Top Fives in English Football: Ranking the Best Teams and Players

Top 5 Premiership Teams Right Now

1. Chelsea (13 points in their last six): The Blues continue to enjoy a comfortable margin at the top of the table, which was helped by a 2-1 road win at Blackburn Rovers.

2. Manchester United (12 points in their last six): The unbeaten run to start the season has reached 10 after a 2-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur last round.

3. Manchester City (12 points in their last six): They still sit fourth in the table despite losing their last two, their latest being a 2-1 road defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

4. West Bromwich Albion (11 points in their last six): Have been able to maintain fifth in the league despite losing on the road at Blackpool and being outscored on the campaign.

5. Everton (11 points in their last six): They’ve put a disastrous start behind them and have gone 3-0-2 in their last five to jump up to eighth in the Premier League.

Top 5 Football League Teams Right Now

1. Cardiff City (Championship) (16 points in their last six): They have moved into first in the Championship after winning their fifth in a row, a 3-1 home win over Norwich City.

2. Portsmouth (Championship) (16 points in their last six): Pompey are now 5-0-1 in their last six contests and just one point out of playoff position after a 2-1 home win last round.

3. Southampton (League One) (15 points in their last six): Saints have reached the playoff positions for the first time this year after a 4-0 thrashing of Dagenham & Redbridge at home.

4. Brighton & Hove Albion (League One) (14 points in their last six): The Seagulls remain hot, winning their fourth in a row, 3-0 over Exeter City at home in the last round.

5. Chesterfield (League Two) (14 points in their last six): The League Two leaders have now won four of their last five after a huge 5-2 home win over Accrington Stanley.

Top 5 Premiership Players Right Now

1. Kevin Nolan, Newcastle United Midfielder: Had a hat trick and ran his total to seven goals on the season in the Magpies 5-1 thrashing of Sunderland.

2. Ben Foster, Birmingham Goalkeeper: Had his second straight clean sheet and fourth of the season in the 0-0 road draw at Aston Villa.

3. Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea Defender: Scored the game winner, his first goal of the season, in the Blues 2-1 road win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

4. Nani, Manchester United Forward: Scored his fourth goal to seal the Red Devils 2-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur and run their unbeaten streak to 10.

5. Lukasz Fabianski, Arsenal Goalkeeper: Had his second straight clean sheet in the Gunners 1-0 home win over West Ham United.

Top 5 Matches To Keep an Eye on This Weekend

1. Premier League: Arsenal vs. Newcastle United, Saturday: The Magpies travel to London to face the Gunners and try to pull themselves a little closer to the top four.

2. FA Cup First Round: Southampton vs. Shrewsbury Town, Saturday: The Saints, who have reached the top six in League One, could get a test from the Shrews, who sit fourth in League Two at the moment.

3. FA Cup First Round: Bury vs. Exeter City, Saturday: This should be an interesting matchup of a high-table League Two side hosting a mid-table League One squad.

4. Championship: Cardiff City vs. Swansea City, Sunday: Neither team has lost in their last six matches, which makes for a big time matchup at the top of the table.

5. Premier League: Manchester City vs. Manchester United, Wednesday: The first Manchester derby of the year sees both teams firmly planted in the top of the table trying to catch league-leading Chelsea.

5 Matches Whose Scores You May Just Want To Catch on Sky Sports

1. Premier League: Blackburn Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic, Saturday: The home side is in danger; the road side is just out of danger; will the roles reverse this weekend?

2. Championship: Bristol City vs. Preston North End, Saturday: This match is a mirror image of the above; one squad may be in danger, the other just out after the weekend.

3. Championship: Middlesbrough vs. Crystal Palace, Saturday: The bottom two teams in the Championship have lost eight of their last nine matches combined.

4. FA Cup First Round: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Woking, Saturday: The League One leaders should have no problem with the visiting Cardinals from Conference South.

5. FA Cup First Round: Harrow Borough vs. Chesterfield, Saturday: The League Two leaders have to go on the road but should have no problem against struggling Boro.