EPL Table: Updated Premier League Standings, Fixtures, Title Odds After Week 23

The Premier League’s top two sides played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in what was the highlight of an engrossing Week 23. The encounter between Chelsea and Manchester City was billed as a potential title decider, but the hosts were unable to snaffle the three points required to open up an eight-point lead at the summit.

Manchester United are also sneaking up on the top sides with stealthy intent. Louis van Gaal’s men picked up a routine 3-1 victory at home to Leicester City and now sit just five points behind their local rivals. Their chances of a top-four finish were given another boost, as Southampton suffered an unexpected defeat at home to Swansea City.

Arsenal’s fine run of form has seen them move to within touching distance of the top four, as Arsene Wenger’s men ran out 5-0 victors at home against an abject Aston Villa team.

Here's the full set of results from Week 23:

Date	Home	Score	Away
Saturday, Jan. 31	Hull	0-3	Newcastle
Saturday, Jan. 31	Crystal Palace	0-1	Everton
Saturday, Jan. 31	Liverpool	2-0	West Ham
Saturday, Jan. 31	Manchester United	3-1	Leicester
Saturday, Jan. 31	Stoke City	3-1	QPR
Saturday, Jan. 31	Sunderland	2-0	Burnley
Saturday, Jan. 31	WBA	0-3	Tottenham
Saturday, Jan. 31	Chelsea	1-1	Manchester City
Sunday, Feb. 2	Arsenal	5-0	Aston Villa
Sunday, Feb. 2	Southampton	0-1	Swansea

Here's how the table looks following the weekend's action:

#	Team	Pl	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea	23	16	5	2	52	20	32	53
2	Man City	23	14	6	3	46	23	23	48
3	Man Utd	23	12	7	4	39	22	17	43
4	So'ton	23	13	3	7	37	17	20	42
5	Arsenal	23	12	6	5	44	25	19	42
6	Tottenham	23	12	4	7	35	30	5	40
7	Liverpool	23	11	5	7	33	27	6	38
8	West Ham	23	10	6	7	35	27	8	36
9	Swansea	23	9	6	8	27	30	-3	33
10	Stoke	23	9	5	9	26	28	-2	32
11	Newcastle	23	8	6	9	29	35	-6	30
12	Everton	23	6	8	9	31	34	-3	26
13	C Palace	23	5	8	10	25	34	-9	23
14	S'land	23	4	11	8	21	33	-12	23
15	W Brom	23	5	7	11	20	32	-12	22
16	A Villa	23	5	7	11	11	30	-19	22
17	Burnley	23	4	8	11	21	38	-17	20
18	Hull City	23	4	7	12	20	33	-13	19
19	QPR	23	5	4	14	24	42	-18	19
20	Leicester	23	4	5	14	21	37	-16	17

Here’s a look at how the title race is shaping up in the eyes of the bookmakers after an engrossing weekend in English football’s top flight:

Team	Odds
Chelsea	2-9
Manchester City	4-1
Manchester United	40-1
Arsenal	40-1
Southampton	150-1
Tottenham Hotspur	350-1
Liverpool	400-1

City Miss Chance to Cut Gap at the Top

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Chelsea preserved their five-point lead atop the Premier League after Manchester City failed to capitalise against a clearly jaded Blues team. Loic Remy gave Jose Mourinho’s men—who were without Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas—the lead, before David Silva levelled things up just before the half-time interval.

Manuel Pellegrini’s visitors had the better of the match and will feel disappointed not to have capitalised on the chances created. A win for the reigning champions would have seen them move to within two points of the Stamford Bridge outfit, and although this will feel like two points dropped, a draw for City means they're still very much in the hunt.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Despite losing their perfect home record, Chelsea will be the happier of the two sides in the aftermath of this titanic tussle. Given the draining 120 minutes they played against Liverpool in midweek and their subsequent loss of two key players, getting out with a point here is a fine effort. 

As can be seen here courtesy of Squawka Football, Mourinho’s team seemed content with a draw:

With odds of 2-9 to win the league, you’d be hard-pressed to back against a Chelsea triumph come the end of the campaign. But City have already shown this season and at the end of the last that they're capable of a fightback, and this result could be the catalyst for a change in fortunes in weeks to come. With that in mind, there could be a bit of value in that price of 4-1.

United Edge Ahead of Southampton

Jon Super/Associated Press

Van Gaal’s side came flying out of the blocks against Leicester, sashaying into a comfortable 3-0 lead before half-time. Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao were both on the scoresheet for the Red Devils, who played with a noticeable purpose throughout the opening 45 minutes.

But as noted by David Lynch of the Manchester Evening News, the United boss ordered his team to shut the game down in the second half:

"

Van Gaal says he asked his players to kill the game in the second half and not play risky passes. The #MUFC way?

— David Lynch (@DavidLynchMEN) January 31, 2015"

Ultimately, three points were vital, and the win was given extra significance after Southampton suffered a shock home defeat against Swansea City. Jonjo Shelvey rattled in a late strike to give the Swans the win, and the former Liverpool man’s goal means that United preserve third spot in the table ahead of Week 24.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Saints manager Ronald Koeman thinks that his men are capable of bouncing back from this defeat, however, per Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe:

Without Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld, the Saints don’t look quite as cohesive, and Koeman will be desperate to get those men back as quickly as possible. Nonetheless, sitting in fourth place, this Saints team still has a great chance of finishing in one of those coveted top-four spots come the end of the campaign.

North London Duo in the Groove

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Arsenal put a hapless Aston Villa outfit to the sword in sensational style, racking up five goals in a comfortable victory at the Emirates. Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla dazzled for the Gunners in this one, meaning that the absence of top scorer Alexis Sanchez was not felt at all by Arsene Wenger’s side.

This excellent result for Arsenal sees them jump ahead of local rivals Tottenham in the Premier League and level on points with Saints. Going into next week’s North London derby, the Gunners have some serious momentum behind them and will be hopeful of pushing further up the table with a win at White Hart Lane.

As noted by Jake Humphrey of BT Sport, that should be a wonderful encounter:

Spurs are in brilliant form themselves, though. A brace from Harry Kane and another fine strike from Christian Eriksen helped them to a 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion, making it four wins from six for Mauricio Pochettino’s men. 

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Football commentator Ian Darke thinks that after recent results Spurs are one of a clutch of sides in with a chance of challenging for the top-four spots:

The game at White Hart Lane should tell us plenty about the progress made by both sides as of late. Wenger’s men seem to boast a hex over their ferocious rivals and consequentially will go into the game with natural confidence. But if they underestimate this blossoming Tottenham team, there’s every chance that the home side could savour derby-day delight.