Manchester City set the pace as the Premier League affirms its position at the pinnacle of world football.

The start of the Premier League season has already been fantastic, with the usual blend of exciting matches, controversy and stunning goals, things are starting to take shape in terms of the league positions, and some of the teams have laid down a marker, none more so that the financial powerhouse that is Manchester City. 

Mancini’s men have certainly exceeded expectations, after only 10 games they have developed a winning habit, not only winning but annihilating their opponents, most notable Spurs at the beginning of the season with a 5-1 win at White Hart Lane and more recently a historic 6-1 win at Old Trafford.  A bad day at the office for the Untied defence but take nothing away from City’s performance, all six goals were pure class and they currently sit five points ahead of United, with only one draw showing as a blemish on there excellent start to the season which, slightly surprisingly, was away at Fulham.
 
Sir Alex’s Ferguson’s men are no doubt the nearest challengers, with the Man City defeat aside their season has been typically successful, new signings Phil Jones and Ashley Young certainly started the season well and Rooney has shown the sort of form expected of him that was lacking last season. 
Chelsea currently sit in fourth and are looking vulnerable now after two consecutive defeats with Newcastle now in third and Spurs level on points with Chelsea and with a game in hand.  It has been an indifferent start to the season for Chelsea as their new manager finds his feet in the Premier League and struggles with an aging squad, a £50 million striker still short on confidence and a Captain again under scrutiny for his performances and behaviour a crushing defeat at home to a resurgent Arsenal summing up Andre Villas-Boas’s struggles. 
 
Newcastle are the league’s surprise package so far this season as they currently sit within the sought after Champions League places in third place, they are still undefeated and team spirit is sky high due to a number of team building events including paintballing and such like.  Alan Pardew was an almost surprise choice to replace the popular Chris Hughton, however this current run of form has certainly seen their fans get behind their team and at St James Park 52,500 Geordies make for a formidable twelfth man! Can Newcastle keep up this type of form for the whole season?
 
Potentially the favourites to finish in the coveted fourth position are Spurs whose recent form has seen the rise up the table after suffering heavy defeats to both Manchester clubs in their first two games.  The signing of Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor seemingly instrumental in the North Londoners change of fortunes as since the pair arrived Spurs are unbeaten.  Raphael Van Der Vaart has been exceptional in front of goal, scoring in the last five league games and keeping a no doubt frustrated Defoe out of the starting line up, with the strength and depth that Spurs have in their squad they are looking in good shape to finish in the top four but they should be aiming a little higher that fourth if their unbeaten run of seven league games continues.
 
Liverpool and Arsenal also harbour ambitions of playing in the Champions League next season and are managing to keep in touch with the teams above them, Arsenal in particular have gone on an incredible run after a disastrous start to the season by their standards.  Losing their two creative midfield players is certain to have an impact but one of their superstar’s remains at the club, and as long as Robin Van Persie is fit and playing Arsenal are a dangerous team and should not be written off. 
Liverpool’s resurgence continues steadily under Kenny Dalglish and their new American owners, a vast improvement on their form at this stage last year but they are still very much a work in progress and will need more time to gel as a team fully and get back to the heights they are used to at Anfield.
 
While Aston Villa and Stoke are positioned in the usual mid table mediocrity the three teams around them may be slightly unfamiliar, all three promoted teams have started exceptionally well and are also currently sitting around the mid table positions, Norwich look a potential problem for any team under the astute management of the highly rated Paul Lambert, while Brendan Rodgers is guiding Swansea to some excellent results.  Neil Warnock has made some interesting signings for QPR and their financial stability should mean that the club are likely to continue their rise.
 
The bottom of the league is looking almost done and dusted with the three teams currently occupying the relegation places all in such bad form it’s hard to see them recovering.  Wigan seem to always be involved at the foot of the table but this time it could be an impossible task, they lost all their league game in October and scored only once.  
Bolton have suffered a number of heavy defeats and the fact they are almost certain to lose Gary Cahill in January can only make things worse, will Owen Coyle be able to turn it around?  
Blackburn have shown some spirited performances but with growing pressure on their unpopular manager it is hard to see how they can turn the corner.  Everton and Wolves are in danger of battling for survival for the rest of the season.
 
All this after only ten games, however there is a long way to go...