Four weeks might not be enough to make lasting judgment calls in a Premier League season defined by transition but if the early games are anything to go by, Manchester City might just be building a new winning identity – even when they're down to 10. Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester United ensured they would pick up a fourth straight win to start the season, an accomplishment only Arsenal has matched so far this season. A few other teams continue to enjoy strong starts including Brighton and Hove Albion, who now have another lopsided win under their belts against another inferior foe in Coventry City.
Hull City, meanwhile, continue to outdo expectations as they sit third place in the league after four games. On the opposite end of the table, a few teams are already stuck in a rut. Coventry and Tottenham Hotspur still have yet to score a goal, while Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have plenty of cause for concern after sluggish starts to their campaign.
The trio are part of a list of teams that remain winless through four games, a group that includes Bournemouth and Fulham, their rebuilding seasons off to a much slower start than City's. Here's another round of power rankings as the Premier League season rolls on. Arsenal are the picture of consistency, their predictability a strength rather than a weakness.
They remain as well-equipped as any team to combat any challenge in front of them. There's still a little bit of an unfinished quality to Manchester City but with four wins out of four under a new manager and with a host of new players, that's a minor complaint. Like Manchester City, Chelsea do not feel like the finished product just yet but Xabi Alonso feels more and more like the right managerial hire with each passing day.
Expect him to solve their problems in due course. It's still early in the season so teams' placements are going to fluctuate quite a bit but Brighton and Hove Albion cannot stop scoring goals, be it against Coventry City or Chelsea. That counts for something, at least in an early-season edition of a power ranking.
They were not at their best in a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth but things continue to trend in the right direction under coach Keith Andrews, to the point that will likely be a challenging team to play all season long – and probably one that can target a high finish at season's end. Add Liverpool to the list of works in progress. Few will be happy with a goalless draw against Fulham but they outplayed the Cottagers over the course of 90 minutes, thanks in large part to their in-form attackers.
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