Arsenal

Gaël Clichy believes that William Gallas’s captaincy has brought a positive influence, despite the France defender’s frequent absence because of injury. “William has a young spirit and knows how to talk to the players,” the left back said.

Played 8 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 0 For 19 Against 6 Points 22
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Bolton Wanderers (h)

Manchester United

Sporting Lisbon have denied that they have given United first refusal if they decide to sell Miguel Veloso, 21, their utility player. United have a strong relationship with Sporting, from whom they signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.

Played 9 Won 6 Drawn 2 Lost 1 For 11 Against 2 Points 20
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Aston Villa (a)

Manchester City

Richard Dunne has admitted that the club were stagnating before the summer takeover by Thaksin Shina-watra and the appointment of Sven-Göran Eriksson as manager. “It didn’t look like we were going anywhere,” the captain said.

Played 9 Won 6 Drawn 1 Lost 2 For 14 Against 7 Points 19
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Birmingham City (h)

Liverpool

Tommy Smith, the club’s former defender, has questioned Rafael BenÍtez’s selection policy. “I have tried to reason why the drop in form has happened,” Smith said. “But there is nothing I can come up with, apart from the dreaded rotation.”

Played 8 Won 4 Drawn 4 Lost 0 For 14 Against 4 Points 16
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Everton (a)

Portsmouth

Linvoy Primus saw a specialist yesterday for a second opinion on his left knee. The 34-year-old had an operation in the summer but is still feeling discomfort. His return to the first-team squad is expected to be delayed by a further fortnight.

Played 9 Won 4 Drawn 3 Lost 2 For 17 Against 12 Points 15
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Wigan Athletic (a)

Blackburn Rovers

Morten Gamst Pedersen, the club’s Norway midfield player, believes that he is beginning to rediscover his best form after a below-par start to the season. “There have been ups and downs,” he said. “I seem to start slowly every year.”

Played 8 Won 4 Drawn 3 Lost 1 For 9 Against 6 Points 15
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Reading (h)

Chelsea

John Terry, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech have been named on the 30-man shortlist for the Fifa World Player of the Year award. Chelsea are the second-best represented club in the list after Barcelona.

Played 9 Won 4 Drawn 3 Lost 2 For 8 Against 8 Points 15
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Middlesbrough (a)

Aston Villa

Martin Laursen, who is in the final year of his present contract, says that a new deal depends on his fitness. The club have yet to open talks with the injury-plagued defender. “They want to make sure I can be fit for most of the season,” he said.

Played 8 Won 4 Drawn 2 Lost 2 For 12 Against 8 Points 14
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Manchester United (h)

Newcastle United

José Enrique, the summer signing from Villarreal, is ready to make the left-back position his own after a solid full debut in the 3-2 win at home to Everton last weekend. “I want to stay in the team and show the fans what I can do,” he said.

Played 8 Won 4 Drawn 2 Lost 2 For 13 Against 10 Points 14
Next match Monday Oct 22 Tottenham Hotspur (h)

Everton

Andrew Johnson, the England forward, is hoping to be fit for the Uefa Cup group match against FC Nuremberg on November 8 after having an ankle operation on Monday. “The operation went great,” Mick Rathbone, the head physiotherapist, said.

Played 9 Won 4 Drawn 1 Lost 4 For 12 Against 11 Points 13
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Liverpool (h)

West Ham United

Nolberto Solano is unconcerned about his failure to make the first-team squad since his move from Newcastle United at the end of August. “I have spoken with the coach of Peru and he told me to be calm,” the midfield player said.

Played 8 Won 3 Drawn 1 Lost 4 For 9 Against 8 Points 10
Next match Sunday Oct 21 Sunderland (h)

Reading

James Harper has revealed how he succumbed to food poisoning during his customary fry-up before the 1-0 win at home to Derby County on Sunday. “I didn’t cook the sausages enough,” the midfield player said. “I thought I was going to die.”

Played 9 Won 3 Drawn 1 Lost 5 For 10 Against 18 Points 10
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Blackburn Rovers (a)

Birmingham City

Steve Bruce wants to discuss his future with the club’s prospective owner, Carson Yeung, before the next match. The manager fears Yeung’s refusal to agree his new contract is not only ominous for him but could also harm the team.

Played 9 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 5 For 8 Against 12 Points 8
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Manchester City (a)

Wigan Athletic

Rachid Bouaouzan could make his first senior appearance at home to Portsmouth a week on Saturday. The Dutch winger, a £380,000 buy from Sparta Rotterdam, has spent the past month observing the Muslim festival of Ramadan.

Played 9 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 5 For 8 Against 12 Points 8
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Portsmouth (h)

Middlesbrough

Ben Hutchinson is on cloud nine after scoring the consolation goal away to Manchester City last Sunday on his full debut. “Scoring in the Premier League was the best feeling,” the forward, 19, said. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

Played 9 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 5 For 10 Against 16 Points 8
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Chelsea (h)

Sunderland

Kiki Musampa, the former Manchester City midfield player who has been training with the club, will not be joining. Roy Keane, the manager, has decided against signing the Democratic Republic of Congo-born Dutchman.

Played 9 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 5 For 10 Against 16 Points 8
Next match Sunday Oct 21 West Ham United (a)

Tottenham Hotspur

The club’s revised planning application for a training complex will be heard by Enfield Council on November 12. A presentation of the proposed plans will be presented to councillors and the public this evening.

Played 9 Won 1 Drawn 4 Lost 4 For 16 Against 18 Points 7
Next match Monday Oct 22 Newcastle United (a)

Fulham

Simon Davies, the Wales midfield player, believes that the team’s luck will change soon. “I think we’ve been unfortunate not to be higher up the table,” he said. “I think a lot of people would agree with that.”

Played 9 Won 1 Drawn 4 Lost 4 For 12 Against 16 Points 7
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Derby County (h)

Bolton Wanderers

Phil Gartside, the chairman, hopes the prospect of a Uefa Cup meeting with Bayern Munich can help Sammy Lee to establish himself as manager. “It’s difficult when you’re following a big character like Sam Allardyce,” he said.

Played 9 Won 1 Drawn 2 Lost 6 For 9 Against 14 Points 5
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Arsenal (a)

Derby County

Billy Davies expects to shed some fringe first-team players in readiness to strengthen his squad in January. “We’ve had calls about one or two,” the manager said. “There could be a lot of activity over the next couple of weeks.”

Played 9 Won 1 Drawn 2 Lost 6 For 5 Against 22 Points 5
Next match Saturday Oct 20 Fulham (a)