English Premier League Power Rankings: Week 9
This weekend in the EPL we saw two own goals—one gave Sunderland a victory, the other prevented a clean sheet for West Brom in their win over Fulham.
In the marquee matchup, Arsenal took down Manchester City in form and held them to a clean sheet in a 3-0 win.
In other results, Chelsea cruised over Wolves, Chicharito starred for Manchester United and Liverpool got back on track with a win over Blackburn.
20. Wolverhampton (19)
1 of 20
The start to what may be the hardest string of fixtures in the EPL this season, Wolves were downed 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Next up for Mick McCarthy's club is a Carling Cup match with Manchester United followed by matches with Manchester City, an EPL faceoff with United and then Arsenal.
19. Blackburn (16)
2 of 20
Rovers lost 2-1 to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday and could only count on a Jamie Carragher own goal to get on the scoreboard.
The loss drops Rovers to No.17 in the table, and with a home match with Chelsea up next, the team could be in the relegation zone at this time next week.
18. Blackpool (14)
3 of 20
Blackpool suffered their fourth loss in five games at the hands of Birmingham at St. Andrews Stadium on Saturday.
Ian Holloway's club are now down to 14th in the table and have given up 20 goals in nine games already this season.
Up next for the Tangerines is West Brom at home on Monday night.
17. West Ham United (13)
4 of 20
The Hammers dropped points in a relegation matchup with Newcastle at Upton Park last weekend.
Carlton Cole scored in the 12th minute, but two Newcastle goals went past keeper Robert Green to hand the Hammers a loss.
Road trips to Arsenal and Birmingham are next for the club in their next two EPL games.
16. Fulham (8)
5 of 20
Fulham's winless streak has now reached five games after their 2-1 defeat at the Hawthorns to West Brom on Saturday.
Only a Scott Carson own goal gave the Cottagers an odd number on the scoreboard.
Next up is a home match with Wigan on Saturday.
15. Liverpool (20)
6 of 20
Liverpool got out of their slump with a 2-1 home win over Blackburn.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Fernando Torres struck second half goals to give Roy Hodgson's club a much-needed win, the first under new owner John Henry.
Still in the relegation zone, Liverpool will look to get out of the drop zone with a win at Bolton on Saturday.
14. Wigan (15)
7 of 20
Wigan gained a point at home with their 1-1 draw with Bolton over the weekend.
Hugo Rodallega scored in the 59th minute to give the Latics the lead, but they could not hold on to it.
Roberto Martinez and company may not be able to hold on to keeper Chris Kirkland in the transfer window, with the keeper threatening to quit after being demoted to backup behind Ali Al-Habsi.
The 15th place team in the table now will travel to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham on Saturday.
13. Stoke (12)
8 of 20
The Potters came close to a draw with Manchester United thanks to a Tuncay equalizer in the 81st minute.
But they ended up losing after United scored late to hand Stoke a 2-1 loss.
Now down to 13th in the table, Tony Pulis' club will look to rebound when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton next weekend.
12. Aston Villa (11)
9 of 20
Richard Dunne did score his first goal of the season, but it was an own goal which gave Sunderland a 1-0 win over the Villains.
Up next for Gerard Houllier's club is the Birmingham derby on Sunday where they look to get back on track after getting only one point in the last three matches.
11. Birmingham (17)
10 of 20
Liam Ridgewell and Nikola Zigic scored a goal each for the Blues as they cruised past Blackpool at home on Saturday.
The 2-0 win puts the team up to 12th in the table before the Birmingham derby with Aston Villa on Sunday.
10. Newcastle (18)
11 of 20
Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan not only now live together but score together in games for Chris Hughton's club.
Nolan's goal in the 23rd and Carroll's in the 69th lifted the Magpies up in to ninth place with eleven points.
It is derby time for Newcastle as well on Sunday as they host rivals Sunderland.
9. Everton (10)
12 of 20
A somewhat successful trip to White Hart Lane was the result for the Toffees on the weekend.
Coming away with a draw thanks to the game-opener from Leighton Baines in the 17th minute, it was the only goal that David Moyes' club could muster.
Rumors are swirling yet again that American forward Landon Donovan could join the team on loan in the January transfer window if all goes well.
Next up is a home match with Stoke on Saturday.
8. Bolton (9)
13 of 20
Another match, another point, another Johan Elmander goal for Bolton on Saturday.
The Trotters' 1-1 draw with Wigan gave them points in a fifth straight game (four draws, one win), and they are now in eighth place with twelve points.
Liverpool visits the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.
7. Manchester City (1)
14 of 20
The City of Manchester Stadium was silenced on Sunday thanks to a barrage of goals from Arsenal.
The 3-0 loss was only the second time that City did not score a goal, the first time since August 29th against Sunderland.
A trip to the Molineux Stadium against Wolves is up next for Roberto Mancini's club.
6. Sunderland (7)
15 of 20
Sunderland is a team flying under the radar right now, and thanks to Richard Dunne's own goal, the Black Cats took a 1-0 win from their home match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Steve Bruce now has his team up to seventh in the table and will look to continue their seven-game unbeaten streak in their derby match against Newcastle on Sunday.
5. Tottenham (3)
16 of 20
Rafael van der Vaart's fourth goal of the season gave Spurs an equalizer against Everton at home in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Harry Redknapp's club is unbeaten in October in the EPL and will look to close out the month with a win at Old Trafford on Saturday.
4. Manchester United (6)
17 of 20
After putting the Wayne Rooney problem to rest with a new contract for the England forward, United took down Stoke on the road in a 2-1 win.
Chicharito scored the opener in the 27th minute and the game winner in the 86th to put the Red Devils back up to third in the table. They are now tied with Arsenal and Manchester City with 17 points.
A crucial home match with Tottenham awaits Sir Alex and company on Saturday.
3. West Brom (4)
18 of 20
Roberto di Matteo's club is pulling off the surprise start of the EPL season and continued their form with a 2-1 win over Fulham at home on Saturday.
Youssuf Molumbu and Marc-Antoine Fortune scored goals for the Baggies, propelling them to fifteen points on the season and sixth place in the EPL table.
A trip to Blackpool on Monday awaits before a big clash with Manchester City at the Hawthorns on November 7th.
2. Arsenal (5)
19 of 20
The Gunners were on a mission Sunday at the City of Manchester Stadium, and they succeeded by taking down City 3-0.
Samir Nasri hit a 20th minute opener, with goals from Alex Song in the 66th and Nicklas Bendtner in the 88th to put the dagger in the City defense.
A congested schedule is in front of the Gunners, with four games in two weeks, including their next EPL match Saturday at the Emirates against West Ham.
1. Chelsea (2)
20 of 20
The Blues take back the top spot in the power rankings this week after their 2-0 win over Wolves.
Flourent Malouda and Salomon Kalou got on the score sheet for Chelsea and put them five points clear of Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.
A trip to Ewood Park awaits on Saturday for Carlo Ancelotti's club.
