EPL Power Rankings: Week 1

Alright I didn't actually do a preliminary rankings because I forgot, but this is fine, as I can just start it up with the first week of action. Disclaimer: squad strength is a factor right now, so Blackpool will NOT be 2nd in rankings due to the second best result of the week. I look at Power Rankings of "who is the last team you want to face right now." So, without further ado, here is the first week.

1. Chelsea
This shouldn't be too surprising. A 6-0 home thrashing of the baggies and the reigning champions. Nobody beats up on bad teams better.

2. Manchester United
Just finished up their whooping of Newcastle, and while the rest of the Champions League contenders had tougher matches, you have to look at the strength of their performance, and they'll fall soon enough if they aren't up to snuff.

3. Aston Villa
Obviously a generous ranking, and with the imminent loss of Milner, it remains to be seen how they can stay up here. But a highly impressive performance in light of tough circumstances. I doubt they'll stay up here though.

4. Liverpool
This is a bit of a toss-up between Spurs, but Liverpool I felt were more impressive given the circumstances. Outside of a Reina gaff, a 10-men side would have prevailed despite the Anfield chaos. Encouraging start.

5. Tottenham Hotspur
Really should have won, I don't know how they bottled it. Clearly the superior team, but Joe Hart was too good. The team lacks an undeniably world-beater player and maybe that will be their downfall. No individual could provide the necessary spark.

6. Arsenal
Weak display at Anfield, but a tough match to really judge on. No Fabregas, and facing a team looking to impress. They were gifted a draw, but wouldn't be too much lower regardless due to their quality.

7. Manchester City
Despite the talent, the Citizens were thoroughly outplayed by Spurs. The real question is whether they can really create a good enough squad without CL football to actually GET to CL football. A team full of talented castoffs from other CL teams will have to do, and it may be just a matter of time, but this team isn't instilling fear right now.

8. Blackpool
See! I'd put them in eventually. Look, unless they knock off a top contender, I can't honestly put them above them. But if we're in the "best of the rest" category, a 4-0 away pummeling of Wigan is a nice way to say hello the Premier League. We have seen Hull and Burnley both hit huge highs and then quickly flee the Premier League in the past, and "shoestring" budgets tend to be ill-fated. But for one week, Blackpool is on top of the world.

9. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Another surprise top half player! A solid and deserved win over a notoriously tough Stoke side is always a ticket to survival, and considering half the teams, teams like wolves, are just trying to survive the year, well done.

10. Blackburn Rovers
Another goalie gaff, but well-played by Blackburn to hold onto the game afterward. My vitriol for Allardyce withstanding, it was a solid match for Rovers, and one that will inevitably catapult them to a mid-table finish.

11. Everton
The highest spot for a losing team, Everton has a very talented squad that is notoriously slow-starting. If they ever want to truly compete, David Moyes has to figure out to get his team more engaged in the first half of the season instead of becoming a constant second-half surge.

12. Bolton Wanderers
They were clearly the better team against the Cottagers, and they were unlucky not to get all the points. Stu Holden had a great showing, and is doing wonders for repairing his reputation in England.

13. Sunderland
Absolutely collapsed when left with ten men, they'll get the nod over their rivals for being the better team when on equal footing. Despite that, their absolutely melt-down after the red card is worrisome.

14. Birmingham
Last year's Cinderella top-half finisher had a great fightback to take a point at the Stadium of Light, but they were definitely the worse team for the majority of the contest. Will Paul Robinson be able to fill Joe Hart's shoes? Not likely.

15. Fulham
A rather dull first match for Sparky, and very little to say about Fulham's performance. Other than, why didn't you start Dempsey?

16. Stoke City
Now, it is unfair for Stoke as they started the season away from their fabled Britannia stadium, but they were soundly beaten by Wolves. Wolves! That's bad enough, but for their sake they have to hope Kenwyne Jones is ok.

17. West Ham United
Solidly dismantled by Villa, West Ham have always been underachievers. They have plenty of talent, but this team cannot keep it together. It'll probably be another relegation dogfight in which they scrap to 15th again.

18. Newcastle United
Never easy to start the season at Old Trafford, and the Magpies showed why. They were wrecked on the first game back, and they'll have to show a lot more fight if they want to stay up.

19. West Bromwich Albion
Sometimes, you just know. WBA is going to get rocked a lot this season. This isn't the first, though it'll be one of the worst. Their defending is bad and they can't score. Bad combo.

20. Wigan Athletic
Wow. I mean WOW. To be fair, they should have not lost 4-0. They should have lost 8-1 (they did have that one disallowed goal...). They were SLAUGHTERED from the getgo. I couldn't believe it. It was a train wreck. It was absolutely unbelievable how badly they played, and Kirkland may not be able to goalkeep at this level anymore, as that was a horror show that Ben Foster couldn't watch. Wow Wigan. Wow.