Assessing the Premier…

The 2025-26 Premier League season is now at a pivotal juncture, with the traditional “Big Six” teams—Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur—experiencing vastly different fortunes. Currently, all are positioned within the top eight, with Bournemouth surprisingly sitting in fourth and Sunderland in seventh.

Every squad in the top tier, with the exception of Sunderland and Everton (who will meet on Monday), has completed ten league matches, providing them with clarity on their potential achievements leading up to May.

So far, four managers have been sacked: Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou (both at Nottingham Forest), Graham Potter (West Ham), and Vitor Pereira (Wolves). Meanwhile, others, such as Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim, are under significant scrutiny.

At the top of the table, the pressure mounts on the “Big Six” to meet expectations and secure both trophies and UEFA Champions League spots. Some clubs are exceeding expectations, while others lag behind. With more than a quarter of the season completed, let’s evaluate their standings.

– VAR review: Why VAR didn’t step in during Man United vs. Forest corner incident
– Ogden: Could Haaland’s goals propel Man City to the Premier League title?
– Dawson: Manchester United’s winning streak ends with a reality check at Forest

ARSENAL: 1st
GRADE: A

CURRENT STATUS: After finishing as runners-up three times consecutively in the Premier League, this season is crucial for Mikel Arteta in his pursuit of Arsenal’s first league title since 2004, particularly following a summer expenditure of over £250 million on new players.

Despite criticism for his cautious approach at key moments, such as losing to Liverpool and drawing against Manchester City, Arsenal holds a commendable six-point lead at the top of the table and appears well-positioned to end their title drought.

The Gunners have a pivotal November with London derbies against Spurs and Chelsea, along with a matchup against an on-form Sunderland. However, with Declan Rice and defender Gabriel in peak form, Arsenal looks formidable.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Arsenal should not be deterred by critiques about lacking flair; however, bolstering their attack with more goals from forwards would significantly bolster their title chances. New striker Viktor Gyökeres leads the team with just four league goals, while winger Bukayo Saka (2) is among the few who have netted more than once this season. Nevertheless, an encouraging statistic is that 11 different players have scored at least once for Arsenal this season, illustrating the team’s diverse attacking threat.

MANCHESTER CITY: 2nd
GRADE: C

CURRENT STATUS: Manchester City’s season has been unusual thus far. Clearly in a transitional phase, their inconsistency has led to three Premier League losses already. However, they still sit second, positioned as Arsenal’s closest contenders, banking on their title-winning experience to maintain competitiveness.

Catalyst to City’s success has been the prolific scoring of Erling Haaland, who has netted 11 league goals—five more than any other player in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot. However, a concern for Guardiola is that City’s second-highest scorer is actually Burnley defender Maxime Estève, who has scored two own goals.

Rodri’s struggles to regain full fitness following a cruciate ligament injury have limited his appearances, exposing vulnerabilities in City’s midfield, yet they remain in a strong position ahead of their clash with Liverpool this weekend.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: City must diversify their goal-scoring options beyond Haaland. If he manages to stay fit, he might lead them to title glory; however, as Guardiola mentioned after the win against Bournemouth, lacking alternative scoring threats would be detrimental. It’s imperative for other players to step up in the scoring department if Haaland is unavailable.

LIVERPOOL: 3rd
GRADE: D

CURRENT STATUS: Liverpool’s season has been highly erratic, beginning with five consecutive league wins followed by four straight defeats—only to recover with a 2-0 home triumph against Aston Villa.

While their early success may have obscured their actual performance levels—thanks to many late goals—subsequent defeats indicate they’ve faced a bout of misfortune, notably during a 2-1 loss at home to Manchester United, where Cody Gakpo hit the woodwork three times.

Despite sitting third, seven points behind Arsenal, Liverpool’s performance has not matched the expectations set by their substantial £415 million summer spending. The arrival of six new players and the departure of six, coupled with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, has resulted in an inconsistent and imbalanced squad.

