Winners
Liverpool
A trait of Champions is the ability to grind out wins when they are not playing well. Liverpool have not played particularly well this season but has shown a great resilience to come from behind to win games (against Middlesbrough, Manchester United and Manchester City).
After seven weeks Liverpool have shown that that they are legitimate title contenders for the first time in years. The only cloud on the horizon is the injury to Martin Skrtel. Liverpool have conceded only 4 goals on the league this season fixing what was a problem area for Liverpool last season. Liverpool fans will be waiting to see if Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger can forge the same type of partnership.
Hull City
Hull City was expected to challenge Derby’s record for futility this season, not go to North London and pick up two wins in the space of seven days. Even the most optimistic Hull fan understands that Hull will not be in the top three at the end of the season,, but their start should be enough to guarantee Premier League survival for Hull this season.
Manchester United
If the champions can win their game in hand against Fulham they will be in 3rd right behind Liverpool and Chelsea. With Liverpool and Chelsea meeting later this month at Stamford Bridge, United could be sitting in second play come Halloween.
West Brom
With 10 points from its first seven games, West Brom is not looking like the relegation candidates that many had predicted. The bright start from both West Brom and Hull means threatens to ensure that two from a group of established clubs such as Tottenham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Fulham, Bolton, Wigan and even Blackburn could go down.
Losers
Tottenham Hotspur
Winless in their first seven games Spurs are now relegation candidates. That is not to say that I think they will get relegated. I think that they are too good for that. But at some point they have to start winning games or the pressure will overwhelm the team.
It is interesting that Spurs ditched Martin Jol at this point last year because they thought that Ramos was the new Special One. One year later Spurs are bottom of the Premiership and Martin Jol has his Hamburg team top of the Bundesliga. How is that decision working out for you Daniel Levy?
Arsenal
Arsenal’s first seven games have been against West Brom, Fulham, Newcastle, Blackburn, Bolton, Hull and Sunderland. Against this kind of opposition Champion contenders do not drop 7 points. If Arsenal were true contenders they would be 4 points clear at the top of the Premier League with 21 points. For all their pretty play, Arsenal are still too small and inexperienced to be real contenders for the title.
