EPL power rankings after week 22: Chelsea rise and Leicester City drop down
By Durim Halimi
18. Aston Villa
Life in the Premier League has been difficult for the newly-promoted Villans. Dean Smith’s side were defeated 6-1 by Manchester City at Villa Park on Sunday, but this was not their only major defeat. Since early December, Aston Villa have been defeated by at least two goals on five occasions. On the plus side, they have managed to defeat other struggling teams, such as Norwich City and Burnley, recently to stay within reach of survival. Injuries to key players have hurt the Villans significantly and they will need all the luck they can get to avoid relegation this season.
17. West Ham
West Ham enjoyed a top ten finish last season, but emulating that success is an insurmountable challenge this term. David Moyes’ task at the moment is to maintain West Ham’s Premier League status. The Hammers are currently 16th in the table and are only one point clear of the relegation zone. West Ham’s record over the last 11 games consists of three wins and eight losses. In other words, West Ham have only claimed nine points from a possible 33,
16. Burnley
Burnley are one of the most inconsistent teams in the Premier League as they are capable of winning multiple games in a row, but they can also suffer consecutive defeats. Only three points separate Sean Dyche’s men from the relegation zone, but if his team’s current form continues he will have a major problem on his hands. Burnley defeated Bournemouth three weeks ago, but have lost four straight games since then.
15. Newcastle United
Newcastle United managed to snap their three-game losing streak with an impressive draw away from home against Wolverhampton. The Magpies have not won since December 21st and their remaining fixtures this month will not get any easier as they face Chelsea and Everton. Steve Bruce’s squad has been hit with several injuries, but their lack of quality on the bench has led to several dropped points in recent weeks.