The Season 2012/13: Man United lead the early charge

1 MANCHESTER UNITED (P10 W8 D0 L2 F26 A14 Pts 24)
First 10 League games: LWWWWLWWWW
League Cup: lost 4-5 aet v Chelsea (A) in fourth round
Europe: Currently top in Champions League group H [W3 D0 L0 F6 A2]
Top scorer: Robin van Persie (10)
Sack race: Sir Alex Ferguson (manager since November 1986) 50/1
Original prediction: 2nd
Manchester United have responded well to a rare opening day loss to Everton by winning nine of their next 10 league games and making serene progress in the Champions League. The Red Devils' victories include away triumphs at Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea, and a 2-1 home win over Arsenal which was much more comfortable than that sounds. Robin van Persie scored one of those goals against his old club and has settled down well in the north.

2 CHELSEA (P10 W7 D2 L1 F22 A10 Pts 23)
First 10 League games: WWWDWWWWLD
League Cup: QF v Leeds United (A) on 19 December
Europe: Currently second in Champions League group E [W1 D1 L1 F7 A4]
Top scorer: Juan Mata (7)
Sack race: Roberto di Matteo (since March 2012) 33/1
Original prediction: 3rd
Pace-setters Chelsea won seven of their first eight league matches but have dropped off the top of the table after a dramatic home defeat to Manchester United and a draw at Swansea City. Two different players called Hernandez - Javier and Pablo - were responsible for denying the Blues the points. Captain John Terry was banned for four games by the Football Association after being found guilty of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last season. Now the Blues have made a similar complaint about referee Mark Clattenburg.

3 MANCHESTER CITY (P10 W6 D4 L0 F18 A9 Pts 22)
First 10 League games: WDWDDWWWWD
League Cup: lost 2-4 aet v Aston Villa (H) in third round
Europe: Currently bottom of Champions League group D [W0 D1 L2 F4 A7]
Top scorer: Edin Dzeko (6)
Sack race: Roberto Mancini (since December 2009) 12/1
Original prediction: Champions
Manchester City remain the only Premier League team unbeaten in league games this season but that statistic is not nearly as brilliant as it sounds. The 0-0 draw at West Ham United on Saturday was the defending champions' fourth in 10 games and, significantly, Roberto Mancini's men have eight fewer goals than their Manchester rivals. Another poor Champions League campaign has done little to lift the spirits at the Etihad Stadium, thought it would be too early to panic. For, while Manchester City have made an unspectacular start, they still remain just two points adrift.

4 EVERTON (P10 W4 D5 L1 F19 A13 Pts 17)
First 10 League games: WWLDWWDDDD
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Leeds United (A) in third round
Top scorer: Marouane Fellaini (5)
Sack race: David Moyes (since March 2002) 100/1
Original prediction: 8th
For once, Everton began the season on fire. A 1-0 home win over Manchester United on the opening weekend was followed up by a fine display in a 3-1 victory at Villa Park. Frustration at a surprise defeat at West Bromwich Albion was added to when Newcastle United somehow stole a point at Goodison Park - but successive victories, away at Swansea City and at home against Southampton, sent the Toffees second in the league heading into October. The last month has not gone so well for David Moyes' men with four successive score draws. But it is not all bad news - one of those four draws was their home Merseyside derby in which they were 2-0 down in 20 minutes.

5 WEST BROMWICH ALBION (P10 W5 D2 L3 F15 A11 Pts 17)
First 10 League games: WDWLWDWLLW
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Liverpool (H) in third round
Top scorer: Shane Long (5)
Sack race: Steve Clarke (since June 2012) 50/1
Original prediction: 18th
West Brom have made their best start to a top-flight season in decades thanks to excellent home form which has delivered all five of their victories so far this season. Everton, Liverpool, and the current bottom three - Reading, Queens Park Rangers and Southampton - have all perished at the Hawthorns and consequently the Baggies have made an unexpected charge up the table. However, Steve Clarke's men will have to improve their away form, which has registered just two points out of 12 so far, if the Baggies' challenge is to prove a long-term one.

