Changing the elite

Just when the weekend results were starting to look predictably familiar, Arsenal went to Eastlands and taught Britain's newest group of millionaires how to play football. I watched the game and was as surprised as I was impressed by the way Arsenal ruthlessly dispatched Manchester City - last season's memories of Emmanuel Adebayor showing his love for his former team by stamping on Robin van Persie's face and running the length of the pitch to share his jubilation with visiting fans seemed distant.

I'd already written them off before the game - Arsenal always seem to get roughed up when they play physical teams, though it least at seems Bolton taught Jack Wilshere a thing or two about tackling. City have become the new rough boys, with midfielder Nigel de Jong preferring to somewhat modify Liverpool's anthem to his own 'You'll Never Walk Again'. With three defensive midfield powerhouses City always look hard to get at, but credit to Arsenal they bossed them from the start. The early dismissal of bad-Boy-ata obviously helped, but some games can be made more difficult and less open against ten.

City, worryingly for them, seem to struggle when they fall behind, and they must look to address this. Arsenal have been a 'promising' team for too many seasons, for too long merely threatening to show their potential - perhaps they have finally peaked and reached it? The days of their teenagers getting bullied in the North seem to have passed, and the team has matured both physically and mentally. Samir Nasri finally looks a quality player, and every season Cesc Fabregas stays is a benefit. Even Niklas Bendtner, who at one point looked like he'd sturggle to kick the ball into the right stand, seems to able to score freely. And surely every neutral enjoys watching City lose?

The only other shock result - which sadly should have been predictable a year ago - was Liverpool lumbering past Blackburn. Jamie Carragher continued to show his fine finishing skills, unfortunately in front of the wrong goal like usual. Sotirios Kyrgiakos is fast becoming the surprise hero of the doom and gloom, the cheap centre half scoring his second of the season and playing well at the back - who would have thought a £1m fourth choice player would be outscoring our £26m World Cup winning striker?

But Torres soon brought his goal tally level with the Greek's, and after Blackburn pulled one back the absent superstar popped up to fire home the winner, also making me pay for finally losing patience with him in my fantasy football team. And yet he celebrated like a naughty child being sent to his room without dinner. With all the elation and optimism of the new takeover by New England Sports Ventures and the action in the courts in London and Dallas, it was rather humbling for the players to remind us that Liverpool are still rubbish. Sigh.

No such trouble for Manchester United - despite the week of tabloid focus on Wayne Rooney showing the indecision of a woman choosing what to wear for a night out, they still managed to put two past Stoke. Javier Hernandez scored one of those ridiculous goals that you laugh at/fume at when it goes in on FIFA - depending if you score it or concede it - before Tuncay looked to be sending them home frustrated. I was disappointed to see 'Chicharito' (isn't that a pokémon?) pop up again minutes later to bundle home the winner and take three points from the Britania Stadium. But why does he have a nickname on his shirt? It does seem bizzare, but somewhat the norm for Latino players (Kaka, Robinho, Ronaldinho - none have their actual names). Will we see 'Evra' changed to 'French Mutineer', 'Scholes' changed to 'Ginger Ninja' and 'Rooney' changed to 'Shrek'?

No doubt everyone watched the whole Rooney saga unfold with some bemusement - how you can say all your fellow employees are crap and then run back into their arms is beyond me. Alex Ferguson had already appeared the tearful father on television and Rooney's mafioso advisors issued a statement saying they 'lacked ambition' and there weren't assurances about 'future investment in the squad'. Maybe having won almost every trophy on offer before your 25th birthday isn't enough?

But he sharply about turned, obviously because of assurances of investment rather than money, and set off to Dubai to patch things up with his forgiving wife and spend Average Joe's weekly earnings on lunch. People raging about the size of his salary - speculated to be between £160k and £250k a week - have every right to be angry with such ridiculous amounts being paid, but do rather miss the point that being a private company makes Man Utd unaccountable. Were it the BBC director general or a politician then they would have every right to complain, but in this situation the best way is to complain with the wallet by not buying merchandise or funding the television deals that allow this spending and allow Rooney to chortle as the computer screen while watching the numbers on his bank account increase like a clock in fast forward.

There were of course more games involving the top sides, but what can be said about Chelsea that isn't an old and riddled cliché? They edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers with even manager Carlo Ancolotti admitting they weren't at the best - the sign of true champions as all on Match of the Day will gladly remind us each time Chelsea don't win by more than two goals. They do look formidable and difficult to stop, and no doubt likely to retain the title.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking increasingly stronger and consistent week by week, earning a credible draw when they hosted Everton after Gareth almost Bale'd them out at the San Siro mid week. Rafael van der Vaart is fast becoming the signing of the summer, and I doubt Harry Redknapp would want to swap him for Joe Cole now. Despite Spurs' struggles they are finding their consistency, and have a squad that make not just Liverpool but also Manchester United somewhat envious.

Spurs gatecrashed the top four last year, but can they do it again? City have been keeping pace at the summit of the table and threaten to challenge for the title, not just the top four. Arsenal have matured into a side that may do more than just fade away at Christmas, while Chelsea continue to look invincible - though City have proven this isn't the case. Manchester United have been scraping by and don't seem the powerhouse of old, while Liverpool are struggling to even aim for the top half of the table. Three years ago the 'Big Four' was a fixed and rigid phenomenon - after last year's change and City's spending, it may never be the same again. We seem to be developing a much more fluid league, and though it may be a while before we have competition for the title, we certainly seem to have a league where more and more teams can harbour realistic ambitions of breaking into the Champions' League.

