Every football season needs a tale of the unexpected. Leicester City’s 5000-1 title triumph in 2015-16 was the mother of all shocks, and how many people thought Aston Villa would finish in the top four last season while Manchester United ended with a negative goal difference for the first time in the Premier League era?
So after six matchdays this season, which teams and players might spring a surprise this time round?
You have to start with Chelsea
Cole Palmerfour goals in the first half against Brighton on Saturday, might be the best player in the league right now, and Chelsea are top scorers in the whole division with 15. Less remarked on is the fact that midfielder Moisés Caicedo
Chelsea’s London neighbours FulhamNottingham Forest’s unbeaten start at the City Ground. Sixth place represents dizzy heights for this highly watchable team. The Cottagers have as good a defensive record as Arsenal so far, with only five goals conceded in six games.
Mexico international Raúl JiménezAdama Traoré
None of the three promoted teams — Leicester, Ipswich or Southampton — have won a Premier League game yet, but all three could yet shock the doom-mongers predicting a quick return to the Championship.
Ipswich surely have a realistic chance of staying up based on the evidence of their 2-2 draw with highfliers Aston Villa. Playing the bright, creative football that earned two successive promotions, they gave Villa all the problems they could handle, with young striker Liam DelapManchester City. Meanwhile Jack Clarke
Their defence, however, is less convincing. The Tractor Boys lost to Liverpool and Manchester City in their first two games but since then have held Fulham, Brighton, Southampton and Villa to draws, suggesting they are far from overawed playing at this higher level.
Leicester are conceding too many goals, but there’s plenty of fight in them and they have scored in every game so far. Jamie VardyHarry WinksOliver SkippWilfred Ndidi
Meanwhile, Southampton manager Russell Martin questioned his team’s character after Monday’s first-half chaos in the 3-1 defeat at Bournemouth. The Saints can be slick but look poor in both penalty areas. Martin might need to occasionally rip up his “pass and possession” style to give his team more bite. But their academy looks to have produced another gem in young midfielder Tyler Dibling
So, if the promoted trio do cause a shock or two, who might be in a relegation fight they did not expect?
Luis Miguel Echegaray reacts to Cole Palmer’s four goals in Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Brighton.
Wolves have conceded a league-high 16 goals this season and transferred out key men in Max Kilman and Pedro Neto. The squad look to have enough talent to get out of trouble, and manager Gary O’Neil can reflect on a tough start against Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Villa and Liverpool. But he needs to start picking up points before confidence and belief evaporate.
Crystal PalaceEverton would be a worry for their fans, but with the likes of Eberechi EzeMarc GuéhiAdam Wharton
West Ham are another club unexpectedly struggling to find any rhythm. A team that can boast players of the quality of Lucas PaquetáJarrod BowenMohammed Kudus
What about players who might make some unexpected waves?
Arsenal’s 17-year-old midfielder Ethan NwaneriJhon DuránJack HinshelwoodNikola MilenkovicFiorentina. Also, winger Harvey Barnes
Should we be surprised by the continued struggles of Manchester United and Erik ten Hag? I’m afraid not. The display against Spurs was pitiful, and Ten Hag can surely not survive a repeat anytime soon. He is running out of time, and pleas for “patience” are not going to wash.
No shocks either from Manchester City, unless you count the absence from the team of last season’s PFA Player of the Year Phil Foden, who has started only two games — against Watford in the Carabao Cup and Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. He was ill a while back, but is there something we do not know here?
As for Liverpool, now top of the table, the only shock is that the transition from Jurgen Klopp to Arne Slot has gone so smoothly. They are enjoying coming up the rails in the shadows while the headlines are full of City and Arsenal, Pep Guardiola vs. Mikel Arteta. They will both need to watch Arne’s “Slot machine”!