6 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (P10 W5 D2 L3 F17 A14 Pts 17)
First 10 League games: LDDWWWWLWL
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Norwich City (A) in fourth round
Europe: Currently third in Europa League group J [W0 D3 L0 F2 A2]
Top scorer: Jermian Defoe (5)
Sack race: Andre Villas-Boas (since July 2012) 33/1
Original prediction: 5th
Just when it looked as if the Spurs fans may be warming to the methods of fresh-faced boss Andre Villas-Boas, his team produce a woeful display in a home defeat to Wigan Athletic. A slow start, with just points out of the first nine, was becoming a hazy memory when Spurs strung four league wins in a row, including a first victory at Old Trafford since 1989. However, successive defeats at White Hart Lane to Chelsea and Wigan have put the pressure back on the Portuguese boss ahead of vital trips to Manchester City and Arsenal.

7 ARSENAL (P10 W4 D3 L3 F15 A8 Pts 15)
First 10 League games: DDWWDLWLWL
League Cup: QF v Bradford City (A) on 11 December
Europe: Currently second in Champions League group B [W2 D0 L1 F5 A4]
Top scorer: Theo Walcott (7)
Sack race: Arsene Wenger (since October 1996) 33/1
Original prediction: 4th
Arsenal made an encouraging enough to start to the season with victory at Anfield and a 6-1 thumping of Southampton lifting the Gunners to third early on. Better still, Arsene Wenger's men followed up those wins with a 1-1 draw away to champions Manchester City to remain unbeaten - but recent weeks have seen the wheels start to fall off with four defeats in their last eight games in all competitions. Chelsea prevailed 2-1 at the Emirates while away defeats to Norwich City and, most recently, Manchester United have seen the North Londoners fall well off the pace.

8 FULHAM (P10 W4 D3 L3 F21 A16 Pts 15)
First 10 League games: WLLWWLDWDD
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Sheffield Wednesday (A) in second round
Top scorer: Damien Duff, Mladen Petric, Dimitar Berbatov, Steve Sidwell (all 3)
Sack race: Martin Jol (since June 2011) 50/1
Original prediction: 16th
A late goal by Steve Sidwell on Saturday rescued a point for Fulham in a 2-2 draw at home to fellow top-half dwellers Everton. In doing so, Martin Jol's men went some way to maintaining their strong record at Craven Cottage where they have picked up 10 of their 15 points so far this season. Their record on the road is less to write home about, as usual, but - even then - Fulham's away games have featured plenty of goals. Jol's men have played out a 3-2 loss to Manchester United, a 2-2 draw at Southampton and incredible late drama in a 3-3 draw with Reading, meaning the west Londoners are, in fact, the third highest scorers in the league.

9 WEST HAM UNITED (P10 W4 D3 L3 F13 A11 Pts 15)
First 10 League games: WLWDDWLWLD
League Cup: lost 1-4 v Wigan Athletic (H) in third round
Top scorer: Kevin Nolan (4)
Sack race: Sam Allardyce (since June 2011) 40/1
Original prediction: 14th
The inconsistent Hammers have yet to win two league matches on the spin - but four victories from their opening 10 games is a more than acceptable record for a newly promoted side. Sam Allardyce's men got off to the perfect start by beating Aston Villa 1-0 at home on the opening day and they soon followed that up with a fine 3-0 home win over Fulham in which Liverpool loanee Andy Carroll starred. If anything, though, the Hammers' most impressive result came on Saturday in a 0-0 draw against Manchester City. Many more results like that and the east Londoners will have no problems securing their top flight place well in advance of May.

10 NEWCASTLE UNITED (P10 W3 D5 L2 F12 A14 Pts 14)
First 10 League games: WLDDWDLDWD
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Manchester United (A) in third round
Europe: Currently top of Europa League group D [W2 D1 L0 F4 A0]
Top scorer: Demba Ba (7)
Sack race: Alan Pardew (since December 2010) 100/1
Original prediction: 6th
There has been no repeat of last season when Newcastle United went unbeaten until November but that was always unlikely given a less kindly fixture draw this time around. Still, the Magpies opened with a home win over Tottenham Hotspur and, thanks to the goals of Demba Ba and momentary flashes of genius by Hatem Ben Arfa, Alan Pardew's men have lost only to Manchester United and Chelsea so far. There have been too many draws on the road, though - indeed, the Tynesiders have yet to taste victory in eight away games in all competitions in learning to balance their domestic and European commitments.

