Premier League Table: Latest 2014 EPL Standings and Predictions for Matchday 9
Midway through October, and the 2014-15 Premier League table continues to throw a bevy of shock and awe for the onlooking masses, with Chelsea still reigning as the standout leaders.
Matchday 8 saw Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United suffer their respective scares and a mix of results while Southampton and West Ham make for surprising top-six contenders this far into the campaign.
One can only hope such unpredictability continues into Matchday 9, where underdogs will hope to keep up their resilience and disappointing giants look to regain their elite status.
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| Position | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| 1 | Chelsea | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 22 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 17 |
| 3 | Southampton | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 16 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 13 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 12 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 11 |
| 8 | Swansea City | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 11 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 11 |
| 11 | Hull City | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 10 |
| 12 | Aston Villa | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 10 |
| 13 | Everton | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 9 |
| 15 | Leicester City | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 9 |
| 16 | Crystal Palace | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 8 |
| 17 | Sunderland | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 8 |
| 18 | Newcastle United | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 7 |
| 19 | Burnley | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | -9 | 4 |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 18 | -12 | 4 |
| Date | Time | Home | Prediction | Away |
| Saturday, Oct. 25 | 12:45 p.m. BST/7:45 a.m. ET | West Ham | 2-2 | Manchester City |
| Saturday, Oct. 25 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | Liverpool | 3-2 | Hull City |
| Saturday, Oct. 25 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | Southampton | 2-0 | Stoke City |
| Saturday, Oct. 25 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | Sunderland | 1-3 | Arsenal |
| Saturday, Oct. 25 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | West Brom | 2-1 | Crystal Palace |
| Saturday, Oct. 25 | 5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. ET | Swansea City | 1-1 | Leicester City |
| Sunday, Oct. 26 | 1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET | Burnley | 1-2 | Everton |
| Sunday, Oct. 26 | 1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET | Tottenham | 1-0 | Newcastle |
| Sunday, Oct. 26 | 4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET | Manchester United | 1-3 | Chelsea |
| Monday, Oct. 27 | 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET | QPR | 1-1 | Aston Villa |
Impressive West Ham Stunt Manchester City's Progress
Since losing to Tottenham 1-0 on the opening day of the season, West Ham have proceeded to score at least once in each of their last seven fixtures, not always to a winning end but entertaining all the same.
And with Manchester City making their way to east London in Saturday's early kick-off, the Hammers will need all their potency in front of goal if they're to keep up what's been a stellar start this term.
Andy Carroll's sideline suffering has been a frustrating turn of events at Upton Park over the past 18 months, but the summer arrivals of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho have given manager Sam Allardyce a reliable setup in attack.
Squawka points out just how effective the partnership has been, showing a quick adaptation to English football in not just one but two players:
City, meanwhile, have kept just two cleans sheets in the league this season and look likely to concede on their upcoming trip.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have won just two of their last five trips to West Ham in Premier League competition, the hosts drawing two and winning one, but current form suggests Allardyce's men can rumble City's trajectory.
Arsenal Bounce Back Against Susceptible Sunderland
Taking just 11 points from their first eight games of the season, any hopes Arsenal may have held in winning this season's Premier League crown already look done and dusted.
A 2-2 draw at home to Hull City on Saturday was further evidence pointing to the lack of bite in Arsene Wenger's squad, but a trip to vulnerable Sunderland is about the best follow-up they could have requested.
Gus Poyet's men shipped a club joint-record eight goals en route to an 8-0 mauling at Southampton's hands last time out and will be on the ropes following that result.
The Black Cats felt so embarrassed by their own performance that they even decided to reimburse travelling fans out of their own pocket, per The Telegraph:
Having won just twice this season, the Gunners have been shy of vindication, and even with a flurry of injuries hitting their squad, there are only so many excuses that can be made for a team of such quality.
That being said, the stumble against the Tigers will have lit a fire under Wenger's side, too, and their domestic response should result in a statement being made at the Stadium of Light.
Chelsea Trot Past Manchester United to Maintain Pace
Chelsea's routing of their Premier League peers this season has been nothing short of rampant, with only Manchester City succeeding to derail their momentum even slightly following their 1-1 draw in September.
And after a weak showing against West Brom on Monday evening, Manchester United have little chance in mimicking that resolve when they host the Blues on Sunday.
As BBC broadcaster Gary Lineker attests, defending remains the key issue in point for the Red Devils, something that doesn't bode well preparing to face the division's top scorers:
Louis van Gaal's only saving grace at present may be that unfit Diego Costa is an uncertainty for the Blues at present, which could lead to Loic Remy or Didier Drogba leading their line:
United's back line will certainly feel safer if the Spanish international is absent, but that doesn't change the fact that Chelsea currently outclass their Old Trafford counterparts in just about every other part of the pitch.
