Premier League Power Rankings: Week 1

The opening week to the 2010-11 edition of the Barclays Premier League provided us with many story lines to talk about.

The most shocking result was obviously Blackpool's 4-0 win over Wigan.

Holders Chelsea won 6-0 over West Brom in their debut, and Arsenal and Blackburn were beneficiaries of goalkeeping mishaps by Pepe Reina and Tim Howard.

Rankings (number in parenthesis is last week's ranking)

20. West Bromwich Albion (18)

Results: Loss to Chelsea 6-0.

The Baggies first game back in the EPL was a complete blowout at Stamford Bridge. Not many positives can be taken out of this game and brought into Saturday's match up at the Stadium of Light with Sunderland.

Next Game: @ Sunderland, 10:00 AM, Saturday

19. Wigan (11)

Results: Loss to Blackpool 4-0

Wigan were on the wrong side of Blackpool's amazing debut and it looks like Roberto Martinez should have spent the summer working on a list of things his team needed to improve on instead of working for ESPN in South Africa.

Next Game: vs. Chelsea, 12:15 PM, Saturday, FSC

18. Newcastle United (17)

Results: Loss to Manchester United 3-0

The Magpies did what they were expected to do at Old Trafford, show up, have a few early chances to make the home team nervous, and then let Paul Scholes orchestrate the midfield and play keep away. Also, Joey Barton again found his way into the public eye with the debut of his moustache.

Next Game: vs. Aston Villa, 8:30 AM, Sunday

17. Stoke City (19)

Results: Loss to Wolves 2-1  

Stoke did one thing the three above could not do, that would be score a goal. Abdoulaye Faye found the net for Tony Pulis' club Saturday.

The Potters' main scoring threat, new signing Kenwyne Jones, left with an ankle injury and could be out for a while.

Next Game: vs. Tottenham, 10:00 AM, Saturday

16. West Ham United (13)

Results: Loss to Aston Villa 3-0

The Hammers looked absolutely pitiful at Villa Park Saturday. And that is being nice about it. They did not look like a team out on the pitch and have a lot to fix before their home opener Saturday.

Next Game: vs. Bolton, 10:00 AM, Saturday

15. Wolverhampton (16)

Results: Win over Stoke 2-1

David Jones and Steven Fletcher scored in the win at home for Mick McCarthy's club. Wolves will look to get a good start on the road when they go to Goodison Park on Saturday.

Next Game: @ Everton. 10:00 AM, Saturday

14. Blackpool (20)

Results: Win over Wigan 4-0

Blackpool took the Premier League by storm with a huge win over Wigan. Marlon Harewood found the back of the net twice to go along with one goal each from Alex Baptiste and Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

Blackpool's honeymoon in the EPL could end real quick with a trip to the Emirates on Saturday.

Next Game: @ Arsenal, 10:00 AM, Saturday, ESPN2

13. Blackburn Rovers (15)

Results: Win over Everton 1-0

Nikola Kalinic was the beneficiary of a Tim Howard rare mishap in goal, scoring the only goal in an otherwise uneventful match.

Next Game: @ Birmingham, 10:00 AM, Saturday

12. Bolton Wanderers (14)

Results: 0-0 Draw with Fulham

Bolton's snoozer with Fulham was overshadowed by all the rumors and happenings on the other bench, but Owen Coyle's club did get a point out of it.

Next Game: @ West Ham, 10:00 AM, Saturday

11. Everton (8)

Results: Loss to Blackburn 1-0

Tim Howard had a rare goalkeeping error that was the first of two Merseyside keeper errors on the weekend.

The good news is that that was only the first game, but the bad news for Howard is that Jan Mucha is his backup and could start in his place.

Next Game: vs. Wolverhampton, 10:00 AM, Saturday

10. Fulham (7)

Results: 0-0 Draw with Bolton

Mark Hughes' club had fans more focused on the possible transfers of Mark Schwarzer and Clint Dempsey with both kept out of the starting eleven.

Until the big distraction of Schwarzer's transfer goes away and Fulham have their focus set on the league, the Cottagers could be in for a long start to the season.

Next Game: vs. Manchester United, 11:00 AM, Sunday

9. Sunderland (10)

Results: 2-2 Draw with Birmingham

The loss of Kenwyne Jones right before the season did not affect Darren Bent, who scored his first goal on Saturday, Sunderland also got help from an own goal for their second.

After going up 2-0, the Black Cats lost Lee Cattermole to a red card and lost a possible three points allowing Birmingham to get back into the game.

Next Game: @ West Brom, 10:00 AM, Saturday

8. Birmingham (9)

Results: 2-2 Draw with Sunderland

After going down 2-0 in the first half, Birmingham took control of the game after Sunderland's Lee Cattermole was sent off giving them the opportunity to take a point.

Scott Dann and Liam Ridgewell both found the back of the net in the last 15 minutes to take a point at the Stadium of Light.

Next Game: vs. Blackburn, 10:00 AM, Saturday

7. Aston Villa (12)

Results: 3-0 win over West Ham

Villa had one of the most impressive season debuts with their 3-0 win over West Ham at Villa Park.

With all the James Milner-Man City rumors swirling around the game, Milner played in what was his last game for Villa and scored as well.

But, Villa's future looks bright thanks to the performance of Marc Albrighton who dominated the wings all day.

Next Game: @ Newcastle, 8:30 AM, Sunday

6. Liverpool (6)

Results: 1-1 Draw with Arsenal

All signs pointed to a Liverpool win over Arsenal on Sunday but thanks to a Pepe Reina error in goal late in the game, Roy Hodgson's club settled for draw with the Gunners.

Next Game: @ Manchester City, 3:00 PM, Monday, ESPN2

5. Manchester City (5)

Results: 0-0 Draw with Tottenham

City was saved from a blowout at the hand of Spurs by Joe Hart. The young England keeper was phenomenal and did everything right to earn the top keeper spot on the depth chart, which could lead to Shay Given's exit.

Also entering Eastlands will be James Milner while the Craig Bellamy saga still goes on.

Next Game: vs. Liverpool, 3:00 PM, Monday, ESPN2

4. Arsenal (3)

Results: 1-1 Draw with Liverpool

Arsenal should have lost to Liverpool Sunday but Reina's mistake handed them a point. The Gunners need to get better and with a match against Blackpool being either a perfect remedy or tough game.

Next Game: vs. Blackpool, 10:00 AM, Saturday, ESPN2

3. Tottenham Hotspur (4)

Results: 0-0 Draw with Manchester City

Spurs should have won their game with Man City but Joe Hart's superhuman performance denied that.

Either way, Spurs played better than Arsenal this week and deserve to jump them in the rankings.

Next Game: @ Stoke, 10:00 AM, Saturday

2. Manchester United (2)

Results: 3-0 win over Newcastle

Sir Alex Ferguson's club did what they were supposed to do on Monday against Newcastle and that was win against a bottom of the table club.

Paul Scholes looked like he has not aged at all with his stellar midfield dominance and his assist on Ryan Giggs' goal was superb.

Next Game: @ Fulham, 11:00 AM, Sunday, FSC

1. Chelsea (1)

 Results: 6-0 win over West Brom

The defending champs took it to West Brom with a 6-0 win that included a hat trick from Didier Drogba and two from Flourent Malouda and Frank Lampard also scored.

Next up is Wigan who are vulnerable to blowout losses.

Next Game: @ Wigan, 12:15 PM, Saturday, FSC