1 MANCHESTER UNITED P20-W12-D8-L0 F43/A19 Pts 44
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (since November 1986)
Top scorer: Dimitar Berbatov (14)
Cup progress: Manchester United beat their great rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup Third Round on Sunday but they are out of the League Cup after a 4-0 defeat at West Ham in the QF. In Europe, Ferguson's men eased through a group featuring Valencia, Rangers and Bursaspor to book a second round tie against Marseille.
Highlight of the season: The Red Devils really turned on the style in the 7-1 home thrashing of Blackburn Rovers in which Dimitar Berbatov scored five, becoming only the fourth man after Andy Cole, Alan Shearer and Jermain Defoe to do so.
Verdict: Manchester United are still unbeaten at Christmas and, with games in hand on all their rivals, they are in great shape to land their 19th league title despite rarely playing their best football. A series of away draws looked damaging early on as Chelsea opened a gap but, just as the Blues have wobbled, the Red Devils have hit top form. If the Old Trafford club win another league title, they will go clear on their own ahead of Liverpool who remain on 18.
Original prediction: Champions
2 MANCHESTER CITY P22-W-12-D6-L4 F33/A16 Pts 42
Manager: Roberto Mancini (since December 2009)
Top scorer: Carlos Tevez (12)
Cup progress: Manchester City were forced into a replay after their FA Cup Third Round tie against Leicester City finished 2-2, and in the League Cup, Mancini's men were eliminated at just R3 by West Bromwich Albion. City have fared better in the Europa League where they topped a group featuring Lech Poznan, Juventus and Salzburg to set up a second round tie against Aris Salonika of Greece.
Highlight of the season: The Blues played some brilliant football to lead 3-0 against Fulham at Craven Cottage inside half an hour. The match eventually finished 4-1 with Tevez scoring two of the goals.
Verdict: Manchester City have rarely sparkled like they did in that match against Fulham with the recent 0-0 draw against title rivals Arsenal dropping them further behind city rivals United. The stalemate at the Emirates was City's fourth 0-0 of the season and Mancini's penchant for playing two defensive midfielders and just one up front already looks like it may cost the Blues silverware. Much of the responsibility of scoring rests with Tevez although that may be eased by the arrival of Edin Dzeko as City splash the cash again. Still, this season has seen some progress on last year when City failed to qualify for the Champions League - that aim looks a lot more like being achieved this time.
Original prediction: 3rd
3 ARSENAL P21-W12-D4-L5 F42/A22 Pts 40
Manager: Arsene Wenger (since October 1996)
Top scorer: Samir Nasri (9)
Cup progress: The Gunners face a replay against Leeds United in the FA Cup but they have made it through to the semi finals of the League Cup where they will face Championship club Ipswich Town. They are also through to the knockout stages of the Champions League but face a tough test against Barcelona after finishing behind Shakhtar Donetsk in their group.
Highlight of the season: Arsenal overcame a psychological barrier by beating Chelsea 3-1 at home, having lost 11 of the previous 12 matches against the Blues. Alexandre Song gave the Gunners the lead on the stroke of half-time before Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott made it 3-0 soon after the interval. Although Branislav Ivanovic then pulled a goal back, Arsene Wenger's men had successfully kept Didier Drogba quiet for once.
Verdict: Arsenal's quest for a first trophy looks set to be concluded if they justify their favourites tag in the League Cup against lesser opposition in Ipswich and West Ham or Birmingham. In the Premier League, too, Arsene Wenger's men are handily placed having overcome a significant psychological barrier in beating Chelsea 3-1. But, if they are to win a fourth Premier League crown, the Gunners' will need to avoid being beaten at home as regularly as they have been in the first part of the season. Ultimately, defeats at the Emirates to a Spurs comeback and newly-promoted pair Newcastle and West Brom will be what costs Wenger's men the title.
