The international break is here and so what better time for Premier League clubs to take stock of their performances and iron out those creases on the training ground. It’s also a good time for those on the outside to judge what we have seen so far. So let’s crack into our Premier League grades so far.
Arsenal - A-
Almost perfect for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. They currently sit top of the table, having won six out of seven and this young exciting side seems to have gelled. William Saliba has strengthened the defence, but the only concern is that defeat to Manchester United. The tricky run of fixtures after the international break will teach us whether they can mix it with the big boys.
Aston Villa - C-
A mixed start for Steven Gerrard. Four defeats from their first five, and a long-term injury to new signing Diego Carlos spelt trouble, but they have improved over the last two matches. A point against Man City, and a win over Southampton has bought Gerrard more time. For now.
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Bournemouth - B+
After a less than exciting summer, expectations were that Bournemouth would be the whipping boys of the Premier League. Their 9-0 hammering at Anfield was sobering, but aside from that Scott Parker’s side have been good. They’ve lost to Man City and Arsenal, but beaten Villa and Forest. Having got three of the big guns out of the way, they sit in 12th. That’s pretty impressive.
Brentford - C
Since that eye-catching 4-0 win over Manchester United, Brentford haven’t quite pressed on as expected. They’ve had a fairly kind start to the season but were beaten by Arsenal last time out. The Bees are drawing too many games but just two defeats from seven is decent.
Brighton and Hove Albion - A
Brighton have been so good this season that Chelsea spent £22m on manager Graham Potter. The Seagulls are soaring up in fourth having beaten Man Utd on the opening day, and have taken advantage of a kind fixture list since then. New boss Roberto De Zerbi faces a nightmare run, but what we have seen so far has been almost perfect.
Chelsea - D
A lot was expected from Todd Boehly’s Chelsea after heavy investment in the summer, but things have not gone well, culminating in the sacking of Thomas Tuchel. They sit 7th, which doesn’t feel disastrous, but they were fortunate to beat West Ham and haven’t played well at any point so far this campaign. It’s still very early in the season, and now the Potter reign begins.
Crystal Palace - C+
Palace’s start to the season on paper looked as if it might stick Patrick Vieira in some trouble. Instead, they’ve come through it having lost to Arsenal and Man City, and gained a point at Anfield. Further draws against Newcastle and Brentford were respectable, but they’ve only won once so far this term. An average start for Palace.
Everton - C
It’s quite difficult to make a judgement of an Everton side that have drawn four from seven. Given their complete lack of a striker, they’ve not been bad, but they certainly haven’t been good either. Middle of the road.
Fulham - A+
Many had Fulham to instantly go back down this season but Marco Silva’s side have started brilliantly. They’re currently 6th having drawn with Liverpool, beaten Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Brighton and only narrowly tasted defeat away at Arsenal and Spurs. Mitro’s on fire and Fulham are top of the class.
Leeds United - B-
Won two, drawn two, lost two. Jesse Marsch looks to have taken Leeds away from the relegation danger they were under last season and that 3-0 win over Chelsea at Elland Road was memorable. However, one point from their last three has slightly dampened what was an impressive start.
Leicester City - E
Couldn’t have gone much worse for Leicester this season. They lost Kasper Schmeichel and Wesley Fofana this summer and results have suffered on the pitch. They are bottom of the league with just one point, but they have faced four of last season's top six already. Things should improve over the next month, but it has been a rough ride so far.
Liverpool - C-
It’s not been a great start for the Reds. That defeat to Manchester United was a shock to the system even after a slow start but it still remains their only defeat. They’ve drawn three and needed a late winner against Newcastle to get all three points, but their most shocking performance came against Napoli. This international break could be a chance for them to press reset.
Manchester City - A-
Five wins and two draws. They’re quite good aren’t they. Perhaps they haven’t overachieved as such, which is why they aren’t graded as high as Brighton or Fulham, but Pep Guadiola’s side are surely on their way to another title. Erling Haaland has been outrageously good, and City look unstoppable.
Manchester United - B+
If this was after two matches, United would be ungraded. But the turnaround since then, which has seen four wins in a row and a transformed attitude has been seriously impressive. They’ve beaten Arsenal and Liverpool at home and now look like they should finish in the top four.
Newcastle United - C
A home draw against Manchester City? Exceptional. A home draw against Bournemouth? Less so. The Magpies are the draw specialists of the division with one win, five draws and one defeat so far this season. Eddie Howe has now got his feet under the table but it is difficult to come down on one side of the fence or the other given they haven’t beaten anyone since Forest on the opening day.
Nottingham Forest - D
Forest’s summer spending splurge changed the whole feeling around the club. There was genuine excitement at what they could bring to the Premier League but now, they are a completely different outfit that have struggled to gel. They’re 19th, and have suffered damaging home defeats to Bournemouth and Fulham in their last two matches.
Southampton - C
Southampton are being very Southampton this season. They are 14th, and things were looking good after they beat Chelsea, but two 1-0 defeats against Wolves and Villa have brought them back down to earth with a bump. Must try harder.
Tottenham Hotspur - A
Along with Man City, Spurs are the one of two unbeaten teams in the Premier League so far this season. They’ve got the same record as Pep’s men, five wins and two draws and have only dropped points away at West Ham and Chelsea. It’s been a hugely positive start for Spurs.
West Ham - D-
It’s been a really poor start to the season for last campaign’s Europa League semi-finalists. They’re currently in the relegation zone having only beaten Aston Villa, but losses to Forest, Brighton, Chelsea and Everton are worrying. They’ve got a lot of plates to spin and a lot of talent, but they haven’t started firing yet.
Wolves - C
As somebody who predicted Wolves to finish in the bottom three before a ball was kicked, this one is tough to judge. They sit in 17th with six points from seven having only won once, but I didn’t expect them to have a great season. Goalscoring is a key issue but with some favourable upcoming fixtures and Diego Costa, they could start to climb quickly.
