Premiership Power Rankings

That's just what I need. A bunch of the premier protagonists playing each other and forcing me to fiddle with my rankings! Well, in the spirit of Emmanuel Adebayor, let's stamp some authority on proceedings.

1. Chelsea (played 5, points 15, No change) - Hard to argue with their place atop the league table and these rankings. They face Tottenham and Liverpool in two of their next three.

2. Man Utd (p 5, pts 12, NC) - United played by far their best football of the season in defeating the previously unbeaten Spurs at the Lane. You get the feeling this could be Wayne Rooney's year.

3. Man City (p 4, pts 12, Up 3) - They are for real. Victory over Arsenal will be a real boost to the confidence but United loom on the horizon and Adebayor, Robinho and Tevez could all be unavailable.

4. Liverpool (p 5, pts 9, Up 1) - So they beat Burnley 4-0. Big whoop. What's happened to Ryan Babel and Albert Riera?

5. Tottenham (p 5, pts 12, Dn 1) - Jermain Defoe scored but his team were over matched against the Reds. At least Arsenal lost.

6. Arsenal (p 4, pts 6, Dn 3) - The optimism of the opening weeks has been quickly eroded but their schedule softens over the next month. Only 4 teams have conceded more goals and the early season form of William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen faded in their loss to City.

7. Aston Villa (p 4, pts 9, NC) - An important early-season derby victory has the Villains heading up the table but stifled in the power rankings. Why? Curtis Davies will miss serious time with injury and last year's starlets Ashley Young and Stilian Petrov have yet to overly impress. James Milner has been very good though.

8. Sunderland (p 5, pts 9, Up 2) - They eased past Hull and face newly promoted pair Burnley and Wolves over the next two weekends; can Darren Bent score 20 league goals this year? can Lorik Cana go 20 minutes without picking up a card?

9. Stoke (p 5, pts 7, NC) - They pushed Chelsea close but there was an air of inevitability to their defeat. Needed: A goalscorer part I.

10. Fulham (p 4, pts 6, Up 2) - Is that the same Damien Duff who sauntered around for Newcastle last season? Really? Andy Johnson's swift return is a boon for an ailing attack.

11. West Ham (p 4, pts 4, NC) - They lost. They played nice football. They do that.

12. Blackburn (p 4, pts 4, Up 5) - Comfortably beat Wolves and will hope that the result drives their season forward. First there was Ivan Campo, then Fernando Hierro, now Michel Salgado. Does Big Sam sell the north-east like Florida to former Real Madrid stars?

13. Everton (p 4, pts 3, Dn 5) - Losing Phil Neville might have worse long-term effects than losing to Fulham but, right now, this team needs a result.

14. Burnley (p 5, pts 6, Dn 1) - Scored 2 goals, won 2 games. Bottom 3 within a month?

15. Wigan (p 5, pts 6, Up 3) - Beating West Ham was vital, not only due to their poor recent form but also because they face Arsenal and Chelsea in their forthcoming fixtures.

16. Hull (p 5, pts 4, Dn 2) - Hull have found the net in every game so far but have also let 12 in. A half-time sit down could be in order...

17. Birmingham City (p 5, pts 4, Dn 2) - Winnable games lie ahead for Alex McLeish's side; Hull (a), Bolton (h) and Burnley (a) Needed: A goalscorer part II.

18. Wolves (p 5, pts 4, Dn 2) - Solid in the opening weeks but lacking some guile and ruthlessness upfront. You know what's coming. Needed: A goalscorer part III.

19. Bolton (p 4, pts 3, NC) - Gary Cahill's header gave them their first points but little suggests they will be in for anything other than a relegation scrap once again. Johan Elmander cost almost £10million. That's almost £2million a goal right now. Even Afonso Alves scored more.

20. Portsmouth (p 5, pts 0, NC) - Bottom. No points. No chance? Let's not write them off quite yet but I've already started their online obituary.