Barclays Premier League Table: Updated 2014 EPL Outlook After Week 17 Results

Things look a lot more competitive at the top following the early results from Week 17 of this Premier League season. Defending champions Manchester City ensured the pressure stayed on leaders Chelsea who now only lead the way based on a single goal.

Here's what the table looks like after Week 17's results:

Position	Club	Played	Goal Difference	Points
1	Chelsea	16	23	39
2	Manchester City	17	22	39
3	Manchester United	17	12	32
4	West Ham United	17	10	31
5	Southampton	17	15	29
6	Tottenham Hotspur	17	-1	27
7	Arsenal	16	9	26
8	Swansea City	17	3	25
9	Newcastle United	16	-4	23
10	Everton	17	0	21
11	Liverpool	16	-3	21
12	Aston Villa	17	-10	20
13	Stoke City	16	-3	19
14	West Bromwich Albion	17	-6	17
15	Queens Park Rangers	17	-12	17
16	Sunderland	17	-10	16
17	Crystal Palace	17	-8	15
18	Burnley	17	-14	15
19	Hull City	17	-9	13
20	Leicester City	17	-14	10

The top four hasn't been shaken up too much by today's results. But the implications of wins for City and dropped points for rival neighbours Manchester United are clear.

Not only have City piled the pressure on Chelsea following a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace, but United missed the chance to start being taken seriously as genuine title contenders.

When a squad boasts strikers the calibre of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao, that squad should be a serious player for the league crown.

But even Falcao finding the net for just the second time in the Premier League wasn't enough to get United a seventh straight league win, as the Red Devils drew 1-1 with Aston Villa. At least the 28-year-old Colombian reminded everyone he remains one of the deadliest finishers in the game.

However, his reputation has been slightly tarnished by a prolonged recovery from a serious knee injury that's created questions about his ability to last the season. Boss Louis van Gaal recently fuelled those doubts, per BBC Sport: "I have selected him in spite of the fact he can only play for 20 minutes."

But Falcao showed his manager that the trusted instincts and class in front of goal haven't gone. After falling behind to a Christian Benteke wonder-strike, Falcao bailed out United with a clinical equaliser.

Manchester Evening News reporter Rob Dawson described the goal:

With Falcao back firing, a United squad still unbeaten in seven could yet be a major threat to City and Chelsea.

Speaking of a major threat, how about West Ham United's bid to break the monopoly of the top four by the usual suspects? The Hammers won again to move five points clear of Arsenal, the frequent holders of fourth spot. Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing scored in a 2-0 victory over Leicester City.

The mood in the Gunners camp will also be soured by glancing at the table to see north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur one place in front. Spurs are quietly putting together an impressive run under Mauricio Pochettino, a run Harry Kane and Erik Lamela helped continue against Burnley, both scoring in a 2-1 win.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Burnley's defeat was part of a shake-up of the bottom three. The Clarets have now fallen into one of those spots following Queens Park Rangers' dramatic 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion.

After trailing 2-0 to the Baggies, Rangers relied on talisman Charlie Austin to get them out of trouble. He hit a hat-trick to lift Harry Redknapp's team out of the drop zone.

Those goals put Austin into some illustrious company this season, as Opta Joe noted:

In a cruel twist of irony, Austin's superb form has dropped former club Burnley into the relegation places.

But it's at the top where things are getting really interesting. City have chased Chelsea down with a quite brilliant run.

Now Mourinho's men, who have sauntered through most of the early stages of this campaign, will be tested to show plenty of fortitude and composure during the frenetic run of fixtures over Christmas.