11 SWANSEA CITY (P10 W3 D3 L4 F15 A14 Pts 12)
First 10 League games: WWDLLLDWLD
League Cup: QF v Middlesbrough (H) on 12 December
Top scorer: Miguel 'Michu' Perez Cuesta (7)
Sack race: Michael Laudrup (since June 2012) 33/1
Original prediction: 17th
Swansea City started life under Michael Laudrup brilliantly, faded, and have now recovered for a stable mid-table position. The Swans hit eight goals in their opening two games, easily beating Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United before a 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland confirmed a solid start. But the Welsh club then suffered three successive defeats without scoring and it looked like that might become four when Reading took a 2-0 lead at the Liberty Stadium. Top scorer Michu inspired a comeback to 2-2 - and, ever since, the Swans have been fine. Indeed, Laudrup's men have an eminently winnable League Cup quarter final against Middlesbrough next month as a reward for winning at Anfield in the fourth round.

12 WIGAN ATHLETIC (P10 W3 D2 L5 F11 A16 Pts 11)
First 10 League games: LWDLLLDLWW
League Cup: lost 2-4 on penalties (after 0-0 draw) v Bradford City (H) in fourth round
Top scorer: Mauro Boselli, Franco di Santo, Arouna Kone (3)
Sack race: Roberto Martinez (since June 2009) 40/1
Original prediction: 15th
What a difference a couple of wins make! It looked for all the world that Wigan Athletic, who had taken survival for the last two seasons to the wire, were in another relegation battle already after a poor start in which they won just once and took only five points from their opening eight matches. At that stage, another season-long struggle looked likely for Roberto Martinez's men but consecutive victories at home against West Ham United and, impressively, away at Tottenham Hotspur have lifted the Latics to the comfort of mid-table. Now six points clear of the relegation places, maybe - just maybe - Wigan plan on giving their fans an easier end to this campaign.

13 LIVERPOOL (P10 W2 D5 L3 F13 A15 Pts 11)
First 10 League games: LDLDLWDWDD
League Cup: lost 1-3 v Swansea City (H) in fourth round
Europe: Currently top of Europa League group A [W2 D0 L1 F8 A6]
Top scorer: Luis Suarez (10)
Sack race: Brendan Rodgers (since June 2012) 33/1
Original prediction: 7th
This has hardly been a dream start for yet another manager in the Anfield hotseat, Brendan Rodgers. Indeed, for the second season running - or perhaps even longer - Fortress Anfield is not what it was. On Sunday, Newcastle United became the latest visiting team to take the lead at the old ground which has seen just one league win - and that a 1-0 against Reading - out of six. Away form has been a little better, if you ignore the capitulation at the Hawthorns against West Brom, with two well-deserved points from fixtures at Sunderland and Everton. Luis Suarez was the star of the show in the Merseyside derby and also in a 5-2 thumping of Norwich City, easily the Reds' stand-out performance of the season so far.

14 NORWICH CITY (P10 W2 D4 L4 F7 A18 Pts 10)
First 10 League games: LDDDLLLWDW
League Cup: QF v Aston Villa (H) on 11 December
Top scorer: Grant Holt (3)
Sack race: Chris Hughton (since June 2012) 40/1
Original prediction: 20th
10 league games gone, 10 points - but it has hardly been as straightforward as that sounds for Chris Hughton's men. The Canaries were rocked in the summer by the acrimonious departure of successful manager Paul Lambert to Aston Villa and their top striker Grant Holt almost followed him out of the door. It was no surprise then that Norwich began the season slowly, conceding nine goals in two horrible consecutive defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea, leaving them on three points - all draws - from seven games. Then came a potential season-turner as Holt scrambled a first win against an out-of-sorts Arsenal. That was followed by a hard-fought draw against Villa and old boss Lambert, and another 1-0 home win against Stoke City.

15 STOKE CITY (P10 W1 D6 L3 F8 A10 Pts 9)
First 10 League games: DDDDLWDLDL
League Cup: lost 3-4 aet v Swindon Town (H) in second round
Top scorer: Peter Crouch (5)
Sack race: Tony Pulis (since June 2006) 50/1
Original prediction: 12th
Stoke City have registered solid league finishes of 12th, 11th, 13th and 14th in the four seasons since their return to the top echelon - but this season, the Potters are suddenly looking less secure. Just one win from their opening 10 games can be more easily understood considering Tony Pulis's side have already travelled to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and Anfield, while the red-and-whites are also still unbeaten at home. In common with other clubs around them, though, Stoke have had far too many draws at home - the 0-0 with Sunderland was a particularly gruesome game. However, it can at least be expected that Stoke's position will improve in the coming weeks as the fixtures become less brutal.

