Summary: Once again another key checkpoint for the Premier League as Mezut Ozil leads Arsenal into top slot and two unexpected challengers round out the top three in Liverpool and Tottenham who have barely found the balance and Luis Suarez makes his expected return with immediate results, prolonging judgment on the contenders and the pretenders at this early stage. Helping us evaluate this trend along with some early missteps for Manchester United and Chelsea is Times correspondent and BTP regular Oliver Kay after a weekend of rather interesting results which may be a leading indicator to a Premier League race that could develop into which of the top five clubs can put together a successful run earliest. We examine the surprising emergence of Liverpool and Arsenal since the turn of the calendar year, whether Tottenham has leveled its chances in contrast to Chelsea and whether darker days are ahead for a Manchester United team that has begun to show a drain in quality since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. We also examine the failures at Sunderland and whether the club is looking more broadly for its Paolo Di Canio replacement and if Alan Pardew is inevitably next to join the Italian in the sack race given further trouble against Everton and Roberto Martinez as we head toward another weekend of action before the international break.