Original prediction: 4th
4 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR P21-W10-D6-L5 F31/A25 Pts 36
Manager: Harry Redknapp (since October 2008)
Top scorer: Rafael van der Vaart (9)
Cup progress: Spurs eased through to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic but collapsed in extra time to go out of the League Cup in R3, 4-1 to Arsenal. However, their achievements in the Champions League have more than made up for that. Having overturned a 3-2 deficit in the qualifiers by thumping Young Boys 4-0 in the home leg, Redknapp's men continued to score at will in the group stages. In all, Spurs scored 18 goals on their way to winning the group, beating Inter (3-1), Werder Bremen (3-0) and FC Twente (4-1) at home to set up a last 16 tie against AC Milan.
Highlight of the season: For all Spurs' efforts in European games this season, it does not get sweeter for Spurs fans than coming back from 2-0 in the North London derby to beat Arsenal 3-2 away. Rafael van der Vaart was at his inspirational best, setting up goals for Younes Kaboul and Gareth Bale and scoring a penalty.
Verdict: This has been a memorable campaign so far for Spurs, their free-scoring side taking on all-comers in Europe and just about staying in the title race on the domestic front. Every now and then, though, their attacking approach can leave Spurs open at the back, causing them to lose unexpectedly. For instance, this season would look even better but for defeats at home to Wigan Athletic (who they beat 9-1 last season) and away to bottom team West Ham United.
Original prediction: 7th
5 CHELSEA P21-W10-D5-L6 F36/A19 Pts 35
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti (since June 2009)
Top scorer: Didier Drogba (9)
Cup progress: Chelsea returned to some of their best form of the season to beat managerless Ipswich 7-0 as they look to win a third FA Cup in a row. Meanwhile, their League Cup campaign ended prematurely in a 4-3 home defeat to Newcastle United in R3 but the Blues topped their Champions League group with five wins out of six, and they face FC Copenhagen in the second round.
Highlight of the season: The Blues began the season with successive 6-0 wins - at home against West Bromwich Albion and away at Wigan Athletic, and their good form continued until the end of October by which point they had already opened up a five point gap...
Verdict: ... Then, all of a sudden, Chelsea stopped playing, and their last 11 league matches have seen the west London club take just 10 points with defeats to Liverpool, Sunderland, Birmingham City, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers leaving Carlo Ancelotti's position uncertain. Chelsea have gone from a five-point lead to a nine-point deficit and it is hard to see the Blues hauling back that position. Indeed, given the way they have played recently, Chelsea will do well to retain their top-four place.
Original prediction: 2nd
6 SUNDERLAND P22-W8-D9-L5 F25/A22 Pts 33
Manager: Steve Bruce (since June 2009)
Top scorer: Darren Bent (8)
Cup progress: Hopes of a decent Cup run this season have been dashed by early defeats in the both domestic competitions. In the FA Cup, Sunderland lost 2-1 at home to Notts County and they also lost at home in the League Cup, 3-1 in R3 to West Ham United.
Highlight of the season: A 3-0 thumping of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge came just two weeks after a horrendous derby loss at Newcastle United as Nedum Onouha, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck gave the Black Cats a memorable day.
Verdict: Sunderland used that win against Chelsea as a springboard to launch a surprise challenge for a top six place, shedding their early season tag as draw specialists. After Bent was isolated during the awful derby loss to Newcastle at St James Park, manager Bruce switched to playing two up front with Gyan forming part of a £23m strikeforce. Add in Welbeck, playing on the wing, and the Black Cats have much more bite about them than previously although they probably still need more goals from elsewhere in the team.
Original prediction: 13th
7 BOLTON WANDERERS P22-W7-D9-L6 F34/A29 Pts 30
Manager: Owen Coyle (since January 2010)
Top scorer: Johan Elmander (9)
Cup progress: Bolton beat non-league side York City 2-0 in the FA Cup Third Round but only after two late goals. Meanwhile, in the League Cup, manager Coyle made an unhappy return to his former club Burnley which he left amid acrimony in December of last season. The Clarets were eventually relegated in 2009-10 but gained some measure of revenge by winning their R3 tie 1-0.
Highlight of the season: Bolton showed great character to complete a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers despite being reduced to ten men after Kevin Davies was sent off. Rovers looked like they had nicked a point with a late equaliser to Fabrice Muamba's goal but the ten men went up the other end and secured three points through Stuart Holden's strike. It was the first time since 2000 that Bolton had come out on top in this Lancashire derby.
