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2019 is upon us and the title race looks as tantalizingly poised as any over the past decade. While the title looks Liverpool's to lose at this juncture, one can't totally write off the defending champions' might. Additionally, Tottenham, through their performances, has made it an interesting narrative going into the second half of the season.
Moreover, the race for the fourth Champions League post is heating up with Manchester United rediscovering their mojo and Arsenal looking to reclaim their place in Europe's elite club competition. At the moment, Chelsea hold the advantage but one never knows what aces the aforementioned teams might have up their sleeve.
Also read: Premier League Mid-Season Review: Ranking teams placed 11-20
Thus, with such an intriguing story-line building up, it is warranted that we look at how the teams have fared till now, which might help us in gauging how the teams could end come May 2019.
Here is a look at how the teams from the top half fared in our ranking system after 20 games:
#10 Everton
The rating might seem a little harsh on the Toffees, especially considering that they are just a point away from the seventh spot. However, once one takes into account the standard of players at Marco Silva’s disposal, it is easy to see why.
Everton went shopping mainly in Barcelona and got hold of Mina, Digne and Andre Gomes. The trio has played at arguably the biggest club in the world and should surely be helping Everton challenge for the European slots.
Yet, they simply haven’t got going with the Toffees conceding an alarming 30 goals already.
Despite a consensus that Everton is in better hands under Silva, they still are a few points worse than where they were under supposedly turbulent times.
Thus, their proximity to seventh place is more due to the others’ fallacies rather than their own abilities.
All in all, 2018-19 has been a season where the Toffees have massively under-performed.
Rating: 4.5
#9 Watford
Watford started the season with a bang and went unbeaten by the time the first international break came around. Quite a few people were left stunned with their sturdy displays and even though they’ve fallen away slightly, they have still enjoyed a wonderful season.
The Hornets are notoriously impatient when it comes to managers. Several managers have ensured top half finishes only to find themselves out of a job the next day. Yet, in Javi Gracia they seem to be putting together something more long term.
The Hornets seemed to have turned a corner and this term could be the start of something exciting at Vicarage Road.
Rating: 6
#8 Leicester City
The Foxes have built on their 9th placed finish from last season and currently occupy the 8th spot in the league table. Leicester have endured a lot this season but to their credit, they haven’t let it affect them on the pitch.
The Foxes even had to go through the ordeal of the unfortunate death of their owner just outside the King Power Stadium. Just days after, they were back to beating Cardiff, thus emphasising the character the Foxes boast of.
After 20 games, Leicester sit comfortably in the top half and would fancy their chances of finishing as the ‘best out of the rest’.
The 2018-19 season has defined Leicester perfectly: never fazed in adversity and always finding a way through sheer will.
Rating: 6.5
#7 Wolverhampton Wanderers: 7
Wolverhampton Wanderers made quite a splash in the summer transfer window when they acquired the likes of Moutinho and Rui Patricio. Additionally, they got hold of exciting talents of the ilk of Traore and Diogo Jota. While their fellow newcomers, Fulham have failed miserably in incorporating their summer arrivals, Wolves have faced no such problems.
At the end of 2018, Wolves are just a place off the top six and have given a good account of themselves against the big boys. A home draw against City was followed by a draw away to Old Trafford and the Emirates.
More recently though, they have taken their game up a notch, beating Tottenham and Chelsea.
Though it would be a little premature to name Wolves the best incoming club ever, they have certainly inspired to feature at the forefront of any such discussion.
If this season is any indicator, the Wolves are here to stay in the league.
Rating: 7
#6 Manchester United
The 2018-19 season started off with Jose Mourinho moaning about the club’s lack of activity in the summer transfer window. The negativity spread by the Portuguese quickly set the tone for the season to follow. Thus, it has been no surprise that the positivity around Old Trafford returned once Jose was sent packing.
Till the past few weeks, Manchester United were absolutely dreadful. They conceded goals for fun and looked toothless in attack. Despite boasting of the likes of Pogba, Lukaku, Martial and De Gea, United looked a million miles away from being top four contenders.
However, since Solksjaer has come into the fold, they have attacked more and been more proactive in their approach.