16 SUNDERLAND (P9 W1 D6 L2 F6 A9 Pts 9)
First 10 League games: DDDDWLDDL
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Middlesbrough (H) in fourth round
Top scorer: Steven Fletcher (5)
Sack race: Martin O'Neill (since December 2011) 20/1
Original prediction: 11th
Defeat at home to Aston Villa on Saturday made it one league win in 17 going back to March for Martin O'Neill - and, even though most games have finished in draws rather than defeat, that sequence is still unquestionably relegation form. Fortunately for the Black Cats, the run has been spread over two seasons, meaning the most goal-shy team in England is able to keep just above the relegation zone - for now. Goodness knows where the Wearsiders would be if it was not for £12m signing Steven Fletcher. The Scotsman has scored five of Sunderland's six league goals this season. Their only other successful strike was a Demba Ba OG in the drawn Wear-Tyne derby.

17 ASTON VILLA (P9 W2 D3 L5 F8 A14 Pts 9)
First 10 League games: LLDWLDLLDW
League Cup: QF v Norwich City (A) on 11 December
Top scorer: Gabriel Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke (4)
Sack race: Paul Lambert (since June 2012) 33/1
Original prediction: 10th
Paul Lambert enjoyed only his second league win as Aston Villa manager against Sunderland on Saturday, gaining three points which just about keeps the Midlanders out of real trouble for now. Defeat at Fulham last month made it just one win - against Swansea City - and five defeats in Villa's first eight games in the club's worst top-flight start since the 1986-87 relegation season. It did look as if Lambert was going to get his second win against his old club Norwich City but a late goal by Michael Turner denied him, though Lambert would eventually taste victory in the six-pointer at Sunderland.

18 READING (P9 W0 D5 L4 F12 A18 Pts 5)
First 10 League games: DLLLDDLDD
League Cup: lost 5-7 aet v Arsenal (H) in fourth round
Top scorer: Pavel Pogrebnyak (5)
Sack race: Brian McDermott (since December 2009) 33/1
Original prediction: 19th
Life back in the top flight has proved a tough assignment so far for Reading who are yet to taste victory in the league this season. A leaky defence has been the Royals' Achilles heel and the Berkshire club are without a clean sheet in 12 league and cup games so far, with five score draws out of nine league games. Indeed, Reading took kamikaze defending to the extreme in their League Cup fourth round tie, losing 7-5 after extra time to Arsenal, having been 4-0 up at one stage. Back in the league, it is vital that Brian McDermott's men earn three points soon, or else they are one part of a trio of clubs already being cast adrift at the bottom. 

19 QUEENS PARK RANGERS (P10 W0 D4 L6 F8 A19 Pts 4)
First 10 League games: LDLDLLLDLD
League Cup: lost 2-3 v Reading (H) in third round
Top scorer: Bobby Zamora (5)
Sack race: Mark Hughes (since January 2012) 6/5
Original prediction: 13th
Mark Hughes' future looks uncertain as, despite Djibril Cisse's equaliser rescuing a point on Sunday, Queens Park Rangers made it 10 league games off the start of the season without a win. However, all hope is not lost for the Loftus Park club yet as, in fact, three clubs have avoided relegation having recorded the same winless start. Also, since a horrible opening 5-0 defeat at home to Swansea City, the Hoops have been competitive in most of their games. It just a matter now of whether Hughes gets much more time from his demanding owners in west London. 

20 SOUTHAMPTON (P10 W1 D1 L8 F14 A28 Pts 4)
First 10 League games: LLLLWLDLLL
League Cup: lost 0-3 v Leeds United (A) in fourth round
Top scorer: Rickie Lambert (4)
Sack race: Nigel Adkins (since September 2010) 5/4fav
Original prediction: 9th
A win and a draw is all Southampton have to show from their opening 10 games and, statistically, the worst-ever Premier League defence at this stage has condemned the Saints to the bottom of the embryonic table. The south coast club, having won successive promotions, just do not look ready for top flight football, particularly at the back where no fewer than 28 goals have been shipped, 18 of them in five away defeats. At least, at home, there have some bright moments, no more so than the excellent 4-1 victory over a low-confidence Aston Villa team. However, Nigel Adkins's men simply must show more aptitude at the back if they are to get anywhere near survival by May.

Note: All clubs have played 10 league games except Sunderland and Reading whose match on 25 August was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, and has been rearranged for 11 December. Top scorers' goals relate to all competitions. Sack race odds are provided by Skybet. Original predictions feature in this preview post.