Premier League Power Rankings - week 7

The league never lies? A weekly look at who is making the real moves during the season!

1) Manchester City - The big question is whether Manchester City can go the distance. To be fair they most likely have to slog it out until Christmas. By that time they will look a lot more attractive to some really big names. Roberto Mancini has got into the great habit of getting things right. He is handling the precocious talent of Adam Johnson like a dream and getting the best out of him. City have also turned the heads of the referees union. Martin Atkinson looked on Sunday a bigger friend to the stars than Maz Clifford. Welcome to the big time.

2) Chelsea - Didier Drogba dismantles Arsenal again. It is strange that Drogba is never given the credit that Thierry Henry had during his golden age. Maybe Chelsea win too much. Chelsea have no weakness in their team, you just have to believe complacency and their preoccupation will get in the way this time around.

3) Tottenham Hotspur - The tide has turned in North London. The penny has finally dropped at The Lane that five across midfield will allow them to challenge the big boys. In Van der Vaart and Modric they have two of the best playmakers around. Maybe it was seeing his team dominated by Arsenal across the middle that has forced Harry Redknapp to change - but abandoning the 'Crouch-Defoe axis of Pompey' is a massive leap in the right direction .

4) Arsenal - There is no reason for Arsenal to give up - nor is their a need for their supporters to be too upset. The Gunners have to accept that they are a culture. They are a footballing tradition. They are more Ajax of Amsterdam than AC of Milan. That makes them extremely loveable - but not backable.


5) Manchester United - What's this? Glazer's investment on the slide? United cannot get into their groove. While Wayne Rooney tries to find his soul or whatever he is doing right now, they look a side that is simply out of date. In years gone by they have been led by Cantona, Keane, Ronaldo - today they are led by Berbatov.

6) Everton - There have been many signs that Moyes' tesm were starting to get things right. Having balanced the side with the emerging Seamus Coleman it is to be expected that Everton will climb the table at a rapid pace. They may rue their start to the season, but only as the Champions League places are allocated.

7) Sunderland - The Black Cats showed exactly what they are all about on Saturday. When they can feed off the crowd and play with intensity there are few better at making life difficult. Steve Bruce is learning all the time and it was depressing to hear that he still calls Alex Ferguson boss. Sunderland and Steve Bruce should believe in their own legacy. Everything is in place.

8) Aston Villa - Emile Heskey is back with a bang - or maybe a competitive shoulder charge if you prefer. Houllier has been impressive in his first few games. Sceptical Villa fans seem encouraged, probably at the sight of the ball touching the grass on a regular basis for the first time in many years. The less we see of John Carew - the more Villa can believe.

9) Newcastle United - There are defeats that can leave you devastated - there are others that can be seen as a building block in the greater scheme of things. The Geordies outplayed Manchester City for long periods on Sunday. The fact that the footballing thug that apologists call Nigel de Jong was allowed to stay on the pitch was a travesty to the game. Chris Hughton is the best manager in the league at the moment. Two big penalty decisions turned the game - but Newcastle are giving anybody a game .. anywhere and everywhere.

10) Bolton Wanderers - Kevin Davies has got his reward for jumping by getting called up by Fabio Capello. Presumably Capello was in shock that a player born in England had the ability to be selfless. Bolton have the look about them as a team. Working for each other and passing with a freedom - this is Owen Coyle's Bolton. Impressive.

11) Liverpool - It would be too easy to push Liverpool down deeper than this, but quite frankly any lower and you would be looking at a car crash. That may be in a few weeks time. Off the field 2000 or rather 5% of those who attended Anfield on Sunday had another protest.95% seemed unmoved. Many believe that boycotting the games would be the true example of being a true red. Seems like Fernando Torres has decided to lead that particular form of revolution. The players lack belief and focus. Roy Hodgson changed the squad in the summer. It looked weaker on paper - it is weaker on the pitch. Rafa Benitez may have been as good as he thought.

12) Blackburn Rovers - If Rovers are to do anything in this league they need to be putting up a better fight against a Stoke team who look up to Big Sam like as the true footballing scientist. Paul Robinson kept them in it. The awayey need to be putting up a better fight against a Stoke team who look up to Big Sam like as the form started to look like last term and that it the worry.

13) West Bromwich Albion - After their day in the sun at The Emirates it would be right to say that three points at home to Bolton would have been hoped for if not expected. The reality is that it doesn't work like that. The Baggies kept it ticking over nicely. They are showing a maturity that hasn't been apparent in their previous seasons in the top flight.

14) Fulham - Another game, another point. You could argue that Fulham are a lot better than this but the truth is that they cannot put teams away. They may do when strikers get fit but that is a big assumption to make. Truth is they epitomise a mid-table outfit. It just has the feeling that the manager and their better players have one eye on a better offer elsewhere.

15) Wigan Athletic - The pressure has been well and truly released on Latics. Good for you Dave Whelan. Wigan are capable of playing football as well as anybody. They may start to prove it. Danger coming to an away ground near you!

16) Stoke City - This is a purple patch for City. This might just be the run of form that keeps them in the league. That horrendous long throw just gets worse though. No team can have any credibility when they continue that tactic. Sooner or later they will fall out of fashion with referees and they will be penalised for all their borderline tactics. Probably when Arsene Wenger decides to court SkySports News for a week on his soap box. Stoke can play decent stuff - they just don't like to do it.

17) Birmingham City - This was always going to be a difficult season for The Blues. They have had money which for a club like Birmingham can do more harm than good. It raises expectation and then nothing generally happens. No player of real quality will joing 16 of the teams in the Premier League. Now the fans start to doubt the only bright spot at the club - the coaching of Alex McLeish. Birmingham have been kept away from the danger zone with their great home form. The boos that sounded in a half empty stadium does not bode well.

18) West Ham United - The Hammers have hauled themselves away from the mire that they appeared to wallowing in. That is not the same as pulling away from the inevitable relegation battle that awaits. A draw against Fulham is not a disaster - but it is not enough for a team capable of going ten games without a win.

19) Blackpool - Well the dream is alive. Anfield was the ideal place for Ian Holloway's team to go on Sunday. They are great at playing without fear and will no doubt take advantage of a few more nervy performances before the season is out. It looks like Blackpool will push this all the way.

20) Wolverhampton Wanderers - Yes you are that type of team Mick and yes Mr Henry is that type of player. He was a disgrace at Goodison and then the tactics and treatment of Joey Barton sent football back to the 1970s. There is no doubt that Henry's tackle should be punished with a 7-match ban. Wolves have a couple of good strikers and hopefully Matt Jarvis will not be dragged down. The dirtiest team in the league - they look to have run out of ideas.