English Premier League Power Rankings: Week 16
This week in the English Premier League, Park Ji-Sung was a hero, Didier Drogba was a hero then a goat with a missed penalty.
Manchester United, thanks to Park, beat Arsenal 1-0 while Chelsea dropped more points in their 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
Alan Pardew made his Newcastle debut after the controversial firing of Chris Hughton, while another controversy spewed out of Blackburn as Sam Allardyce was sacked Monday after Rovers loss to Bolton.
20. West Ham (20)
1 of 20
The Hammers suffered their ninth loss of the season at Upton Park on Saturday.
A late goal from defender James Tomkins was a small consolation in the 3-1 loss to Manchester City that kept the Hammers bottom of the table.
It is rumored that Avram Grant has two games left to right the ship or will get the axe from the West Ham management.
19. Wigan (17)
2 of 20
Wigan were on the defensive during the majority of their match against Everton on Saturday, and the defensive approach succeeded.
The goalless draw upped the Latics' point total to 16, keeping them level with Fulham.
Roberto Martinez and club will host Aston Villa on Saturday at the DW Stadium,
18. Fulham (16)
3 of 20
The struggles continue for Mark Hughes' Fulham club.
A goalless draw with Sunderland gave the Cottagers their EPL-leading 10th draw of the season.
Going into the festive period, Fulham need to start recording wins and will look to start a win streak at Anfield Saturday night.
17. Everton (15)
4 of 20
A week after their impressive point against Chelsea, the Toffees disappointed by ending up in a goalless draw with Wigan at home.
The draw kept David Moyes' club in 15th place in the table, but they need to start climbing up the table if they want to avoid the relegation battle.
16. Birmingham (9)
5 of 20
Birmingham fell to 16th place in the table after their loss to, bottom of the table, Wolves on Sunday.
The 1-0 loss puts the Blues closer to the relegation battle which any team wants to avoid.
The Blues will look to reverse their fortunes against Newcastle at home on Saturday.
15. Wolverhampton (18)
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Stephen Hunt's strike at the end of the first half gave Wolves a much needed win over Birmingham on Sunday.
Hunt's second goal of the season was able to boost Wolves three points above West Ham for last in the league.
A trip to The Hawthorns is next up on Sunday as Wolves play West Brom.
14. West Brom (11)
7 of 20
Paul Scharner's 89th-minute goal was not enough to muster a West Brom comeback on Saturday at Villa Park.
The 11th place club play at Wolves on Sunday morning.
13. Aston Villa (19)
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Villa got back to winning ways with 2-1 win at home over West Brom.
Stewart Downing scored in the 25th, and Emile Heskey scored the eventual game winner in the 80th minute.
The win broke the Villains three-game losing streak and boosted them up to 14th in the EPL table.
12. Blackburn (13)
9 of 20
What a weekend for Blackburn fans to forget.
First, a late Bolton goal in stoppage time gave the team a loss, and then, manager Sam Allardyce was sacked on Monday.
In what was another shocking sacking, following Newcastle's dismissal of Chris Hughton last week, in the Premier League and another that shocked the club's players.
Steve Kean will serve as caretaker manager as the new ownership, Venky's of India, search for a new manager.
11. Sunderland (12)
10 of 20
A trip to Craven Cottage resulted in a goalless draw for Sunderland on Saturday.
The point boosted the Black Cats' total to 24 on the season, and they now sit seventh in the table.
A big match is next up for Steve Bruce and company as they host Bolton on Sunday at the Stadium of Light.
10. Stoke (6)
11 of 20
The Potters suffered a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of DJ Campbell and Blackpool on Saturday.
In the process, their five-game unbeaten streak was snapped.
Tony Pulis and company venture over to the Emirates on Saturday to square off against Arsenal.
9. Liverpool (8)
12 of 20
Liverpool's roller coaster season continued with a 3-1 loss to Newcastle at St. James' Park.
Dirk Kuyt's 49th-minute goal was the only goal managed by Roy Hodgson's side.
Good news for the Reds came when news broke that Steven Gerrard should be fit for their home match with Fulham on Saturday.
8. Blackpool (10)
13 of 20
D.J. Campbell powered Blackpool past Stoke on Saturday with his 48th-minute goal.
The win moved the Tangerines up to 10th place in the table, ahead of two big matches with Tottenham and then Liverpool; the positive is both games are being played at Bloomfield Road.
7. Newcastle (14)
14 of 20
Alan Pardew's Newcastle managerial debut was successful with his club beating Liverpool 3-1.
Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Andy Carroll all found the back of the net in the home win.
Next up for Pardew and company is a road trip to St. Andrews' Stadium to face Birmingham.
6. Arsenal (1)
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Arsenal did not look like a title challenger against Manchester United on Monday night.
The Gunners only forced five shots on goal and not one chance that really challenged Edwin van der Sar.
The second place team in the table look to stop the United loss from rolling into further losses when they host Stoke on Saturday.
5. Chelsea (7)
16 of 20
Didier Drogba went from hero to match loser in a matter of 20 minutes at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
The Ivorian forward scored the equalizer in the 70th minute, but then, missed a penalty shot in stoppage time leaving the match at 1-1 draw.
Chelsea are now winless since November 10th, a total of six matches in all competitions and need to right the ship at fourth in the table with Manchester United coming to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
4. Tottenham (4)
17 of 20
Spurs survived a Didier Drogba equalizer to hold on to a 1-1 draw thanks to Drogba's missed penalty.
Roman Pavlyuchenko scored for Spurs in the 15th minute for their only goal.
Still at fifth in the table, Harry Redknapp and company will take their talents to Bloomfield Road on Sunday to face Blackpool.
3. Bolton (5)
18 of 20
Mark Davies went sent off in the 56th minute, Blackburn equalized in the 87th minute and Stuart Holden was the hero in the 88th minute.
The American midfielder scored his second goal of the season to give the Trotters a 2-1 win.
Owen Coyle's club have been surprisingly consistent sitting sixth in the table on 26 points.
2. Manchester City (3)
19 of 20
It was all about Yaya Toure on Saturday at Upton Park.
The City midfielder scored in the 30th minute, and then, caused another goal in the 73rd minute.
Adam Johnson came off the bench and scored the third and final goal for City in their 3-1 win over West Ham.
Crisis hit the club after the match when Carlos Tevez put in a transfer request and will leave the club in the January transfer window.
1. Manchester United (2)
20 of 20
Park Ji-Sung has the flare for the dramatic in big games and showed yet again why with his 41st-minute header found the back of the net against Arsenal.
The goal was the only goal in the 1-0 win for United that put them top of the table with 34 points, two clear of Arsenal and Manchester City.
The reward for a win over Arsenal? A trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday.
