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PREMIER LEAGUE REPORT CARD – PART ONE: Arsenal must make do with out Bukayo Saka, Chelsea’s transient title cost is slipping away, whereas Bournemouth are knocking on the door

  • Arsenal will try to stay afloat in the title race without Saka for a few months
  • Southampton are at risk of breaking an unenviable Premier League record  
  • LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism has gone at Old Trafford 

This season has gone off script a little – Man City are down in the dumps, Nottingham Forest have found themselves in a top four race, and there have been no growing pains for Arne Slot‘s all-conquering Liverpool side.

The Reds top the table as we begin the new year, with Arsenal following behind in second. Liverpool have logged 45 points from 18 games, while Mikel Arteta‘s men are on 39, despite playing an extra game.

The race for Champions League qualification is wide open, as the gap between Chelsea in fourth and Aston Villa in ninth is only six points. At the other end of the table, Southampton are in danger of eclipsing the record for the lowest points tally in Premier League history, as they sit dead last on six points. 

Derby have the lowest points tally of the 646 teams to have completed top-flight seasons since 1992 – they collected a measly 11 points in 2007-08. If Ivan Juric’s arrival does not change Southampton’s fortunes, they may end up usurping the Rams for the most undesirable record in English football.

Here at Mail Sport, we kicked off our Premier League report cards by assessing Arsenal all the way through to Ipswich. Sadly, fans of the other 10 Premier League clubs have had to wait to see the grade their side has been given.

With all that said and done, Mail Sport have compiled report cards for each of the 20 teams after 19 gameweeks of action. Here are the first batch for you to sink your teeth into.

Liverpool dominated the first half of the season and sit six points clear at the top of the table

Liverpool dominated the first half of the season and sit six points clear at the top of the table

Man City have endured their worst form in the Pep Guardiola era over the last couple of months

Man City have endured their worst form in the Pep Guardiola era over the last couple of months

Southampton are currently at risk of logging the lowest points tally in Premier League history

Southampton are currently at risk of logging the lowest points tally in Premier League history

Arsenal 

Position: 2nd  Points: 39 

For two years running, Mikel Arteta’s side have been the bridesmaids. The hurt from back-to-back title fights has put Arsenal in a better position than ever to pip City to Premier League glory. 

But who would have thought that Slot would slot (forgive me!) into life at Liverpool so easily? Not to mention, City have broken all sorts of records with regards to losing streaks and goal conceded under Guardiola.

This campaign arguably yields the Gunners’ best chance to win the league in the last few years. They haven’t been awful – they still have the joint-best defence in the league with Liverpool, conceding just 17 goals.

Arsenal are still in the title race but will be without Bukayo Saka for an extended period of time

Arsenal are still in the title race but will be without Bukayo Saka for an extended period of time

It would be harsh to write Arsenal off – they’ve lost just two games this season and are still undefeated at the Emirates. Yet, with Bukayo Saka set to be sidelined for a matter of months, it’s hard to be optimistic about their chances of winning their first league title since 2003.

Arteta’s side have managed just one less point after 19 games this season compared to last. They aren’t much worse, but timing has certainly not been on their side.

Grade: B+ 

Aston Villa

Position: 9th  Points: 29 

Aston Villa have not won away from home in the Premier League since October. After eight games, Unai Emery’s side were in fourth place, level on points with Arsenal, and looked like the real deal.

Since then, they’ve gone cold over the winter months, picking up just 12 points in their last 11 games. Ollie Watkins has been dropped to the bench for four of Villa’s last five league games, as Jhon Duran has been preferred by Emery as of late. 

Wins for Aston Villa have dried up lately, as they are slipping further from the top four spots

Wins for Aston Villa have dried up lately, as they are slipping further from the top four spots

With a 42 per cent win rate, this is the Spanish manager’s worst season at the club since joining in 2022. His side won 60 per cent of their games in his debut campaign, declining to 53 per cent in the year after.

It’s not all doom and gloom for Villa, though. They still have a shot at qualifying for the Champions League next season – six points behind Chelsea in fourth – but will have to find their form of old if they wish to do so in 2025.

Grade: B- 

Bournemouth

Position: 7th  Points: 30 

It was Bournemouth’s 2-1 win over City at the start of November that kicked off a miserable run of league form for Guardiola’s strugglers. Since then, the Cherries beat Tottenham at home and embarrassed Man United at Old Trafford to win 3-0.

Andoni Iraola has cultivated a gritty, hard-working culture on the south coast – apart from a 3-0 defeat at Liverpool in September, they have not lost a game by more than one goal all season.

Bournemouth are seventh and building on Andoni's Iraola impressive debut season in charge

Bournemouth are seventh and building on Andoni’s Iraola impressive debut season in charge

His first season in charge of Bournemouth was nothing short of a resounding success. The Spaniard guided the Cherries to their highest points finish in Premier League history as they ended the 2023-24 campaign 12th.

And, despite the exit of Dominic Solanke last summer, Bournemouth have tallied two more points after 19 games this season compared to last. They trail City by just a point and have a real shot at fighting for the top four.

Grade: A- 

Brentford

Position: 12th  Points: 24 

After suffering a rare relegation fight in the top flight last campaign, Thomas Frank has got his Bees buzzing back around mid-table after 19 games. Despite the loss of Ivan Toney last summer, they have noticeably improved.

Brentford lie 12th, level on points with Tottenham and ahead of United in 14th. While they are unlikely to be anyone’s favourites to qualify for Europe, they still remain within touching distance. A few favourable results and they would be right in the mix.

