Premier League Handicap: One month in, how do teams look?
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The switch window is closed, and all Premier League golf equipment now know the squads that should get them by the primary 20 rounds of the season.
For some it was a frantic finish to their summer season enterprise, and Chelsea for one continued to signal gamers; for others, reminiscent of Arsenal, incoming transfers had been wrapped up early in the summertime.
Signings and outcomes can change perceptions in fact, so followers who had been fearing the worst only a month in the past may now be relishing the return after the worldwide break. For that, simply ask supporters of Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest. And for others (look away, Manchester United supporters), negativity is beginning to creep in.
Before a ball was kicked, we seemed on the prospects of every membership. How was their squad wanting? Where did they should strengthen? What had been the expectations for the marketing campaign?
A month on, we assess each membership, considering any ultimate transfers and the outcomes of the primary 4 weekends.
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How the Handicap works
Is it a prediction article? Not fairly. This is about how teams look at the moment in comparison with a month in the past. Importantly, we’re not saying that is how the league desk will end — however fairly how a workforce’s prospects might have modified since Aug. 7, when the unique article was revealed.
For occasion, do Wolves now have a aim scorer? And do Forest have a first-choice goalkeeper?
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City workforce obtain the bottom stage of 0, and everybody else performs catch-up. The listing exhibits how many factors every membership is behind City relying on how their begin to the season has gone, and how efficient their switch window was.
Is Manchester United’s preseason intention of a snug top-four end now doubtful? And has Chelsea’s newest splurge on new gamers made any distinction?
Last season’s ultimate league place: 1
Current league place: 1
City all of the sudden look stronger than ever
There was a degree through the summer season when you could possibly have argued that Manchester City’s squad was weaker than the one which gained the treble, following the departures of Ilkay Gündogan and Riyad Mahrez, however that is not the case now.
They acted rapidly to signal Jérémy Doku (£55m, Stade Rennais) and Matheus Nunes (£53m, Wolves), including to Mateo Kovacic (£25m, Chelsea) and Josko Gvardiol (£77m, RB Leipzig). Even with Kevin De Bruyne out for an prolonged interval, they’re nonetheless the workforce to beat at dwelling and overseas.
Four wins from 4 within the Premier League has already put them on target for a fourth title in a row. — Rob Dawson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? No, City are nonetheless everybody’s title favourites.
2. Arsenal -8 factors
(begin of season: 2nd, -1)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 2
Points behind Man City final season: 5
Current league place: 5
Injury blow, however causes to be optimistic
Losing new signing Jurriën Timber (£34m, Ajax) to a knee damage for almost all of the season left Arsenal scrambling on the finish of the window.
Their makes an attempt to signal a substitute had been predicated upon transferring on different gamers to release money and a spot within the squad however they struggled till very late within the window. Ripping up Nicolas Pépé’s contract with a yr remaining to permit him to affix Trabzonspor on a free switch, writing off the £72m they spent 4 years in the past, says all of it. David Raya, signed on mortgage from Brentford for the season so as to add competitors for Aaron Ramsdale, was the one current addition.
Arsenal haven’t been at their highest to date however 10 factors from a attainable 12 and a promising begin for report signing Declan Rice (£100m, West Ham) suggests a title problem needs to be inside their grasp. — James Olley
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Still anticipated to problem, however Man City look stronger than a month in the past.
3. Liverpool -9 factors
(begin of season: sixth, -22)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 5
Points behind Man City final season: 22
Current league place: 3
Salah stays, and Liverpool begin strongly
The sudden exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League left Liverpool scrambling for midfield additions through the ultimate month of the window; they missed out on prime targets Moisés Caicedo and Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia, each to Chelsea.
Wataru Endo (£16m) and Ryan Gravenberch (£34m) finally arrived, from Stuttgart and Bayern Munich respectively, to plug the gaps. The largest information of the window for Liverpool, nonetheless, was rejecting Al Ittihad’s £150m deadline-day provide for Mohamed Salah.
Transplanting a whole midfield unit in a single summer season is a raffle by supervisor Jurgen Klopp, however he had little choice. At least they’d moved rapidly in the summertime to signal Alexis Mac Allister (£35m) from Brighton and RB Leipzig’s Dominik Szoboszlai (£60m),
Liverpool have the depth to compete and their defence and attacking shops stay sturdy, so the membership emerged within the optimistic from a tough summer season. — Mark Ogden
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Liverpool have began effectively, with 10 factors from a attainable 12, and will as soon as once more show to be Manchester City’s largest home rivals.