Verdict: Sometimes a change in manager really does work for a club. Heading nowhere under Gary Megson, Bolton have not looked back since Coyle replaced him midway through last season. First, Coyle secured the Trotters' top flight status with some comfort in the second half of last season - and since then, he has crafted Bolton into being just about the 'best of the rest'. Bolton have lost just once at the Reebok all season and Wanderers fans may have to locate their passports for a European adventure next season.
Original prediction: 14th
8 NEWCASTLE UNITED P21-W8-D4-L-9 F34/A31 Pts 28
Manager: Alan Pardew (since December 2010)
Top scorer: Andy Carroll (11)
Cup progress: Stevenage gained revenge for their Cup defeat of 13 years ago by embarrassing Newcastle with a comfortable 3-1 win at Broadhall Way in this year's Third Round. Earlier in the season, Newcastle were dumped out of the League Cup after a 4-0 home loss to Arsenal in R4 having beaten Chelsea 4-3 at Stamford Bridge in R3.
Highlight of the season: The 5-1 thumping of Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland will live on long in the memory of Magpies fans with Kevin Nolan hitting the first hat-trick in the match since Peter Beardlsey in 1985 and Shola Ameobi continuing his decent record against the Black Cats by scoring the other two.
Verdict: A microcosm of the Premier League season as a whole, Newcastle have pulled off some stunning wins, beating Aston Villa 6-0, Sunderland 5-1, West Ham United 5-0, and Arsenal and Everton away. However, home form has been more of a concern with defeats to Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, and draws against Fulham and Wigan Athletic. Perhaps it was this lack of success at St James Park which cost Chris Hughton his job but that decision still seemed incredibly harsh on a dignified man. Nevertheless, despite a lukewarm welcome, new man Pardew has enjoyed early wins over Liverpool, Wigan and West Ham - and when the Magpies put their first XI on the pitch, they seem more than capable of holding their own in this division.
Original prediction: 16th
9 BLACKBURN ROVERS P22-W8-D4-L10 F29/A35 Pts 28
Manager: Steve Kean (since December 2010)
Top scorers: Nikola Kalinic, Morten Gamst Pedersen (4)
Cup progress: Aston Villa, who beat Blackburn 7-4 over the two legs of last season's League Cup semi final, were again Rovers' conquerors in the competition, winning 3-1 at Villa Park in R3. Remarkably, Blackburn's reward for beating Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup Third Round is yet another tie against Villa!
Highlight of the season: The 3-1 home victory over Liverpool, which proved terminal for Reds boss Roy Hodgson, came as a great relief to Rovers fans, by contrast, as they saw their players publicly back new manager Steve Kean with a fine display. Martin Olsson struck the first goal before Benjani scored twice to put Rovers 3-0 ahead at the hour mark before Steven Gerrard netted a late consolation.
Verdict: Blackburn Rovers' new Indian owners, the Venkys, caused a stir by sacking Sam Allardyce, bringing to an end his two year reign at Ewood Park. In that time, Allardyce had rescued Rovers from the desperate situation in which they had been left by previous manager Paul Ince before reaching a League Cup semi final last season. However, though results had improved, the style of Allardyce's football had not and Allardyce was hardly helped by two of his last three results being a 7-1 mauling at Old Trafford and a 2-1 defeat to 10 men against Bolton Wanderers in a derby. Still, the Venkys took a risk in appointing the unheralded Steve Kean in Allardyce's place but the players have responded with a couple of wins to put Rovers in the top half. There have also been fanciful rumours of the arrival of Ronaldinho and David Beckham at Ewood but for now Rovers fans will just be concerned that this current squad is more than good enough to avoid the relegation scrap.
Original prediction: 8th
10 STOKE CITY P21-W-8-D3-L10 F26/A26 Pts 27
Manager: Tony Pulis (since June 2006)
Top scorer: Kenwyne Jones (5)
Cup progress: The Potters' last trophy was the 1972 League Cup but they will not be winning the competition this season after going down to a 3-1 defeat at West Ham after extra time in R4. In the FA Cup Third Round, Stoke face a replay at Cardiff City after a 1-1 home draw.
