Things are always becoming clearer in the Barclays Premier League, and this week is no different. As more weeks come and go, the table starts to sort itself out with who are contenders, and who has played the bottom cupcakes of the league.
You’re starting to see the top teams come to form as Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal are all in the top four of the league table after seven weeks of games. Chelsea is atop the table with a game Sunday against Arsenal, the only two undefeated teams left, in a London Derby to see the amount they will lead the end of the weekend.
If you remember, the last time Arsenal and Chelsea met up in Stamford Bridge, Chelsea took control early and destroyed Arsenal 6-0. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho called Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a “specialist in failure” after his team emotionally and physically destroyed Arsenal for the rest of the season after that win. The derby this year looks to be just as interesting and if Chelsea wins will go up five points on City.
Speaking of City, they seem to be a tale of two tournaments. During the week, City looked lost as they play teams from around Europe. After losing 3-2 to Bayern Munich, City played Italian side Roma to a 1-1 draw this week. One point in two games is not what City pictured when they entered the UEFA Champions League this season, but in the BPL, it is a whole new ballgame. City has only lost twice while they have tied two matches against Chelsea and Arsenal and winning the four left.
City, in the BPL, has looked strong and have been scoring in bunches, just like they did last season when they won league title. Their defense has come together, but could be better as could their scoring efforts against the lower-tier teams in the BPL.
Southampton is the little engine that could of the BPL, winning their last four matches to catapult them into the top-four teams of the league. The Saints summer signings have come to be intricate parts of their side and have helped Southampton to become the darlings of the young season. I don’t expect them to keep this form the whole year, but we should learn a lot this week as they travel to ace London side Tottenham.
The shock of the season as of now is Liverpool. The 2013-14 BPL runner ups have not shown up recently in matches as they seem to be having trouble to do anything right. Selling Luis Suarez was their first mistake because no matter how many players are signed with the large chunk of change that was brought in from the sale to FC Barcelona, you cannot make up the amount of goals, the passion and the attention that Suarez brought the team.
Fellow goal-scorer Daniel Sturridge is hurt right now, so the attention is solely on Italian Mario Balotelli. Balotelli, as well as Liverpool as a whole, have had trouble finding the net even with the high amount of shots they put up. If Balotelli struggles to find the back of the net, Liverpool will not be back in the top four for next season and will probably lose their top-teenager Raheem Sterling to a bigger European side.
The BPL will be taking a break for International breaks this week so there will be no games this weekend. Keep your eye out on the international matches, however. In Italy, Southamptons Graziano Pelle has replaced Balotelli on the roster sheet due to one mans uprising crossed with the other man’s downfall.