The league never lies? A weekly look at who is making the real moves during the season!
1) Manchester City - All aboard the money train. Seems like City will have a new star on their formidable horizon. Still, we rated them as number one a few weeks back on the basis that they had the most solid of squads and that Carlos Tevez has finally found a home. They will be popping champagne in Manchester in May no doubt.
2) Chelsea - It is becoming little concerning for Chelsea that they can no longer consider themselves true favourites in fixtures that they play without Didier Drogba.
3) Tottenham Hotspur - You have to love the way that this Spurs side is progressing. Harry Redknapp is never shy of providing a good headline, but his assertion that they are a couple of class players away from a title challenge was a little off - they are in fact just one top class striker short.
4) Arsenal - Jack Wilshere is becoming quite the centre piece in The Gunners' season. This time his football was overshadowed by his poor tackling. The truth is that Wilshere most likely sees that as a necessary part of establishing himself in the team and the league. Xavi Hernandez never seems to feel the need to do that. This is England home of coaching the football out of the footballers.
5) Everton - The Blues look back in their groove with talisman Tim Cahill leading the way. There was a sea change on Merseyside last weekend and that will have fed its way through the blue half of the city. Injuries always seem to haunt David Moyes, but it seems it is when they are backed into a corner, it brings out the very best of the Everton fighting spirit.
6) Manchester United - It may have come as a surprise to Oliver Holt at the Mirror, but those who can remember back as far as 2004, will know that when the going gets tough... Wayne gets going. Turning his back on a challenge and those who have backed him is just what Rooney does. Anybody who can release a statement saying 'it's all about winning trophies' tells you all you need to know. Rooney was the darling of Old Trafford, which is quite apt considering the place is packed full of band-wagon jumpers. Lets face it - if Rooney could have found a Spanish passport from somewhere ... he would have packed it for the last World Cup.
7) Aston Villa - When Gerard Houllier appeared back on the scene it all looked a little dated. The fact that he has pieced a Villa side that was drifting into the abyss under Martin O'Neill is very commendable. The long ball appears to be a thing of the past, thankfully - they are solid and have the flair to damage any opponent. Got a feeling this could be a good cup year for Villa.
8) Sunderland - Oh Darren Bent. He gives and then takes away. Just when you think that you have the quality goalscorer to take you onto to the next level - he misses a golden opportunity to take three massive point away from Ewood Park. Those are the fine lines.
9) Bolton Wanderers - Another solid result for The Trotters. These were the fixtures that Sam Allardyce would always win and who cared about the style. Owen Coyle cares about style and so he should. There is no reason why one of the great names in English football should not have admirers beyond the Lancashire hills.
10) West Bromwich Albion - Quite something to get points from Arsenal and Manchester United. The Baggies are willing to have a go and don't seem to have the inferiority complex that most teams are undermined by in the Premier League. You only have to look at Roberto Di Matteo's demeanour to understand why this is the case.
11) Newcastle United - It would be easy to start to give up on Newcastle after they escaped with a point against Wigan. It is not as easy as it looks to roll Wigan over.
Without fully understanding the Andy Carroll conundrum it is hard to say where this rollercoaster season will end.
12) Blackburn Rovers - Rovers will have fancied taking all the points against Sunderland, but a game that had 0-0 written all over it before it started simply ended that way.
13) Liverpool - Well it cannot get much worse. Another investor and another defeat. When people start looking to a hedge fund operator with no knowledge of football as the inspiration to change a season ... then it really is time to give up. The expectation and attention shown towards John W Henry had the 'one Peter Ridsdale' feel to it.
14) Wigan Athletic - To think there were those who questioned the qualities of Roberto Martinez. They keep on taking people by surprise with their quality, but uncertainty will reign as long as they cannot close out their games.
15) Fulham - It is starting to look a little grim for The Cottagers. Mark Hughes has powered his way to some significant draws but they need to start getting points on the board. Draws that were turned into wins last year are often going the other way. Still, Roy Hodgson may be available soon.
16) Stoke City - The Potters were unlucky not to get something from a difficult trip to Bolton. When are they ever not unlucky. The Tony Pulis moanfest continues as does Stoke's poor football. Poor football will eventually lead to poor results.
17) Birmingham City - The Blues are getting anxious. A decent display against the Gunners where they kept things tight. They always keep it tight though. Unchanged.
18) West Ham United - This could and should have been a signature win for The Hammers. For a team that looked lost a matter of weeks ago they are starting to look more than useful.
19) Blackpool - It was always gonna be tough for Blackpool. Referees won't get too many plaudits for giving decisions in favour of The Seasiders. Phil Dowd got it hopelessly wrong on Sunday and he is the best referee in the league. It doesn't look good.
20) Wolverhampton Wanderers - A missed opportunity for Wolves and maybe one that could prove fatal come the end of the season.
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