4. Tottenham Hotspur -18 factors
(begin of season: eighth, -27)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 8
Points behind Man City final season: 29
Current league place: 2
Harry who?
Losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich may have forged a shadow over Tottenham’s season however their begin underneath Ange Postecoglou has reinvigorated a beforehand disgruntled fanbase.
Three wins and 11 targets scored with new arrival James Maddison (£40m, Leicester) glowing in a remodelled assault bodes effectively for the harder challenges which lie forward.
Chairman Daniel Levy has a status for last-minute enterprise and a deadline-day transfer for Brennan Johnson (£47m) from Nottingham Forest provides additional pleasure, though curiosity in Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly got here too late within the day.
There is a suspicion Spurs stay susceptible defensively however Postecoglou has many Tottenham followers believing the post-Kane period is nothing to concern. — Olley
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Positivity has changed negativity in spades, and Spurs may problem for the highest 4 primarily based on their begin.
Last season’s ultimate league place: 6
Points behind Man City final season: 27
Current league place: 6
Do Brighton have sufficient to make prime 4?
Anyone who thought Brighton would battle after the departures of Mac Allister and Caicedo should rethink their predictions, as a result of the Seagulls look simply pretty much as good as they did final season. If the 18-year-old Evan Ferguson continues his wonderful begin — he is scored 4 targets, together with a hat trick in opposition to Newcastle — the Seagulls may have the targets to knock on the door of the highest 4.
Ansu Fati is an eye catching mortgage signing from Barcelona, whereas the arrival of 19-year-old midfielder Carlos Baleba (£23m) from Lille is additional proof of a membership that plans forward. Germany worldwide Mahmoud Dahoud had already arrived on a free switch from Borussia Dortmund.
The midfield rebuild is full, Brighton sit sixth having gained three of their 4 fixtures and they’re the highest scorers within the division — forward of Man City and Spurs. The dwelling loss to a resurgent West Ham was a shock blip, however the early proof suggests Roberto De Zerbi’s workforce will certainly be within the battle for the European locations once more — although a first-ever marketing campaign within the UEFA Europa League presents unknown challenges. — Dale Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Brighton are turning into everybody’s second-favourite workforce with the best way they play, and so they appear to be defying each prediction after a participant leaves.
6. Manchester United -23 factors
(begin of season: third, -12)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 3
Points behind Man City final season: 14
Current league place: 11
Concerns develop after stuttering begin
The largest query mark after United’s summer season enterprise is whether or not Rasmus Hojlund (£64m, Atalanta), at 20 years outdated, could be the person to attain the targets that had been lacking from Erik ten Hag’s workforce final season.
The optimism after Ten Hag’s first marketing campaign has disappeared after an underwhelming begin and there are already fears amongst followers that this season will battle to construct on the progress achieved final yr.
United began slowly final season and turned it round so it is not panic stations simply but, however they should begin build up some momentum rapidly to regular the ship.
However, with Jadon Sancho at loggerheads with the teaching workers and Antony unavailable for choice, Ten Hag’s attacking choices have dwindled. — Dawson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Preseason confidence has actually been drained and they should flip the nook.
7. Newcastle United -28 factors
(begin of season: fifth, -19)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 4
Points behind Man City final season: 28
Current league place: 14
Poor begin hasn’t lowered expectations
It was a quiet finish to the window for Newcastle, with solely Lewis Hall transferring to St James’ Park after the beginning of the season. The Chelsea left-back was signed to bolster defensive choices, however there have been no different important additions to the squad.
Financial truthful play restrictions hampered Newcastle’s capacity to signal a number of gamers through the switch window, so solely Sandro Tonali (£55m, AC Milan), Valentino Livramento (£32m, Southampton) and Harvey Barnes (£38m, Leicester) had been introduced in for the first-team squad previous to Hall’s arrival. Newcastle arguably overperformed with a shallow squad final season and so they nonetheless look quick on depth and high quality after their summer season enterprise, which could possibly be a fear heading right into a Champions League marketing campaign.
Newcastle have made a woeful begin to the season, shedding three of their 4 league video games, and so they have additionally been given a troublesome Champions League group alongside Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund. And their first likelihood of a trophy within the Carabao Cup has been made a lot more durable by drawing Manchester City within the third spherical. — Ogden
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Expectations of Howe and his workforce repeating final season’s top-four end stay, however they’re now preventing an uphill battle to attain that.
8. West Ham United -29 factors
(begin of season: fifteenth, -47)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 14
Points behind Man City final season: 49
Current league place: 4
Fear turns to hope after excellent begin
What a distinction a month makes. A couple of days earlier than the season began, West Ham had misplaced Declan Rice and hadn’t signed a single participant. Fans had been beginning to query boss David Moyes, although he gained the Europa Conference League. Fears had been that final season’s struggles within the Premier League would solely worsen.