(Picture: The Daily Mail - Ian Hodgson)

Down the pan

Where did it all go wrong? When the season kicked off there seemed to be a good dose of healthy optimism around Anfield. Rafa Benitez had gone after five years and an anticlimactic season ending in the indignity of having to be content with another season condemned to the Europa League. In came Roy Hodgson from Fulham, the man who could do no wrong after leading the Cottagers to the Europa Leaue final, narrowly losing to Atletico Madrid after vanquishing holder Shaktar Donetsk, Italian legends Juventus, German champions Wolfsburg and the city that would host the final, Hamburg. In light of this success, little was made of the fact that his Fulham side had dropped five places in the league from last year - incidentally, the same slip which cost Benitez his job, though from seventh to 12th is less noticable than second to seventh - and just one away win all season.

Nevertheless, the season got underway after two tedious slogs around Europe and the optimism was reinforced. Joe Cole, who had laughably compared to Lionel Messi, seen as the shining light of moving the club forward by attracting talented British players. He quickly put that to rest with his first red card while wearing his first red shirt, but there were still many positives to take from the game. Liverpool had showed the kind of determination and togetherness that had been an earmark of Fulham's Europa League campaign, only coming undone to a talented Arsenal side after a last gasp howler, despite competing for half the game with ten men.

But, unfortunately, the results didn't get any better than this. A humbling defeat at Manchester City, with a potentially naive 4-4-2 formation coming undone, was followed with a scrappy 1-0 win over yoyo club West Brom. Tehn came the goalless draw at St Andrews in which Liveprool were lucky to get a point - a result perhaps acceptable at Fulham, but not at Anfield. There were again signs for optimism despite defeat at Old Trafford, Steven Gerrard continuing to drag a lifeless side to dizzying heights with two quickfire goals almost grabbing an undeserved point.

Then things desceneded even further - first with the Carling Cup farce at home to Northampton. After seeing David Ngog head Liverpool level at the death, I thought he had spared the manager's blushes. After all, Liverpool had not lost a penalty shootout for umpteen years. Though it would be unfair if Northampton had not been victorious, their couragous display deserving to take the headlines when other high fliers such as Chelsea and Manchester City also exited the competition.

Clutching straws, Hodgson assured fans that things would be better if he could get successive wins in the next two Anfield games - both winnable fixtures against Sunderland and newboys Blackpool. First Steve Bruce was left fuming that the Black Cats had lost at Anfield - that itself a damning indictment of how far Liverpool had fall - after a comical and dishonest goal, finishing the game 2-2. Next up was the game that every side in the Premier League will expect to win, and what followed was an even more depressing result.

Blackpool had already suffered humbling experiences at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates, but that did not dampen their spirits as they won 2-1 at Anfield, with Liverpool fans no doubt thinking the club's positions in the table should be reversed. Ian Holloway has showed attacking ambition since promotion and a casual attitude, a refreshing change to the defensive mindset that many promoted teams display. Their victory was deserved - another damning indictment of Liverpool.

Seven games into the season with just six points to show for it - even Hodgson has admitted that it's relegation form. He asked to be judged after ten games - but with just three remaining to reach that landmark, can he really turn things around? Questions will rightfully be asked and fingers pointed, but it's difficult to establish who is to blame.

Hodgson did not inherit a strong squad - nor did he receive the funds to adaquately rebuild it. Javier Mascherano's departure was ill timed and unhelpful for the club. Joe Cole has promised more than he has shown, Christian Poulson has looked poor, and Raul Meireles is still settling into the league. Other biys looked more forward looking than for the present - Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson are promising prospects, but not particularly helpful in the current plight. And Middlesbrough fans were glad to see tha back of Brad Jones.

Is Hodgson the right man for the job? Marseille boss Didier Deschamps revelation that he was approached for the job certainly implies that other first choice candidates were either unavailable or unwilling. Hodgson does appear to be a stop gap - the mark of a regime who want a man who can manage on a shoe string without complaining or becoming involved in board room politics and who will likely be seen as expendable if and when ownership changes.

Unfortunately, he may also be seen as a small squad manager unable to juggle the large team need to succeed at the top end of the league - the release of Alberto Aquilani on loan to Juventus would suggest that. Another concern is his style of play being far from attractive or ambitious, and if he can handle the expectation of not managing a mid table club - the fact that he has managed Inter Milan would suggest otherwise, but he is certainly not flourishing under pressure.

There has been much amusement from rival fans at Liverpool's decline, and people insisting that the club should not have such high expectations. Some even say Champions' League football is an unrealistic target. But lets be realistic - save for last season, Liverpool have consistabtly finished in the top four. Xabi Alonso was missed after his departure when the club finished just short of Manchester United, but was never the force he was made out to be after he left.

The club has a rich history, and with that comes expectation. It is too early to write them off as the next Leeds - debt may be crippling, but many clubs are under this burden, notable United in England but also Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. There still are quality players at the club and it will still have the ability to attract a calibre unavailable to other clubs. Yes, Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City have strenghened, but both looked shoirt of top form last season and have continued to slip up this term, lacking the consistantly to seriosuly challenge. Liverpool should be among them pushing at the top for the top four places at the very least.

Liverpool will not sack a manager after just seven games, and rightly so - not just because it is poo conduct, but because the club can scarcely afford to. Hodgson has made a poor start and, despite his mitigating circumstances, must accept a chunk of the blame. Despite having a thin squad, no money to buy new players and a world class striker desperately short of form in Fernando Torres, it is still a manager's job to inspire and motivate his players and draw up the tactics that lead to success. He is also the one accountable for other's failings. Football is fickle and results talk - if Hidgson can get three wins on the spin then things will look a lot brighter and he may be able to talk more confidently about being judged after ten games.

(Picture - The Daily Mail)