Unfortunately for them though, victories over Cardiff(16th), Huddersfield(20th) and Bournemouth(12th) can’t spare them their blushes.
Manchester United were poor for the majority of the first half of the season and it clearly reflects in their standing.
Rating: 5.5
#5 Arsenal
Arsenal were always going to be afforded a little leeway this term considering someone other than Arsene Wenger was to man the dugout. His successor though, has impressed since moving to North London.
Under Unai Emery, Arsenal’s attack seems to have more of a cutting edge and they look better equipped to break down stubborn defences. However, their work at the other end of the pitch has still left a lot to be desired.
The defence has been Arsenal’s Achilles heel for a number of years and it isn’t sensible to expect Emery to wave his magic wand and fix it overnight.
The signs, though are promising and the Spaniard’s ability to shake things up has been refreshing.
It would be too early to expect Arsenal to challenge for the title but if given time, Emery could probably catapult them into genuine contenders in a couple of years’ time.
But for now, the promise is all that the Gooners will have to feed off from.
Rating: 6.5
#4 Chelsea
Like Arsenal, Chelsea also underwent a change at the top with the club hierarchy replacing Conte with another Italian, Sarri. The latter is the polar opposite of the former in terms of footballing philosophies yet has done better than expected.
At the start of 2019, Chelsea look primed to make the fourth Champions League spot their own and enjoy a five-point advantage over Arsenal.
Though the West London outfit has looked devoid of invention in recent weeks, they are still getting victories on the board.
Chelsea has a lot to work on defensively and maybe we’ll have to wait a year for Sarri and his charges to truly flex their muscles.
Yet, his first season hasn’t been a disaster and Champions League qualification would ensure the season is looked upon as a successful one.
Rating: 7
#3 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham surprised one and all when they decided to not sign a single player in the summer. However, the club made sure that their core players committed their future to set the platform for another sparkling season.
Till November, Tottenham had been going about their business quietly. Yet, the loss in the North London Derby seems to have snapped them into action. Since then, they have been scoring freely with their triumvirate of Son, Alli and Kane wreaking havoc.
Spurs have a very thin squad but the manager’s trait of bringing out the best from the available resources has again come to the fore.
There is absolutely no question that Spurs has progressed over the years and the upward curve looks likely to continue on its current course.
Though a title may be a step too far this term, a few signings in the summer could propel them into genuine contenders.
Rating: 8
#2 Manchester City: 7.5
Manchester City looked invincible till December. Then, on 8th December 2018, they tasted defeat in the league for the first time since the infamous 3-2 loss to Manchester United. After the defeat, teams have looked to get at City and they have not been able to cope with it.
The festive period saw City lose to Crystal Palace and Leicester. Though City are excused a defeat or two, considering their exemplary dominance last term, these losses could just end up proving the difference in a closely contested title race.
The 3-1 victory over Southampton showed City were getting back to their best. The Etihad faithful would hope that such performances are not followed by blips like Palace and Leicester.
On paper, City still look the best team in the land and if they get their attacking verve back, there are few teams on the planet who can stop them. Unfortunately for the Cityzens, one of those is Liverpool.
It might yet be a little too early but if City indeed lose out, they will be left to rue their twin defeats during the festive period.
Rating: 7.5
#1 Liverpool
Liverpool has simply been outstanding so far and sit pretty at the perch of the table, 7 points clear of their nearest rivals. The Reds are still unbeaten and they have achieved all of this without breaking into a sweat for the most part.
Liverpool has had heroes in every area of the pitch. Alisson has painted a solid picture between the sticks while Robertson and Van Dijk have been colossal at the back. Wijnaldum and Fabinho have forged a beautiful partnership whereas their front three are back to scoring truckloads of goals.
For years, the Reds were accused of lacking pragmatism yet this season they have been a perfect blend of poetry and prose.
The last time a team leading at Christmas failed to win the title was back in 2013-14, when Liverpool let the title slip.
For Liverpool’s sake, they would hope that they don’t continue the trend for if they can’t win it from here, the winner’s medal could just remain elusive for a very very long time.
Rating: 9