Brentford are back in the mid-table spots after a rare relegation fight in the 2023-24 campaign

Brentford are back in the mid-table spots after a rare relegation fight in the 2023-24 campaign

And that’s hardly unrealistic for a team as unpredictable as Brentford – if one thing is guaranteed, it’s that the Bees will always put on a show for the neutrals.

Only two teams have seen more goals in their games than Thomas Frank’s side (68) – Wolves (73) and Tottenham (69). Nine of their 19 games have seen four or more goals for both teams combined – it’s never a bore-fest when Brentford take to the pitch.

Grade: B- 

Brighton and Hove Albion

Position: 10th  Points: 27 

Despite being younger than many of his players aged just 31, Fabian Hurzeler has landed Brighton in a decent position this season. He had the unenviable task of succeeding fan-favourite Roberto De Zerbi last summer, but there have been minimal growing pains.

The Seagulls have picked up just three less points after 19 games this season compared to last. They are in the middle of a seven-game winless streak, which has largely been due to their injury crisis, with a league-high nine players currently sidelined.

Brighton started the season on fire but their momentum has slowed due to their injury crisis

Brighton started the season on fire but their momentum has slowed due to their injury crisis

Prior to this, they were in fifth place, level on points with Arsenal and Chelsea, and just a point behind City in second. They have collected 10 points from an available 18 against the ‘Big Six’ and are no rollovers.

To not account their injury issues into their grade would be unjust. 

Grade: B+ 

Chelsea

Position: 4th  Points: 35 

What do they say? A broken clock is right twice a day, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while? Well, however you want to look at it, over £1billion and six managers later, Todd Boehly seems to have got the ball rolling at Stamford Bridge.

Granted, Enzo Maresca’s side may not be in for a full-blown title fight, as many might have expected when they trailed Liverpool by two points after 16 games, but they have vastly improved since last season.

Chelsea hit the ground running under Maresca and have a great chance of making the top four

Chelsea hit the ground running under Maresca and have a great chance of making the top four

The Blues are in much better nick than they were in Mauricio Pochettino’s last season; after 19 games, they languished in the bottom half of the table on 25 points.

With the goals flowing, all their young talent, and such an exciting project, I find it hard to turn my nose up at the screen when Chelsea are on the telly. However, let’s not forget their 10-figure transfer splurge in the last two and a half years. This isn’t a rags to riches story and the context of their improvement must be considered.

Grade: B+ 

Crystal Palace

Position: 15th  Points: 20 

Palace finished last season as the in-form side in the Premier League, winning six of their last seven matches and drawing the other. The Eagles soared into a 10th-place finish, having been embroiled in a relegation battle before Oliver Glasner arrived in February.

This campaign has not paid the same dividends for the Austrian manager, as Palace have struggled for goals all season. Undoubtedly, the loss of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich last summer has certainly not aided their fortunes. 

After Olise's exit last summer, Crystal Palace have struggled going forward this season

After Olise’s exit last summer, Crystal Palace have struggled going forward this season

But their other stars have not stepped up to the plate. Eberechi Eze is struggling, Eddie Nketiah has been quiet, and Jean-Philippe Mateta is yet to rediscover the form that saw him score a bucketload at the end of 2023-24.

Palace are just five points off the relegation zone, as they look to avoid demotion to the Championship for the first time since landing in the top flight in 2013.

Grade: D- 

Everton

Position: 16th  Points: 17 

Everton suffered their worst start to a top-flight season in 66 years after losing their first four matches of the season. They conceded 13 goals in those opening games and things have not been much better since.

To be fair to Sean Dyche’s side, they have conceded just 10 thereafter, but it’s their woeful goalscoring record which is a focal point of concern.

Everton are deep in a relegation battle and face a first-time demotion from the Premier League

Everton are deep in a relegation battle and face a first-time demotion from the Premier League

The Toffees have scored the second-fewest goals in the league (15); only Southampton have scored less (12) and they’re in contention to have the worst points finish in Premier League history. That should sum up how worryingly bad Everton’s attacking unit is.

They are one of six clubs to have never been relegated from the Premier League since its formation in 1992, but that record is under threat as much as ever before. 

Grade: E 

Fulham

Position: 8th  Points: 29 

After six games, Fulham had made their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign with three wins, two draws, and a solitary loss. They have since remained in fine form and are just six points off the top four.

Last season, they were nowhere near fighting for Europe. They weren’t really near anything significant for that matter, as they comfortably avoided relegation too. But Marco Silva’s men have gone from uninspiring mid-table dwellers to battling with some of the league’s best.

After a lacklustre season last year, Fulham are well positioned to fight for Europe this term

After a lacklustre season last year, Fulham are well positioned to fight for Europe this term

They sit clear of Tottenham and United, in light of their miserable seasons, and are just two points behind City. The Cottagers have certainly become an entertaining outfit to watch.

However, Fulham have dropped a league-high 19 points from winning positions this season. If they are to fight for European qualification, they will need to iron out some issues.

Grade: A- 

Ipswich Town

Position: 18th  Points: 15 

Ipswich’s 22-year long wait to return to the top flight has been underwhelming, to put it delicately. It took them until November 10 to earn their first league win of the season, and they have managed just two since.

Kieran McKenna’s system and willingness to go toe-to-toe with the top teams is admirable, but more balance needs to be found if they are to start picking up some better results in their bid for survival.

Ipswich languish in 18th and their attacking players have struggled outside of Liam Delap

Ipswich languish in 18th and their attacking players have struggled outside of Liam Delap

Only Everton (15) and Southampton (12) have scored fewer goals than the Tractor Boys (18), so far. Liam Delap has netted seven of those, as reports have flown around suggesting that some of the Premier League’s top sides are eyeing up Ipswich’s star striker.

If they were to lose him this month, their hopes of remaining in the top flight in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2002 would wither.

Grade: D-