English Premier League Rankings & Predictions: Gameweek 18
As the temperature cools down and the season heats up, the true title contenders will be weeded down. Over the next couple weeks, we'll learn a few things. Are Manchester United good enough to run away with the title? Will Chelsea be able to return to form before the end of the year? Are Arsenal & Manchester City for real, or are they going to slip up and fall back to the middle of the table? Who will claim the Champions League spots? Answering those questions now would be too ambitious, so I'm just going to rank the teams as they have played up to this point and then make predictions for the upcoming week. Let's get to it!
20. West Ham United
1 of 21
Last 6: D-D-L-W-L-L (5 Points)
Avram Grant has his squad playing well, but the results aren't quite there yet. They need to start winning to avoid relegation, and I don't have any doubt that Grant will have the Hammers doing just that.
19. Wolverhampton Wanderers
2 of 21
Last 6: L-L-L-W-L-W (6 Points)
Wolves earned a hard-fought victory last week, and they are looking more dangerous than they have all season.
After being reserved to one of the lowly two, they have climbed back to the pack, only a win away from leaving the relegation zone.
18. Wigan Athletic
3 of 21
Last 6: D-W-L-L-D-D (6 Points)
The Latics have been tough at home all season. The way the teams under them are playing, that home success is going to have to continue. If not, they are going to head straight to the Championship.
17. Fulham
4 of 21
Last 6: L-D-L-D-L-D (3 Points)
The Cottagers haven't played well this year. A transfer could help, but they have more problems than a single player could ever solve.
They need to start winning games soon, or they are going to be fighting for their Premiership lives all season.
16. Aston Villa
5 of 21
Last 6: W-D-L-L-L-W (7 Points)
Ashley Young & Co. finally were able to win a match. Winning only their second game since September, it had to feel good for Villa. '
With a winnable match this week at Wigan, Villa could win two matches in a row for the first time this season.
I predicted they would play much better this year. Obviously, they haven't, but there is still time for them to climb into the top half of the table.
15. Birmingham City
6 of 21
Last 6: L-D-W-D-D-L (6 Points)
After a four-game undefeated streak, Birmingham suffered a loss last week to Wolves. Yes, Wolves. That's always a tough loss, but a home match could be the remedy.
If they are able to win this week, I don't think there's any reason to doubt them; however, a second straight loss could raise a little cause for concern with the transfer window looming.
14. Everton
7 of 21
Last 6: D-L-D-L-D-D (4 Points)
Everton hasn't won since October, and the team doesn't look good.
Talks about acquiring American Landon Donovan are a good start, but if they don't get some sort of help up top, their goals will continue to be scarce (8 goals in last 7 games).
13. West Bromwich Albion
8 of 21
Last 6: D-L-L-W-W-L (7 points)
The Baggies suffered a tough loss at Villa Park last week, and they continue to be inconsistent.
Obviously, it is tough to expect a team that just got back into the Premiership to be consistent, but I would like to see a bit more from them.
At this point, survival is the key, and I don't think Peter Odemwingie & Co. will have any problem with that.
12. Blackburn
9 of 21
Last 6: W-L-W-L-W-L (9 Points)
This year, the Rovers have had a tale of two seasons. They are extremely tough at home, but they can't seem to win at all on the road.
If they start winning on the road, they have a good shot to climb into the top half of the table; however, if they aren't able to, they are going to be reserved to the bottom half.
11. Liverpool
10 of 21
Last 6: D-L-W-L-W-L (7 Points)
After a tough loss at Newcastle last week, the Reds are looking to rebound before falling any further down the table.
Although their climb up the table has stalled, they are now within a few wins of the top 6, and I wouldn't want to play a healthy Liverpool late in the season.
10. Newcastle United
11 of 21
Last 6: L-D-L-D-L-W (5 points)
The Magpies were able to earn their first victory since Nov. 7 last week. Hopefully, they will able to build off that win and keep rolling into January.
That may be asking a bit much from a team with a brand new manager, but a win in his first match was a promising start.
9 Stoke City
12 of 21
Last 6: W-W-W-D-D-L (11 Points)
Stoke suffered their first lost since Nov. 6 last week, and their response will be crucial to their finish. If they can steal a point at Emirates Stadium this week, it will get them going in the right direction.
Still, as long as they avoid an embarrassment this week, a loss shouldn't set them back too far (especially with Blackburn, Fulham, and Everton following).