And then West Ham signed Edson Álvarez (£35m) from Ajax and James Ward-Prowse (£30m) from relegated Southampton. Then adopted centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos (£19m) from VfB Stuttgart and the thrilling Ghanaian ahead Mohammed Kudus (£35m), additionally from Ajax.
The Hammers have gained three of their first 4 matches, together with victories in opposition to Chelsea and Brighton, to take a seat fourth within the desk. Moyes nonetheless has to completely combine all his new signings, and all that preseason negativity has been forgotten.
If ever there is a case research in how to not decide a membership earlier than a ball has been kicked and the switch window has closed, that is it. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? You guess. A month in the past you’d have discovered West Ham followers betting on relegation; now they are going to count on a top-half end — no less than.
9. Aston Villa -30 factors
(begin of season: 4th, -18)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 7
Points behind Man City final season: 28
Current league place: 10
Waiting for the brand new signings to mattress in
Villa might sit in midtable in the mean time, however they are going to nonetheless really feel happy with their begin and their summer season enterprise with extra beneficial fixtures to come back.
With loanees Clément Lenglet and Nicolò Zaniolo added to earlier summer season signings Pau Torres (£31.5m, Villarreal), Youri Tielemans (free, Leicester) Moussa Diaby (£51m, Bayer Leverkusen), Villa have a squad that appears able to balancing the calls for of UEFA Europa Conference League soccer, too. Diaby specifically has had a wonderful begin. Philippe Coutinho’s inauspicious keep within the Midlands is over after he headed to Qatari champions Al Duhail for the season.
The heavy defeats at Newcastle and Liverpool could also be trigger for concern, as these are the golf equipment Villa should problem if they’re to complete increased than seventh this season. So maybe the early-season goals of battling for a spot within the Champions League might show to be ambitions too lofty. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Preseason discuss of a tilt on the prime 4 was in all probability untimely.
10. Chelsea -31 factors
(begin of season: seventh, -25)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 12
Points behind Man City final season: 45
Current league place: 12
Will the actual Chelsea please get up?
Chelsea clearly could not go just a few weeks of a switch window with out signing somebody, and the ultimate few weeks noticed strikes accomplished for Caicedo (£115m), Lavia (£58m), Deivid Washington (£17m, Santos), Djordje Petrovic (£12.5m, New England) and Cole Palmer (£40m, Man City).
There are doubts about 4 of these 5: Lavia nonetheless wants time to construct up his health, Washington might go on mortgage, Petrovic is a backup goalkeeper to Robert Sánchez (£25m, Brighton) and Palmer is vastly promising however solely has three Premier League begins to his identify at City.
After a very staggering summer season of spending by which Chelsea surpassed the £1 billion mark underneath the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital possession, the emphasis now shifts onto new supervisor Mauricio Pochettino and his capacity to mould this group of people right into a workforce. There have been promising indicators, however a house defeat to Nottingham Forest and one win from 4 video games underlines the robust job forward. No one actually is aware of what this Chelsea will grow to be — Olley
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? An inconsistent begin suggests the probabilities of ending close to the highest of the desk this season are slim.
11. Crystal Palace -39 factors
(begin of season: eleventh, -39)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 11
Points behind Man City final season: 44
Current league place: 7
Eagles begin effectively, and look ready
Palace’s finest little bit of enterprise as the times ticked down on the switch window was to get Michael Olise to signal a brand new four-year contract when he appeared destined to affix Chelsea, who had triggered his launch clause.
Boss Roy Hodgson managed to maintain maintain of all of his key gamers, save for Wilfried Zaha, who left on a free switch when his deal expired earlier in the summertime. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson, signed from Man United for £20m, was the one arrival of notice after the season began.
Palace sit seventh after profitable two of their first 4 matches, with their solely loss coming at dwelling to Arsenal. Hodgson might not have rung the modifications, although followers are ready to see Brazilian attacking midfielder Matheus França (£20m, Flamengo). Palace look a strong midtable outfit. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Not in any respect, which in some ways is an effective factor because it means the celebs are nonetheless at Selhurst.
12. Nottingham Forest -44 factors
(begin of season: 18th, -52)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 16
Points behind Man City final season: 51
Current league place: 9
All change once more on the City Ground
Forest’s switch enterprise was comparatively modest by their requirements when the season kicked off, so that they went and signed 10 gamers within the ultimate week of the window!
