AG: Antonio Conte has been sensational. He went with four at the back to start because that is what the players had been used to and as soon as it was evident it wouldn’t work when they got thumped by Liverpool and Arsenal he did it his way, changed it to three at the back and the results are there to be seen. That’s good management.
It still saddens me though that what has happened at Chelsea is clear evidence that the players downed tools to get rid of Mourinho and that is unprofessional. Without European commitment they will be hard to catch. 9
RK: I have to give Chelsea 12 out of 10 simply in tribute to their 12- game winning run. They have been playing with confidence and style and there is a serious prospect of them going on to win the title.
AG: There is a freedom about the way they play and Jurgen Klopp has been a breath of fresh air. They look a bit vulnerable at the back but they can cope with that as long as they keep scoring more than they concede. Like Chelsea they don’t have the strain of trying to cope with Champions League football and that is a major advantage. Definite title contenders. 9
Free of their shackles: Liverpool.
RK: Klopp has found a system to accommodate his players and Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have been outstanding. Nothing fazes Klopp and he has tapped into what the Liverpool fans want. 9
AG: I expected a bit more from Pep Guardiola. He has tinkered too much with selection, formation and systems which is going to confuse his players. For example, Aleksandar Kolorov has been moved from one position to another to the extent that I am sure he has absolutely no idea what role he is supposed to be playing. City need to improve. 7
RK: I always thought this would be Guardiola’s first serious challenge and it is turning out to be exactly that. He still has it all to prove. 7.5
AG: Arsene Wenger gets some terrible press and I just don’t get the criticism. They lost to Everton away and Manchester City on the road, two good sides, and yet he got battered.
Olivier Giroud’s goal against West Brom last time out was massive because if the Gunners had dropped two more points at home then the punters would have become really restless. They have got good players coming back into the side so write them off at your peril. 8
RK: Sorry, but it is the same old Arsenal. They are brittle and the fact remains they got beaten up by Everton and Man City. They need to do much better. 7
AG: Spurs are struggling a little up front but if Harry Kane can find some form in the second half of the season they can kick on but I don’t think they will win the league. 7
RK: Dodgy start but they are getting better. Title looks beyond them. 7.5
AG: Jose Mourinho went into a club which needed major surgery and didn’t really know all the players. Yet people expected him to walk in, sprinkle his stardust and United would be thumping everybody. That was never going to happen. He has gone in there, had a good look, given everybody a chance and now looks more settled.
They will be much stronger in the second half of the season. 7
RK: They were my title tip but so far I think Mourinho has struggled to come to terms with the enormity of being the manager of Manchester United. They are playing significantly better now and there is much more to come. 8
Paul Pogba (7) & Zlatan Ibrahimovic (7) have completed more final-third through balls than any player in Europe's top 5 leagues this season. pic.twitter.com/bPyOCOu1w2
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 28, 2016
AG: Very disappointing. Like Mourinho, Ronald Koeman is learning about his players but I don’t think his squad has much quality in depth. What they achieved so far is just not good enough. 6
RK: Hugely underwhelming and like Andy I expected much more from Koeman. He needs to up his game. 6
AG: Claude Puel has done okay but you never quite know what you are going to get from them. If they lose Virgil Van Dijk or Jose Fonte which is likely in the January transfer window and they continue to rely on Charlie Austin up front then they might struggle. 6
RK: They are in the top half and their supporters can’t expect much more because it is unlikely they will ever challenge for the title. 6
AG: West Brom fans didn’t want Tony Pulis at their club but they must realise now what a good coach they have got. They play much better football than most give them credit for and they are deservedly in the top 10. 7
In form: Salomon Rondon.
RK: Brilliant. They hit the wall in their last two games but they were tough matches against Liverpool and Arsenal. Prior to that they reached seventh place playing some good football. 8
AG: Doing better than I thought but need to find some consistent form or they will start to slide down the table. 7.5
RK: Watford were one of my three to go down and the two up front can’t buy a goal between them. 4
AG: They have started to climb up the table now but that is more down to luck than rediscovered form. They have some tough games coming up against Leicester, Man United and Man City so if they can get through those unscathed then their season will start to improve. 6
RK: Dimitri Payet is not performing and the new stadium move has proved to be a mistake. It will never be a football stadium. They should pull it down and start again. 5
AG: They have probably found their level at mid-table – neat and tidy, play good football and get the job done. Anything above 16th at the end of the season is a success and they will achieve that. 7.5
RK: It’s extraordinary what Eddie Howe is doing and he will definitely be in the frame to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal if and when he goes. My score is based on the fact that this is a remarkable story. 9
Continuing to impress: Eddie Howe,
AG: They are dropping down the league a little too quickly for my liking and Mark Hughes needs to stop that. 5
RK: I don’t really know what this team is all about at the moment. 4
AG: With what Sean Dyche has got at his disposal sitting in 14th place after 18 games is pretty impressive. They struggle a bit on the road but at home they have a good record and if they can keep that going they will survive. 7.5
RK: Everybody still thinks they will be relegated but I fancy Sean to keep them up. 8
AG: Aitor Karanka has done a decent job. However, Alvaro Negredo hasn’t delivered and they must find goals if they are to survive. 6
RK: If Karanka keeps them in the Premier League he will have done well. 5
AG: Big fall from grace but hardly surprising. Claudio Ranieri clearly put all his eggs in the Champions League basket and that has reflected in their league form. They were never going to be the team they were last year. 4
RK: I thought Leicester would struggle last season and it looks like I was a year too early. They have been awful. 1
AG: It was only a matter of time before Alan Pardew was sacked, particularly with people like Sam Allardyce hanging about without a job and he will get them back on track. 4
RK: A disastrous first half of the season but I think they will finish top half under Sam. 1
AG: There is no money there so David Moyes has to try and get them out of trouble with what he has got. That is a massive ask. 5
RK: If Moyes loses Jermain Defoe in the January transfer window they will be in real trouble. 4
Fighting the tide: David Moyes.
AG: What did anyone expect from this team, an outfit the former boss Steve Bruce thought was going nowhere and jumped ship in the summer? At least Mike Phelan’s team have heart, which is more than can be said of Swansea. 6
RK: Phelan has done a great job in the circumstances to keep them going so I will give him. 6
AG: The American owners are getting what they deserve. Why did they get rid of Garry Monk? Why was Francesco Guidolin appointed and thirdly… Bob Bradley? Why? I have no idea. 3.5
RK: I can’t bring myself to blame Bob Bradley because this crisis has been coming for a long time. 0
