Premier League Table: Latest 2014 EPL Standings and Predictions for Matchday 10
Like last week, Matchday 10 of the 2014-15 Premier League season will give us another marquee matchup between title contenders, as Manchester United will battle it out with rivals and defending champions Manchester City.
The Red Devils held league-leaders Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at home Saturday, but the schedule makers did Louis van Gaal's squad no favours, as the team will now head to the Etihad.
Liverpool face a trip to Newcastle United, who have found a way out of the relegation zone following back-to-back wins, while Arsenal will host bottom-feeders Burnley. Chelsea should have little issues with west London rivals Queens Park Rangers, and Southampton will be tested when they travel to Hull.
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Here's the full schedule for Matchday 10:
| Saturday, Nov. 1 | Newcastle United | Liverpool | 0-1 |
| Saturday, Nov. 1 | Arsenal | Burnley | 2-0 |
| Saturday, Nov. 1 | Chelsea | Queens Park Rangers | 2-0 |
| Saturday, Nov. 1 | Everton | Swansea City | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Nov. 1 | Hull City | Southampton | 1-3 |
| Saturday, Nov. 1 | Leicester City | West Bromwich Albion | 0-1 |
| Saturday, Nov. 1 | Stoke City | West Ham United | 1-2 |
| Sunday, Nov. 2 | Manchester City | Manchester United | 1-1 |
| Sunday, Nov. 2 | Aston Villa | Tottenham Hotspur | 2-2 |
| Monday, Nov. 3 | Crystal Palace | Sunderland | 1-0 |
Below is the updated Premier League table:
| 1 | Chelsea | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 22 |
| 2 | Southampton | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 19 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 17 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 16 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 14 |
| 6 | Swansea City | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 14 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 14 |
| 8 | Manchester United | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 13 |
| 9 | Everton | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 12 |
| 10 | Hull City | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 11 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 11 |
| 12 | Stoke City | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 11 |
| 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 10 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 10 |
| 15 | Aston Villa | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 14 | -10 | 10 |
| 16 | Crystal Palace | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 16 | -3 | 9 |
| 17 | Leicester City | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 9 |
| 18 | Sunderland | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 8 |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 18 | -10 | 7 |
| 20 | Burnley | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 16 | -11 | 4 |
Southampton Can Prove They Belong Against Hull
Depending on whom you're asking, Southampton's phenomenal start to the 2014-15 Premier League season is either the product of sheer luck, a true reflection of the squad's quality and Ronald Koeman's influence or anything in between.
On Saturday, we'll have a chance to find out.
No, Hull City aren't contenders for the European spots, and the chances of Saints keeping pace with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City for the remainder of the season are minimal at best.
But after nearly a fourth of the season, Southampton very much look like a squad capable of challenging for a top-six finish. And Koeman's influence is a big reason for that. Before the match against Stoke City, he made one change to the squad that thrashed Sunderland 8-0, to the surprise of many.
Via the club's Twitter feed, he explained why:
Managers don't usually change a winning formula. Koeman did, and as explained by Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe, it was a stroke of genius:
Combined with a number of under-the-radar but smart summer acquisitions, Saints have the look and feel of a club capable of challenging the likes of Everton and Tottenham, and perhaps even more.
Hull aren't a top team, but they're a feisty defensive squad that can frustrate even the best attacking teams, as illustrated by their consecutive draws against Arsenal and Liverpool.
Southampton will be forced to make the play on Saturday, similar to the Gunners and Reds. If they can overcome Tigers' strong defensive unit, it will send a powerful signal to the rest of the League: Koeman's boys are the real deal.
Manchester City Already in Must-Win Mode
Don't look now, but after just nine weeks of Premier League action, the defending champions already face a must-win situation Sunday.
City dropped two pivotal points against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League and followed it up with an uninspired performance in east London, deservedly losing 2-1 to West Ham United.
Manuel Pellegrini's squad is as talented as any in world football, capable of anything when everything is clicking. But that hasn't happened lately, and The Times' James Ducker believes it may have something to do with Pellegrini's tactics:
The fixture against Manchester United couldn't come at a better time. City need some kind of boost, and an emotional win over their biggest rivals may be just the push the squad needs.
Not just for the Premier League title race, although City Watch believes the current six-point gap between the Citizens and the Blues is already significant given the latter's consistency:
The hosts need to wake up. Pellegrini's squad has three matches left to secure qualification for the Champions League knockout stages, and on current form, the advantage has to lie with AS Roma.
Sunday's match won't just be about winning—Chelsea easily handled the Red Devils on Matchday 9 and would have won if not for a late equaliser by Robin van Persie and some questionable officiating.
City will need to be just as dominant or better to regain some momentum, instilling the belief in the squad that they truly are better than the Blues.