After an awesome begin, Forest sit in ninth place. They gained at Chelsea and at dwelling to Sheffield United, however had they not thrown away an early two-goal result in lose at Man United and narrowly misplaced at Arsenal, they may have been even increased within the desk.
Thing is, the workforce that picked up these factors may now be fully completely different, with Argentina World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel, AC Milan striker Divock Origi and Chelsea starlet Andrey Santos all arriving on mortgage. Matt Turner (£7m) additionally switched from Arsenal to turn into Steve Cooper’s new No. 1.
Plenty for Forest followers to be optimistic about, in the event that they have not modified an excessive amount of too quickly. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? A a lot stronger squad and an awesome begin imply Forest won’t need to look over their shoulders this season in any case.
13. Brentford -47 factors
(begin of season: thirteenth, -41)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 9
Points behind Man City final season: 30
Current league place: 8
No Toney, no drawback?
No one fairly knew what to make of Brentford earlier than the season began. With star striker Ivan Toney, who scored 20 Premier League targets final season, suspended till Jan. 16 after breaking FA guidelines associated to playing, the Bees opted in opposition to signing a substitute (although Neal Maupay returned to the membership on mortgage so as to add depth.) The outcome? The Bees’ best-ever begin to a Premier League season, unbeaten on six factors.
Goals have not been an issue as but, although they’ve drawn all three dwelling video games in opposition to Spurs, Palace and Bournemouth.
Manager Thomas Frank signed no certainly one of notice after the beginning of the season, so Brentford successfully determined to go together with what they’d. The indicators are that they are going to be OK this season, although in all probability in unremarkable style. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Yes and no. The Bees have had a promising-enough begin, although they have not achieved something to counsel they will match final season’s ultimate place, having drawn all three dwelling video games.
14. AFC Bournemouth -49 factors
(begin of season: 14th, -45)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 15
Points behind Man City final season: 50
Current league place: 16
Slow begin leaves issues for Cherries
Bournemouth launched into an entire overhaul of their squad this summer season underneath new boss Andoni Iraola, who’s one thing of an unknown amount after arriving from Rayo Vallecano.
Iraola had already signed Justin Kluivert (£10m) from AS Roma and Hamed Traore (£20m) from Sassuolo, and their enterprise after the season kicked off has undoubtedly left them in a stronger place. Alex Scott (£25m, Bristol City), Max Aarons (£7m, Norwich City) and USMNT star Tyler Adams (£23m, Leeds United) have been introduced in, alongside loanee Luis Sinisterra, additionally from Leeds.
For all that, Bournemouth have but to win this season, with two factors from 4 video games — although they’ve needed to play Liverpool and Spurs. It does not get any simpler after the worldwide break, with Chelsea, Brighton and Arsenal subsequent to come back.
The Cherries have spent round £113m on new gamers, although Adams, Scott and Sinisterra are but to characteristic, and as but there isn’t any signal of an efficient workforce. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? It’s in all probability nonetheless across the identical, decrease midtable, however the Cherries are one thing of an unknown amount — for good or for dangerous.
15. Burnley -53 factors
(begin of season: twelfth, -40)
Last season’s ultimate league place: Promoted to Premier League
Points behind Man City final season: N/A
Current league place: 20
Preseason optimism misplaced in an avalanche of targets
Burnley at all times knew they confronted a really tough return to the Premier League, taking up Man City, Aston Villa and Spurs of their opening video games. But three heavy dwelling losses — they’ve conceded 11 targets — go away them enjoying catch-up; Man United, Newcastle and Chelsea are to come back of their subsequent 5 fixtures. At least they realize it has to get simpler after that … however their destiny as relegation strugglers may already be sealed by then.
Of the three promoted golf equipment they nonetheless look to be the best-equipped to keep away from a right away return to the Championship. But Vincent Kompany introduced in 15 new gamers over the summer season to make the Clarets aggressive, and he faces a serious job to gel them into an efficient unit. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Many felt Burnley would simply be protected this season, however now they want outcomes to point out that religion was warranted.
16. Fulham -54 factors
(begin of season: tenth, -38)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 10
Points behind Man City final season: 37
Current league place: 13
Goals will probably be an issue for Mitro-less Cottagers
It wasn’t a really glad summer season for Fulham. They managed to carry on to boss Marco Silva amid curiosity from Saudi Arabia, however he nonetheless hasn’t signed an extension to his contract, which ends in 10 months. But striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored 14 targets in 24 video games final season, made it clear he wished to affix Al Hilal.
