Premier League report card - One year on

Chelsea celebrate after scoring against Manchester United

Liverpool and Arsenal will be eager to break into the top four and will be trying all they can to force their way into the Champions League places and the riches that come with it, after all, they were both there this time last year, so let's have a look at who wasn't and the rest of the top four:

4th (-2): Chelsea

Wins: 7 (-1) | Draws: 1 (=) | Losses: 3 (+1) | GD: 9 (-8) | Points: 22 (-3)

The stats tell their own story with the goal difference being perhaps the biggest indicator that not all is right at Stamford Bridge. They're missing the goals of Diego Costa who has gone to Atletico Madrid and Eden Hazard hasn't had his shooting boots on; there are no two ways about it.

Morata started well but has fizzled out as of late, however, he could well be on the way back after scoring against Man United last weekend.

Will the top four that are there now have changed much by the end of the season? Difficult to say. Nevertheless, it will be a tough task to move City from top spot, especially considering there is an eight-point gap already.

3rd (+2): Tottenham Hotspur

Wins: 7 (+2) | Draws: 2 (-4) | Losses: 2 (+2) | GD: 13 (+4) | Points: 23 (+2)

Harry Kane has been irresistible

Spurs are much better on all fronts this time round, they're sitting nicely at the top of their Champions League group which contains Dortmund and Real Madrid and improved across the board in the Premier League as well. Pochettino will want silverware this season and if he carries on the way he is going, he may just end up with his first trophy as Spurs manager.

2nd (+4): Manchester United

Wins: 7 (+2) | Draws: 2 (-1) | Losses: 2 (-1) | GD: 18 (+15) | Points: 23 (+5)

Jose’s team have received a couple of scathing reviews for how they have applied themselves in the bigger games this season, but they started the season like an absolute steam train. United hold the best defensive record in the division and Jose, who has been linked with a move to PSG, will be hoping that the Old Trafford club can reduce the gap between them and their neighbours over the coming weeks.

1st (+2): Manchester City

Wins: 10 (+3) | Draws: 1 (-2) | Losses: 0 (-1) | GD: 31 (+16) | Points: 31 (+7)

Pep has an unbelievable City team at his disposable - Can they match the Arsenal invincibles?

A formidable start to the season for Pep's City as they've been, quite literally hitting teams for sixes and sevens and as the only unbeaten side left in the division, there has been some talk in the press about them emulating Arsenal's invincible 03/04 season and they may well be right. They're on fire in Europe as well, putting four goals past domestically unbeaten Napoli in their backyard; scintillating City are the team to catch.

There are some teams that will be thrilled with how they've started the campaign, others will be devastated, it sure does make an interesting comparison, either way.

The race for the Golden Boot also makes fascinating reading;

Last year it was:

2016: Diego Costa – 9 | Sergio Aguero – 8 | Romelu Lukaku – 7 | Eden Hazard - 7

2017: Harry Kane – 8 | Sergio Aguero – 8 | Romelu Lukaku – 7 | Alvaro Morata – 7 | Raheem Sterling – 7 | Mohammed Salah – 7 | Gabriel Jesus - 7

Interestingly, Harry Kane wasn’t even in the TOP TEN goalscorers last year at this point in the year, yet still went on to win the coveted Golden Boot, so just think what damage he can do this year. Another stat that you may or may not know; Kane has only scored two goals in a game this season, he doesn’t bag a single one, he has got a brace in every game he has scored in this year.

So there you have it, a comparison of every Premier League club and how far they have come, of course, its where you finish in May which is the most important, but how you see it now, is likely how it will play out in the long run.