Significant signings like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have yet to make an impressive impact, while the absence of goalkeeper Alisson Becker since his injury in the Champions League against Galatasaray has been felt acutely. While their win against Villa may have halted their losing streak, upcoming fixtures against Real Madrid and City will be crucial in determining Liverpool’s standing.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Liverpool must enhance performances across every department. Only new additions Hugo Ekitike and midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai have shown glimpses of their abilities. While Mohamed Salah is still on the hunt for form, defensive frailties have emerged, with the team conceding 14 goals in ten matches. Center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté have shown vulnerabilities, and Slot has yet to find consistent full-backs.

TOTTENHAM: 5th
GRADE: C

CURRENT STATUS: In light of last season’s struggles, where Spurs narrowly avoided relegation by finishing 17th, their current standing under new head coach Thomas Frank feels like a positive shift.

While Spurs are currently fifth, eight points behind Arsenal, their early season optimism and early wins—including a 2-0 victory at Manchester City—have subsided following a disappointing 1-0 loss against Chelsea. This setback extends to just four wins in 19 home league games since last November, showcasing Frank’s continuing challenges in reversing the slump that began under previous manager Ange Postecoglou.

Key injuries to midfielder James Maddison and striker Dominic Solanke have significantly impacted the squad, compounded by the exit of Son Heung-min to LAFC, taking with him vital experience and leadership. Upcoming matches against Manchester United (H) and Arsenal (A) present opportunities to regain ground against top competitors. However, back-to-back defeats in these fixtures would heighten pressure on Frank to deliver results.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: A successful home result would boost morale on and off the pitch, inching Spurs closer to the top four. Ultimately, they need to enhance their playing style, which currently contrasts sharply with the club’s traditional attacking approach. Frank’s tactical focus has leaned toward more direct play—long throws and set-pieces—which might alienate some fans if not complemented by results.

CHELSEA: 6th
GRADE: C

CURRENT STATUS: Chelsea, the reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions, have exhibited inconsistency, often looking like a young, inexperienced squad. They have impressive victories against Liverpool and Spurs but have also suffered unexpected losses at home to Brighton and Sunderland.

When on form, Chelsea appear capable of challenging for the title, but during off games, they struggle to seem even top-four contenders. Defensively shaky and lacking a reliable goalkeeper, their attacking potential remains buoyed despite injuries to players like Cole Palmer and Liam Delap, as they’ve matched Arsenal and Liverpool in goals scored—18 in total, trailing only City’s 20.

Discipline issues have arisen, with three red cards in the league already. However, Chelsea remains competitive in the title race.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Manager Enzo Maresca needs to fortify the team’s defensive structure, even while their attacking options remain promising. The anticipated return of Palmer will enhance their offensive threat. However, the overarching need for experience is evident—a requirement that grows with time on the pitch. Unless Chelsea adjusts its youth-oriented strategy to include seasoned players in January, growing pains—and potential for more surprise defeats—will likely persist until the squad develops more composure on the field.

MANCHESTER UNITED: 8th
GRADE: C

CURRENT STATUS: Manchester United continues to be a whirlwind of unpredictability. They are making progress, yet still facing severe challenges this season, highlighted by a humiliating loss in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town—their first-ever loss to fourth-tier opposition.

However, they have also celebrated notable victories, including a 2-1 win at Liverpool—United’s first at Anfield since 2016. After enduring their worst-ever Premier League season, finishing 16th, they now find themselves unbeaten in four consecutive league matches.

Summer additions like Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko are bolstering the team’s attack, while Senne Lammens is proving a reliable option in goal, surpassing his predecessors in performance.

Despite making strides, United has the leakiest defense within the top 10, having allowed 16 goals. Furthermore, depth and quality beyond the primary starting lineup remain issues, yet they remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification, with progress evident. Now, consistency will be crucial—a quality they have lacked in recent seasons.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: While Casemiro has silenced critics with his performances, when the 33-year-old is unavailable, neither Manuel Ugarte nor Kobbie Mainoo can fill his shoes effectively. Thus, bolstering the midfield options in January is vital for the club’s campaign.

Lack of reliable alternatives persists across the squad, with the anticipated month-long absence of Mbeumo and Amad Diallo during the Africa Cup of Nations further complicating the situation. The club must take action and enhance squad depth when the transfer window opens, especially if Amorim is to guide the team toward a Champions League spot. Maintaining progress until the winter will likely pressure the club’s hierarchy to invest in crucial new talent.