8. Blackpool
13 of 21
Last 6: D-L-D-W-D-W (9 Points)
Blackpool used the extra rest time to win at Stoke last week. Their defense is slowly improving, making the Seasiders even more dangerous.
If they maintain their play, they have a legitimate shot of finishing higher than any other newly promoted squad.
7 Sunderland
14 of 21
Last 6: D-W-D-L-W-D (9 Points)
The Black Cats have as many points as goals in their last 4 games (5 each), but they have to be satisfied.
They sit at a solid seventh on the table, and they have the opportunity to climb the table with a home win this week.
It is imperative to defend one's home field in the winter, and it would behoove Sunderland to continue playing well at home.
6 Bolton
15 of 21
Last 6: D-W-W-D-L-W (11 points)
The Wanderers rebounded with a win last week after suffering a defeat to Manchester City the week before. They clash with Sunderland this week, and the winner will be alone in sixth place on the table.
As much as I like Sunderland, a team that is capable of scoring as many goals as Bolton can is always dangerous.
Still winning at the Stadium of Light has been tough this season, and the Wanderers would probably be satisfied leaving with a single point.
5. Tottenham Hotspur
16 of 21
Last 6: D-W-W-W-D-D (12 Points)
The Spurs have played extremely well all year. Outside of the top 4 teams, they have been the most consistent squad.
They breathed a sigh of relief after conceding a late penalty to Chelsea, that Didier Drogba missed, and walked away with a hard-earned point.
Tottenham have a relatively easy schedule for the next couple weeks, and they have a chance to make a move to crash the top four's party at the top. We'll see if that happens.
4. Chelsea
17 of 21
Last 6: W-L-L-D-D-D (6 Points)
It's been tough for the Blues this year. They have suffered from injuries to key players (Lampard, Terry, Drogba, etc.), and they have not responded well.
They had a win wrapped up last week, but Drogba forgot to convert the stoppage-time penalty. Nevertheless, with a win this week, all can be forgiven.
A win over Manchester United this week would bring Chelsea even with the Red Devils. With a loss, well, I'd prefer not to think about that.
3. Manchester City
18 of 21
Last 6: D-D-W-D-W-W (12 Points)
With the victory last week, Manchester City pulled even with Arsenal in all but goal differential. A win this week gives them a chance to hold the top spot this late in December, a tough task for a club usually reserved to mediocrity.
Despite the troubles with Tevez, City seems to finally be clicking. They have conceded the second-fewest goals in the league, and Tevez is always dangerous (assuming he stays).
With Yaya Toure finally figuring the English game out, this team is tough from back to front.
2. Arsenal
19 of 21
Last 6: W-W-L-W-W-L (12 Points)
The Gunners took a step back next week, but there is no reason to worry. Defeating Manchester United at home is a tall task (heck! defeating United at all this year has been nearly impossible), which is why the Gunners have no reason to worry.
Coming back home, they shouldn't have too much trouble with Stoke City this week before hosting Chelsea the Monday after Christmas. As long as Arsenal is able to rebound from the tough loss, they should have no problem competing for the title for the rest of the year.
1. Manchester United
20 of 21
Last 6: W-D-D-W-W-W (14 Points)
Sir Alex Ferguson had his club ready after missing a week due to poor conditions against Blackpool.
They knocked off Arsenal, who are seemingly the top competitor for the title, and now they go to Stamford Bridge to take on an oft-injured Chelsea squad.
If United are able to get three points going away this week, they will be the consensus favorite heading into the New Year.
Predictions
21 of 21
Game of the Week:
Manchester United @ Chelsea: These two teams have been going in opposite directions for the past 2 months, and now they finally meet. As much as I would like to see my Blues defend Stamford Bridge, I'm not sure how much firepower Chelsea have. Frank Lampard is set to return to the starting lineup, which will help the squad, but I don't think it will be enough. It kills me to say, but I think United will get the best of Chelsea this weekend.
Other Matches:
Sunderland 1 Bolton 0
Arsenal 3 Stoke City 1
Birmingham City 0 Newcastle United 1
Blackburn 2 West Ham 1
Wigan 2 Aston Villa 1
Liverpool 3 Fulham 0
WBA 2 Wolves 0
Blackpool 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Manchester City 2 Everton 0
Last Week: 4-3-3
Season (Since Gameweek 4): 59-41-39