Highlight of the season: 1-0 down in their fourth match of the season with 80 minutes gone, Stoke were facing the prospect of failing to put a single point on the board. But, at half time, manager Pulis arrived, having expected to miss the match after the death of his mother. Pulis inspired Stoke to score twice late on to turn around the match and - at that early stage - their season.
Verdict: A model of inconsistency, Stoke City began the season with three defeats before the Villa comeback helped them take 10 points out of the next 12. Then, another worrying run of four successive defeats followed before another unbeaten run of five matches included three wins in a row. Indeed, it looks as if it could continue like this throughout the season though the Potters will get enough results to maintain their top flight status for a third year in a row - even if their style of play continues to leave a lot to be desired.
Original prediction: 10th
11 EVERTON P21 W5-D10-L6 F23/A25 Pts 25
Manager: David Moyes (since March 2002)
Top scorer: Tim Cahill (9)
Cup progress: With no European football to distract the Toffees, a domestic cup run looked to appeal. But, despite disposing of Huddersfield 5-1 in R2, Everton were dumped out the Cup by League One Brentford in R3 on penalties as part of their dreadful start to the season. In the FA Cup Third Round, Everton again handed out a thumping, winning 5-1 at Scunthorpe United, but they face Chelsea in the next round in a repeat of the 2009 Final.
Highlight of the season: The 2-0 home win over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby was a rare bright spot of the season as Everton found a club from the city in even worse form than themselves. Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta got the goals against a pitiful Reds opposition.
Verdict: Everton have performed poorly in the first half of the season and they deservedly sit in the bottom half of the table. Slow starts are nothing new at Goodison and David Moyes' men lost three of their opening five league fixtures. Three wins and three draws followed to suggest signs of a recovery but, with too many draws, the Merseysiders have won just twice since late October. There is a lack of cutting edge up front the obvious weakness and it will not help the Toffees that their best player Tim Cahill will miss several fixtures in the New Year due to Australia's participation in the Asian Cup. More encouragingly, though, those recent victories came against two of the current top-four, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, and they have also drawn against Manchester United and Chelsea this season.
Original prediction: 6th
12 LIVERPOOL P20-W7-D4-L9 F24/A27 Pts 25
Manager: Kenny Dalglish (since January 2011)
Top scorer: Fernando Torres (6)
Cup progress: Kenny Dalglish did not enjoy a dream start at Old Trafford as Manchester United won a dubious penalty within a minute and Giggs' conversion proved to be the only goal of the FA Cup Third Round tie. Earlier in the season, Liverpool were beaten 2-1 after extra time at Anfield by Northampton Town in one of Roy Hodgson's most embarrassing results. But at least the former Fulham boss continued to get results in his favoured competition to Europa League as the Reds finished above Napoli, Steaua Bucharest and Utrecht to set up a second round tie with Czech champions Sparta Prague.
Highlight of the season: Results on the pitch have generally been so few and far between that nearly all Reds fans would suggest that the appointment of Kenny Dalglish, almost 20 years after he last managed at Anfield, was the highlight of the campaign so far.
Verdict: The Hodgson experiment has failed, long live King Kenny! It has been an extraordinary first half to the season for Liverpool which has seen the return of Dalglish to the Anfield hot-seat after 20 years away. Hodgson's departure was not a surprise - he had a poor away record of just one win from 10 league games and he had overseen home defeats to Northampton Town, Blackpool and Wolves during his turbulent tenure. Indeed, it was the Wolves defeat which spelled the end for the former Fulham boss after he claimed to much consternation he had never had the backing of the Anfield faithful. Some backtracking was done by Hodgson but Reds fans felt they needed a hero in the run-up to successive matches against Manchester United and Everton after a woeful defeat to Blackburn Rovers. Dalglish duly arrived but could not prevent Liverpool from losing at Old Trafford in an uneven contest which shows just how far the Reds have fallen behind. It will take more than a Dalglish appointment to restore the confidence around Anfield and scraping into the top half seems like Liverpool's best bet.
