Spain international stopped a Leighton Baines penalty in the first half and produced two world-class saves in the dying stages of the match, to the chagrin of Roberto Martinez, via Everton's Twitter feed:
8bit-Football.com immortalised the best save of them all:
Tottenham and Southampton served up a low-scoring yet exciting afternoon fixture, Christian Eriksen scoring the only goal of the match as Spurs emerged victorious 1-0.
Sadio Mane had a chance to secure a point late in the second half, but the Senegalese missed a wide-open sitter that is an early candidate for miss of the season, via NBC Sports' Joe Prince-Wright:
League-leaders Chelsea remain undefeated after a 2-0 win over Arsenal, Sunday's marquee matchup. The Blues controlled the battle in midfield from the start and hardly gave up any chances to the Gunners, who failed to build on their impressive performance against Galatasaray.
Eden Hazard opened the score from the penalty spot in the first half, and the inevitable Diego Costa doubled the advantage in the second. CNN's Ben Fairthorne believed the match wasn't nearly as close as the final score suggested:
Calum Chambers picked up his fifth booking of the season and will be suspended for the match against Hull City after the international break, while Thibaut Courtois left the pitch with a head injury in the first half.
Het Laatste Nieuws' Kristof Terreur confirmed the Belgium international suffered a concussion:
A Nedum Onuoha own goal gave West Ham United an early lead over Queens Park Rangers, and Diafra Sakho's second-half strike have the East Londoners an easy 2-0 win, pushing QPR down to last place in the Premier League standings.
Saturday Update
Liverpool 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
The Reds needed a win after drawing at home with Everton and losing away to West Ham United. Those results had raised doubts about Liverpool's ability to succeed this season without former star striker Luis Suarez.
Liverpool's struggles prompted manager Brendan Rodgers to drop Suarez's replacement, Mario Balotelli. Rickie Lambert took the erratic maverick's place.
However, that move was not an obvious success, according to Paul Wilson of The Guardian:
"If the idea was to energise Liverpool and bring back some of the quick-fire confidence of last season, it was not a complete success. Rickie Lambert did not really step up to the plate as line leader in Balotelli’s absence, failing to connect with an early cross from Lallana, and too often finding his first touch letting him down.
The former Southampton striker did bring the first save of the game from Ben Foster, midway through the first half, after neatly controlling a searching pass from Martin Skrtel, though – when he took too long over his next penalty-area opportunity, and saw the chance disappear – it was hard to see how Lambert was bringing any more mobility to the Liverpool attack than Balotelli.
"
But it was Lambert's ex-Southampton teammate, Adam Lallana, who stole the show. The classy midfield schemer netted his first goal for his new club following an intricate combination of passes.
The stylish finish was evidence of Lallana's quality pass-and-move game. The 26-year-old can match Philippe Coutinho for skill, but he will offer more industry than the inconsistent Brazilian.
But as good as Lallana was, Steven Gerrard reminded everyone that he's still the linchpin of the Liverpool midfield. The veteran skipper led by example as a creative force, per Squawka Football:
After their recent struggles, the Reds certainly needed a player who would lead by example. Gerrard answered the call admirably.
Liverpool haven't hit the heights of last season yet, but Rodgers' team still has a solid tally of 10 points on the board, just one point off a top-four place. Finding the right blend among his many new signings is the next step toward establishing some consistency.
Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester City
For the longest possible time, it seemed like Aston Villa's resolute players were destined to leave Manchester City frustrated. The reigning champions rampaged forward in typically trademark fashion, but they found it difficult to break through Villa's packed defensive ranks.
City had some good chances in the second half, particularly a shot from a brittle position, but it was brilliant striker Sergio Aguero who hit the post. However, manager Manuel Pellegrini's team fell victim to a typical spoiling performance.
Naturally, it was Villa defenders who earned most of the plaudits during the first half, as WhoScored.com noted:
Villa showed little interest in breaking out of their own half after the break. This was despite welcoming back bullish forward Christian Benteke.
Instead, Paul Lambert's team was content to absorb pressure and force City through a crowded middle. In the end, though, the Villains dropped too deep.
They were suitably punished by a typically bulldozing run by City midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure. It was a clutch contribution from the Ivory Coast international, one he owed his team after a stunted start to the new season.
It was also a sight familiar to Villa and highlighted by Squawka Football:
A late Aguero strike added gloss to the scoreline. In truth, though, the two-goal deficit was an accurate reflection of City's dominance. It was just reward for Pellegrini's bold approach to the game and his fidelity to expansive, attractive football.
His team now sits second, just two points off the summit. A second away win in a row is a timely show of form from the champions, particularly as Chelsea square off with Arsenal.
City's fellow title contenders now have little margin for error. Pellegrini's team is still free-scoring, but it has also proved it can grind out results against sides designed to stifle it.
City's healthy amounts of flair and graft are forming an ominous combination for the rest of the Premier League.