Replacing Mitrovic’s targets will probably be tough, particularly as Fulham have solely introduced in Mexico striker Raul Jimenez (£5m) and Adama Traoré (free) from Wolves to enhance their attacking choices. At least they nonetheless have João Palhinha, who noticed his transfer to Bayern Munich collapse … no less than till January.
Fulham sit thirteenth, with their one profitable coming at Everton; solely the underside three have scored fewer targets, and simply backside membership Burnley have conceded extra. Other golf equipment have extra worries, but it surely’s tough to search out an excessive amount of to be optimistic about now that the window has closed. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Fulham are removed from protected from a season of battle after Mitrovic’s departure.
17. Everton -57 factors
(begin of season: sixteenth, -48)
Last season’s ultimate league place: 17
Points behind Man City final season: 53
Current league place: 18
Is Beto adequate to avoid wasting Everton?
Everton followers’ preseason fears had been realised after they failed to attain of their first three fixtures, shedding at dwelling to Fulham and Wolves and being thrashed 4-0 at Villa. At least they acquired on the board with a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United, however that can barely be any consolation.
Sean Dyche has signed two Portuguese forwards, Youssef Chermiti (£13m, Sporting CP) and Beto (£26m, Udinese) to attempt to repair the scoring issues. The unpredictable Beto could also be their finest hope, as he achieved double figures in every of the previous two Serie A seasons. Jack Harrison has joined on mortgage from Leeds so as to add extra creativity, after Arnaut Danjuma arrived from Villarreal earlier in the summertime.
The Toffees discover themselves within the relegation zone after 4 matches, and so they’ve proven nothing to counsel something aside from one other battle in opposition to the drop beckons. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? No. Everyone knew Everton had nobody to attain any targets, and the proof is that they nonetheless do not.
Last season’s ultimate league place: 13
Points behind Man City final season: 48
Current league place: 15
Wolves verify fears of a season of battle
Coach Julen Lopetegui jumped ship in the beginning of the season when it grew to become clear restricted funds can be out there to strengthen a squad quick on high quality, with Gary O’Neil introduced in with the remit of reproducing his rescue job at Bournemouth final season.
After being controversially overwhelmed at Man United on the opening weekend, Wolves’ solely factors got here by a late win at Everton. A 4-1 dwelling defeat to Brighton and a loss at Palace do not bode effectively for O’Neil, and lots might relaxation on striker Sasa Kalajdzic — signed from VfB Stuttgart 12 months in the past however who missed nearly the entire of 2022-23 with a severe damage.
Kalajdzic scored the winner at Goodison Park, and with no different attacking reinforcements earlier than the window closed, Wolves will want a return on the £15m they paid for the Austria worldwide if they’re to remain up. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? The outcomes let you know it hasn’t. Wolves face a season-long battle to stay within the prime flight.
19. Sheffield United -63 factors
(begin of season: seventeenth, -49)
Last season’s ultimate league place: Promoted to Premier League
Points behind Man City final season: N/A
Current league place: seventeenth
Thin squad might battle to compete
Sheffield United suffered an enormous blow on the eve of the brand new season when key midfielder Sander Berge left for relegation rivals Burnley, although they did strengthen with Gustavo Hamer (£15m) transferring from Coventry City and Cameron Archer (£18.5m) from Villa. Both new arrivals have netted within the opening weeks of the season, but the Blades nonetheless have just one level to point out for his or her efforts.
Luke Thomas (Leicester) and James McAtee (Man City) have joined the membership on mortgage for the season, however the squad appears to be like quick on high quality and depth. Up subsequent? Tottenham, Newcastle, West Ham, Man United and Arsenal of their subsequent six fixtures. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? With little cash to spend and their finest participant gone, if something the Blades’ prospects have worsened up to now month.
20. Luton Town -66 factors
(begin of season: twentieth, -61)
Last season’s ultimate league place: Promoted to Premier League
Points behind Man City final season: N/A
Current league place: 19
Few shiny spots as Luton keep financially prudent
Luton had been by no means going to throw cash on the Premier League, preferring to spend money on their squad for the longer term.
The mortgage signing of Albert Lokonga from Arsenal and the seize of free agent, and former England worldwide, Ross Barkley had been essentially the most eye-catching items of enterprise over the previous month.
The Hatters have misplaced all three of their opening fixtures, to Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham. It’s actually not been the simplest of begins, although there have been few indicators of promise.
It’s Fulham, Wolves, Everton and Burnley up subsequent, and after these 4 video games we’ll have a reasonably good thought if coach Rob Edwards has any hope of holding the workforce within the prime division. — Johnson
HAS THE OUTLOOK CHANGED? Luton have proven nothing within the opening month to defy the predictions of a right away return to the EFL.
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