Original prediction: 5th
13 BLACKPOOL P17-W7-D4-L8 F27/A32 Pts 25
Manager: Ian Holloway (since May 2009)
Top scorer: Dudley Campbell (6)
Cup progress: The fact that the cups were not a priority for Blackpool this season was demonstrated by a 2-0 defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup Third Round and a 4-3 defeat at Milton Keynes Dons in R2 of the League Cup. On both occasions, Holloway opted to field a much-changed side.
Highlight of the season: The stunning 2-1 win at Anfield against Liverpool thanks to goals from Charlie Adam and Luke Varney confirmed Blackpool were not just in the league to make the numbers up.
Verdict: Blackpool have been a real credit to the Premier League, playing with a refreshing attacking bravery that belies their resources. Derided in pre-season for their failure at one stage to capture any signings, the Seasiders have proved the doubters wrong from the start. The 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic was a dream re-introduction to the top-flight after 39 years and it got better with further wins at St James Park and, of course, Anfield. Since then, Holloway's men have continued to gain results with wins against Wolves, Stoke and Sunderland but the manager now faces a test to keep the momentum going after three successive defeats in league and cup. Blackpool remain just four points off the relegation zone, although with games in hand - and more home games than any of their rivals - the Seasiders should make it to the safety mark.
Original prediction: 20th
14 FULHAM P21-W4-D10-L7 F22/A24 Pts 22
Manager: Mark Hughes (since July 2010)
Top scorer: Clint Dempsey (6)
Cup progress: The Cottagers put six past Peterborough in the FA Cup Third Round as a 6-2 win earned the Cottagers a home tie against Tottenham Hotspur. Fulham had already hit six in the League Cup this season with a 6-0 win over Port Vale but this was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Stoke City in R3.
Highlight of the season: While the 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion was Fulham's best result of the season, an early 2-2 home draw against Manchester United represents the only time the Cottagers have bloodied any of the big boys' noses this season. It looked as if the match against the Red Devils might end in defeat after Brede Hangeland's late own goal but he made amends with an even later goal at the other end to rescue a point.
Verdict: Fulham had only won twice in their opening 18 Premier League games, drawing on 10 occasions. But Mark Hughes' men have won twice since Christmas, including a rare away win at Stoke City. However, it was the 3-0 home win over West Brom which showed Fulham back to the best as a Simon Davies strike on the stroke of half time gave the Cottagers the confidence to produce a dominant second half display in which Clint Dempsey and Hangeland added further goals. It looked at one stage as if Roy Hodgson's decision to move to Liverpool would not work for either party but, while Hodgon has already gone from Anfield, Fulham have finally begun to look upwards.
Original prediction: 11th
15 BIRMINGHAM CITY P20-W4-D10-L6 F20/A25 Pts 22
Manager: Alex McLeish (since November 2007)
Top scorer: Craig Gardner (4)
Cup progress: Blues won their first derby against Aston Villa in seven attempts to reach the League Cup semi finals where they will face West Ham United over two legs. Meanwhile, in the FA Cup, Birmingham had no problems in disposing of Millwall 4-1 at the New Den.
Highlight of the season: Birmingham fans cherish any victory over Aston Villa but their first win in the second city derby since 2005 was extra special as it qualified them for a League Cup semi final, just a two-legged tie away from Wembley. It is a shame then that certain 'supporters' spoiled the occasion with both Blues and Villa fans guilty of violence after the full-time whistle.
Verdict: Birmingham City were never likely to repeat last season's fine top-half finish and that has been reflected in the first part of this campaign. Every single one of the Blues' 13 wins in 2009-10 were by a single goal and so it is no surprise to see McLeish's men drawing exactly half their league games this time around. After all, there is often not much between a one-goal win and a draw in a game. What Birmingham have retained is some decent home form, with 14 of their 22 points coming at St Andrew's. That could prove vital for them as, due to a lack of goals and no great flair up front, it appears that they will be in a scrap for most of the rest of the season.
