English Premier League Power Rankings: Week 29
This week in the Premier League, Manchester United extended their lead to seven points thanks to Wayne Rooney's hat trick, along with Arsenal and Chelsea both losing points as they both drew.
In the relegation battle, West Brom and Birmingham were the winners this week as they both won and got further away from the relegation zone, while West Ham and Wolves both sank lower in the relegation zone as they both suffered tough losses.
20. Blackpool (18)
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Blackpool did not look good at all on Sunday on the road at Craven Cottage.
The 3-0 loss dropped the club down to 17th place in the table, one point ahead of the teams mired in the relegation zone.
The Tangerines still have only two wins since the beginning of 2011 and now with four straight home matches—they must string together some positive results or they will be back in the Championship next season.
19. Wolverhampton (12)
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Wolves were beaten badly on their trip up to Tyneside as they went down 4-1 to Newcastle.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was the only player to find the back of the net for Wolves, but that was merely a consolation goal in the second half.
Mick McCarthy's club dropped down to 19th in the table ahead of their home clash with Everton on Saturday.
18. Sunderland (15)
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Sunderland were one of the three teams in the Premier League this week to suffer a beating on the road.
The Black Cats lost to Manchester City by a 5-0 score and it continued their seven game winless streak.
If Steve Bruce's club do not start winning now, they could be drug into the relegation battle as they sit in 12th on 38 points.
17. West Ham (11)
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West Ham had a great first half, but they had an even worse second half against Manchester United on Saturday.
The Hammers delighted the Upton Park crowd by going up by two goals thanks to two Mark Noble goals but once the second half started, it went down hill.
Avram Grant's club gave up four goals to United and the loss dropped them back into the relegation zone at 18th.
16. Blackburn (17)
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Even with Steven N'Zonzi being sent off in the 76th minute, Blackburn were able to hold Arsenal to a draw on Saturday at the Emirates.
The valuable point that Rovers earned kept them in 14th place with 34 points going into a key match in the relegation fight with Birmingham on Saturday at Ewood Park.
15. Wigan (16)
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Wigan were able to snag a point at home against Tottenham on Saturday.
The 0-0 draw at the DW Stadium kept the Latics at the bottom of the table with 31 points but it is the second consecutive positive result for the club.
Roberto Martinez and company will head to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea on Saturday.
14. Birmingham (20)
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Kevin Phillips and Craig Gardner both scored a goal a piece in the Blues' 2-1 win over Bolton on Saturday.
The win broke a four game winless streak and it catapulted the club up to 15th in the table as they head to Ewood Park for a crucial match up with Blackburn on Saturday.
13. Aston Villa (14)
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Villa played in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Everton on Saturday.
Darren Bent found the net twice—in the 47th and 68th minutes—to give the Villains their two goals.
The Villains will look to avenge their 6-0 loss to Newcastle earlier this season on Sunday at Villa Park.
12. Newcastle (19)
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Newcastle had a scoring outburst at St. James' Park on Saturday against Wolves.
Kevin Nolan, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands and Jonas Gutierrez all scored in the 4-1 win.
The Magpies jumped up to ninth place in the table and can now sit comfortably knowing that they will not have to join the relegation fight.
Next up is a trip to Villa Park on Sunday.
11. West Brom (13)
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Chris Brunt scored two second half penalties to upset Liverpool at the Hawthorns on Saturday.
After being down a goal, the two goal comeback moved the Baggies up to 13th in the table and Roy Hodgson may be leading West Brom to an escape away from the relegation zone.
The Baggies could improve their place in the table even more if the beat Sunderland on the road on Saturday.
10. Bolton (7)
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A Johan Elmander 70th minute goal was not enough to salvage a comeback for Bolton as they lost on the road to Birmingham, 2-1.
Owen Coyle's club dropped a spot to eighth in the table and now head into a home match with West Ham on Saturday before their FA Cup semifinal against Stoke at Wembley.
9. Liverpool (2)
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Liverpool dropped a shocker to West Brom on Saturday as they conceded two second half penalties.
Martin Skrtel did open the scoring for the Reds but after giving up the penalties, they could not recover.
The sixth placed club will face Manchester City at Anfield on Monday in a crucial top of the table clash.
8. Stoke (9)
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Jonathan Walters scored early in the 8th minute to give the Potters an early lead over Chelsea.
The Potters ended up conceding one goal and ended up with a 1-1 home draw with Chelsea.
The result was only the fifth draw in the season, which is a league low.
Before their FA Cup semifinal at Wembley, Tony Pulis and company will head to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham on Saturday.
7. Arsenal (8)
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Arsenal could not capitalize on a ten man Blackburn squad and ended in a goalless draw at the Emirates.
The Gunners are now on a three game winless streak and are now seven points behind Manchester United in the title race.
The Gunners will try to get back on track when they travel to Bloomfield Road on Sunday to face Blackpool.
6. Tottenham (5)
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The Tottenham goal drought continued on Saturday as they failed to score or concede a goal against Wigan.
Spurs have gone two games without a goal in the league and four games without a win.
Harry Redknapp and company start a three game home stand in the league as they start it on Saturday against Stoke.
5. Fulham (10)
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Bobby Zamora scored twice and Dickson Etuhu added a third to give Fulham a 3-0 win over Blackpool on Sunday.
The win moved the Cottagers back up to 10th in the table and they have hit the magical 40 points, so they should have no fear of the relegation battle.
Mark Hughes and company will visit Old Trafford on Saturday to take on Manchester United.
4. Everton (4)
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Everton played to a draw with Aston Villa in a game where they should have won.
The 2-2 draw should have been a 3-2 win after Jermaine Beckford's shot looked like it hit the crossbar and crossed the line, but it was not given by referee Mike Jones.
The draw did move the Toffees up to seventh in the table and are only four points behind their Merseyside rivals in Liverpool for sixth.
3. Chelsea (1)
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Didier Drogba's 33rd minute equalizer gave the Blues a 1-1 draw at Stoke on Saturday.
The draw dropped Chelsea down to fourth, but they are still five points ahead of Tottenham for the last Champions League spot.
Carlo Ancelotti and company will host Wigan on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
2. Manchester City (6)
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Adam Johnson, Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure all hit the back of the net for City in their 5-0 rout of Sunderland on Sunday.
The win moved Roberto Mancini's club up to third in the table and will head to Anfield to face Liverpool and a win may move them up to second.
1. Manchester United (3)
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Wayne Rooney powered a stunning comeback against West Ham on Saturday.
Goals in the 65th, 73rd and 79th minutes gave Rooney a hat trick at Upton Park.
Chicharito added a fourth goal for United in the 84th minute.
The leaders will host Fulham on Saturday at Old Trafford, where they will look to extend their seven point lead over Arsenal.
