Premier League Teams Starting to Shape Up

By Brian Lofrumento | 20th October 2008

Premier League Teams Starting to Shape Up | read this item

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Zaki With eight weeks gone in the 2008/09 Premier League season, it appears that the table is starting to show its true shape. The Big Four – Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool – are all hitting their strides as they start stringing together consecutive wins.

At United the trio of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Dimitar Berbatov are firing on all cylinders as United’s goal tally accumulates. At Chelsea, injuries are being covered up by the good form of players like Salomon Kalou who has done brilliantly coming off the bench and grabbing some goals. It’s the same story at Liverpool, where Dirk Kuyt is doing his best to make sure everyone forgets about Fernando Torres while he’s injured. Arsenal, meanwhile, have been disappointing in a few defeats but showed their resilience against Everton this weekend.

Outside of the Big Four, sides like Hull and Aston Villa are proving to everyone that they prepared for this season. Hull have put themselves in a great position to ensure safety this year. Currently sitting in the top half of the table, Hull fans won’t be getting ahead of themselves as I’m sure most of them are just eyeing safety. Villa appear to be the early front runners to challenge the Big Four as they cling on to sixth place. All of this could change, though, when Manchester City finally hit form. A few big signings in January would help.

Tevez Besides these teams in the top half, some players are already surprising everyone. Wigan’s Amr Zaki is a diamond in the rough and is already attracting the interest of other Premiership clubs. Manchester City are reportedly meeting with Zaki’s representatives over a potential January move while Zaki continues to tell Latics fans how happy he is at the northwest club. On the flip side of this dream story, reports of unrest are coming out of Old Trafford as Carlos Tevez has lost his starting place in the Premier League champions and Champions League champions’ side. The addition of Berbatov means someone has to drop out of the side, and with Wayne Rooney’s blistering form it is Tevez that drew the short end of the stick.

What will the rest of October bring in the world’s greatest league? Have your say on the Premiership Talk Forum and leave your predictions in the Premiership Talk Predictions Game.

Brian Lofrumento says:

October 22, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Thanks for the comments, Rik. Who do you see winning the league this year?

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Rik says:

October 22, 2008 at 12:44 pm

Oh and Hull…. WOW! Bet their fans can hardly believe what is happening. But can they sustain their fantastic start. The head says not, the heart says hope so!
Cheers
Rik

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Rik says:

October 22, 2008 at 12:41 pm

Chelsea are looking very good at the moment. Far more attractive football being played under Big Phil than the last two.
Liverpool are winning games when they haven’t hit top form yet, games they would have either lost or drawn in the last few seasons. I know it’s still early, but the game behind those two this sunday will put down a big marker for the season for whichever team wins, especially Liverpool.
Man Utd are hitting form, especially with Rooney, but to me Ronaldo doesn’t look 1005 happy, still pinning for Madrid if you ask me.
Arsenal will be 4th this season, I reckon. Those other 3 above them, but still unsure in what order.
As for relegation, Spurs? Surely not. Hmm!
Cheers
Rik

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