Original prediction: 12th
16 WEST BROMWICH ALBION P21-W6-D4-L11 F26/A39 Pts 22
Manager: Roberto di Matteo (since June 2009)
Top scorer: Peter Odemwingie (6)
Cup progress: Their 1-0 defeat at Reading in the FA Cup Third Round was the Baggies' sixth successive loss - worrying times at the Hawthorns. Earlier, West Brom reached the QF of the League Cup but missed out on a big chance to make into the last four by losing with a reserve side to Championship strugglers Ipswich Town.
Highlight of the season: West Brom pulled off an extraordinary result to win 3-2 at the Emirates against Arsenal with a performance which was more dominant than the final score suggests. After a goalless opening half, di Matteo's men stunned their hosts when Odemwingie and Gonzalo Jara scored within seven minutes of the restart. Earlier, Chris Brunt had missed a penalty but Jerome Thomas scored a third with 17 minutes left and the Baggies then survived an Arsenal comeback as Samir Nasri struck twice.
Verdict: If this blog had been written a month ago, West Bromwich Albion would have received a largely positive reception as, at the start of December, the Baggies sat in eighth having just convincingly beaten Everton 4-1 away and Newcastle United 3-1 at home. Even earlier in the season, di Matteo's men had deservedly earned plenty of plaudits for that 3-2 win at the Emirates and a fine comeback at Old Trafford to come from 2-0 behind at half-time to draw 2-2 with Manchester United. But the recent 3-0 defeat to Fulham was West Brom's fifth consecutive league defeat and alarm bells are ringing as Hawthorns' regulars worry about an attack too reliant on Odemwingie and, more generally, a return of the Baggies' soft underbelly which has caused so much Premier League woe in past seasons. Di Matteo must turn this terrible run of form around quickly but West Brom have shown more than enough in the first half of the season to suggest it can be done.
Original prediction: 18th
17 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS P21-W6-D3-L12 F21/A34 Pts 21
Manager: Mick McCarthy (since July 2006)
Top scorers: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Steven Fletcher (4)
Cup progress: Wolves drew a topsy-turvy FA Cup Third Round tie with Doncaster Rovers 2-2 meaning there will be a replay at Molineux next week. In the League Cup, they were beaten by Manchester United for the second successive season. While last year they went out 1-0 at Old Trafford in R3, this time the McCarthy's men were defeated 3-2 at the same venue in R4.
Highlight of the season: There haven't been too many highs in a season of just six league wins but a deserved first victory in 26 years at Anfield against Liverpool courtesy of a neat Steven Ward finish gives Wolves plenty of hope for the second half of the season.
Verdict: This has been a tough second successive Premier League season for Wolves with only two stunning 1-0 wins over Liverpool and Chelsea since Christmas now putting their heads above water. However, a wider look at their recent form is more encouraging with four of their six league wins coming in the last seven games. The fixtures now take another turn for the worst, though, and McCarthy's men will have to be at their best against the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal within the next month. If Wolves survive that horrid little run without falling too far away from the safety line, then they should avoid the worst effects of second season syndrome.
Original prediction: 17th
18 ASTON VILLA P21-W5-D6-L10 F23/A28 Pts 21
Manager: Gerard Houllier (since September 2010)
Top scorer: Stewart Downing (5)
Cup progress: Villa began their FA Cup campaign with a comfortable 3-1 win at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United in the Third Round. However, their League Cup run ended in a huge disappointment as they lost a second city derby for the first time in seven attempts in the QFs. The match was then marred by violence from both set of supporters on the full-time whistle. Villa's progress in Europe was halted early on as Rapid Vienna beat the Villans in the Europa League qualifiers for the second season in a row.
Highlight of the season: Villa showed some rarely seen desire to take a point from Stamford Bridge in a brilliant 3-3 draw. After Frank Lampard's spot-kick made it 1-0 to the champions, Villa scored either side of half time through Ashley Young's penalty and Emile Heskey. Chelsea then turned the match on its head again as Didier Drogba and John Terry scored to put the home side 3-2 up but Ciaran Clark's stoppage time goal proved to be the final twist of a pulsating game.
Verdict: An awful season for Aston Villa sees a club more accustomed in recent seasons with a top six finish actually struggling in the bottom three. Villa's season began with a bombshell announcement from Martin O'Neill that he was leaving and it was clear early season confidence was dented by this. Villa lost 6-0 to Newcastle United under reluctant caretaker boss Kevin McDonald but, if anything, results have got even worse under new permanent coach Gerard Houllier. The former Liverpool boss has taken just four points from his last eight games and caused a fuss by lauding the Liverpool fans at Anfield without mentioning the Villa faithful in a pitiful 3-0 defeat. Villa's backline has really suffered this season - only West Brom have conceded more - and Richard Dunne appears to be playing without any confidence. In fairness, that is a statement which could apply to numerous Villa players - a long second part to the season awaits.
Original prediction: 9th
19 WIGAN ATHLETIC P21-W4-D9-L8 F18/A33 Pts 21
Manager: Roberto Martinez (since June 2009)
Top scorer: Hugo Rodallega (5)
Cup progress: Wigan were always in control of their FA Cup Third Round tie against Hull City despite the final score of 3-2. The Latics face Bolton in round four having earlier enjoyed their best run in the League Cup since they reached the Final of the competition in 2006. Martinez's men reached the QFs before bowing out 2-0 to a strong Arsenal side at the Emirates.
Highlight of the season: Wigan revisited White Hart Lane in their third league match less than one year on from their 9-1 mauling having lost their opening two games 4-0 and 6-0 respectively. Remarkably, Rodellega's goal with just 10 left on the clock gave Wigan a truly unexpected 1-0 win in a much improved defensive performance.
Verdict: Wigan Athletic stayed up last season despite conceding 79 goals, including 17 in just two games against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. This season also began in atrocious fashion with a humiliating 4-0 home defeat on the opening day to Blackpool being followed up by another thrashing, this time 6-0, at Stamford Bridge. However, since those first two league games, the Latics' problem has not actually been their defence and their attack seemingly utterly reliant on Hugo Rodallega and Charles N'Zogbia has scored just 18 goals all season. Wigan have always possessed the canny knack of picking up a draw or a win every now and then but a lack of goals throughout the team and a still creaky defence point to this being the season in which the Latics cannot surely survive again.
Original prediction: 19th
20 WEST HAM UNITED P22-W4-D8-L10 F20/A33 Pts 20
Manager: Avram Grant (since June 2010)
Top scorer: Frederic Piquionne (5)
Cup progress: Jonathan Spector and Carlton Cole both scored twice as West Ham United beat Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup QF to set up a two-legged semi final tie with Birmingham City in the New Year. FA Cup progress was also made with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Barnsley in the Third Round - Nottingham Forest are up next in round four.
Highlight of the season: Approaching half time in their Boxing Day match at Fulham, West Ham were 1-0 down and manager Grant possibly heading for the exit door. But in the last 10 minutes before the break, front pairing Cole and Frederic Piquionne turned the match around with a goal each before Cole added a third goal with under 20 minutes left for his first ever Premier League brace. Victory lifted the Hammers off the bottom for the first time since September.
Verdict: Having sacked Gianfranco Zola for finishing 17th, the Hammers have endured an even worse league campaign this time around. Zola's replacement Avram Grant seems determined to retain his position as a cup run and relegation specialist beyond his reign at Portsmouth. Israeli Grant may have guided the Hammers to the League Cup semi finals but he has also overseen a series of dispiriting defeats with just one away win from 11 league games. Their latest loss, a 5-0 hammering at Newcastle United, has undone all the Hammers' good work over the festive period when they took eight points from four matches. Defeat at St James Park sent the Hammers tumbling back to the bottom of the table where they had resided since September before their decent run either side of Christmas, a run which undoubtedly saved Grant from the chop. It is hard to see Grant surviving another loss of form while West Ham have given themselves an almighty task to survive this season.
Original prediction: 15th
All W-D-L statistics and named managers correct as of 11-01-2011. Top scorers feature league goals only. Current Premier League table here, original predictions blog post here.
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