Chelsea's Florent Malouda, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Wigan Athletic during their English Premier League soccer match at The DW Stadium, Wigan, England, Saturday Aug. 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Jon Super)JON SUPER/The Associated Press
(last season's placing and points in parenthesis)
Chelsea (Champions, 86 points)
Chelsea have set a new Premier League scoring record of 12 from the first two games of the season, opening with two 6-0 wins. They have also scored an amazing 29 goals without conceding in their last five league games, also a Premier League record streak, and will be aiming for more against winless Stoke City on Saturday.
In: Yossi Benayoun (6 million, Liverpool), Tomas Kalas, (Undisclosed), Ramires (Undisclosed, Benfica).
Out: Michael Ballack (Free, Bayer Leverkusen), Juliano Belletti (Free, Fluminense), Joe Cole (Free, Liverpool), Deco (Released, Fluminense), Scott Sinclair (Undisclosed, Swansea City), Miroslav Stoch (Undisclosed, Fenerbahce)
Manchester United (2nd, 85 points)
Alex Ferguson had said he was happy with what he had and stalwarts Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes duly delivered in their opening two matches of the season. A lively contribution by Javier Hernandez also offered promise for the future.
United twice surrendered the lead at Fulham last week, drawing 2-2 after Nani missed a penalty.
In: Chris Smalling (Undisclosed, Fulham), Javier Hernandez (Undisclosed, Guadalajara).
Out: Ben Foster (Undisclosed, Birmingham City), Danny Welbeck (Loan, Sunderland), Craig Cathcart (Undisclosed, Blackpool)
Arsenal (3rd, 75 points)
Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed Blackpool 6-0 last week, suggesting the England wide man could make a big impact this season.
Samir Nasri is still out after minor knee surgery following an injury sustained earlier this month.
The Gunners have also been hit by an injury to highly-rated teenage midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong who will be out for six to nine months with cruciate ligament damage.
In: Laurent Koscielny (Undisclosed, Lorient), Marouane Chamakh (Free, Bordeaux), Sebastien Squillaci (Undisclosed, Sevilla)
Out: Mikael Silvestre (Released), William Gallas (Released, Tottenham Hotspur), Sol Campbell (Free, Newcastle United), Eduardo (Undisclosed, Shakhtar Donetsk).
Tottenham Hotspur (4th, 70 points)
A hat-trick from Peter Crouch against Young Boys on Wednesday put Spurs into the Champions League group stage and maintain the feel-good factor at White Hart Lane.
Striker Jermain Defoe is doubtful for the home visit of Wigan on Saturday, a fixture in which he scored five goals last season in a 9-1 win. Defoe may need groin surgery.
In: Sandro (6 million, Internacional), William Gallas (free, Chelsea).
Out: Adel Taarabt (Undisclosed, Queens Park Rangers), Dorian Dervite (Free, Villarreal).
Manchester City (5th, 67 points)
City continue to operate in a market all on their own as Italian forward Mario Balotelli and James Milner joined a squad so overflowing with talent that there was no room in the 25 for Craig Bellamy, who has moved to Cardiff City.
Joe Hart got the nod to start in goal for the first game against Tottenham Hotspur and repaid his manager's faith with a superb performance to help earn a point from a goalless draw.
Milner impressed in the 3-0 defeat of Liverpool.
New signing Aleksandar Kolarov will be out for a month after injuring ankle ligaments while Balotelli is doubtful for the trip to Sunderland on Sunday.
In: Mario Balotelli (Undisclosed, Inter Milan), Aleksandar Kolarov (Undisclosed, Lazio) James Milner (Undisclosed, Aston Villa), Yaya Toure (Undisclosed, Barcelona), David Silva (Undisclosed, Valencia), Jerome Boateng (Undisclosed, Hamburg).
Out: Javier Garrido (Undisclosed, Lazio), Benjani (Released), Craig Bellamy (Loan, Cardiff City), Stephen Ireland (Undisclosed, Aston Villa), Sylvinho (Released), Martin Petrov (Free, Bolton Wanderers).
Aston Villa (6th, 64 points)
The post-Martin O'Neill era started well for Villa with a 3-0 home win over West Ham United but a 6-0 defeat at Newcastle United followed. England midfielder James Milner has departed for Manchester City with Stephen Ireland arriving as part of the deal. Caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald remains in charge.
In: Stephen Ireland (Undisclosed, Manchester City)
Out: Wilfred Bouma (Free), Marlon Harewood (Released), James Milner (Undisclosed, Manchester City), Nicky Shorey (Undisclosed, West Bromwich Albion)
Liverpool (7th, 63 points)
Liverpool got a reality check when they lost 3-0 to Manchester City. The future of Javier Mascherano remains an unsettling factor on Liverpool's midfield while takeover talks have also broken down with Hong Kong businessman Kenny Huang.
Joe Cole is still suspended for the home match against West Bromwich Albion after his red card in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal on the opening weekend.
In: Joe Cole (Free, Chelsea), Brad Jones (2.3 million, Middlesbrough), Milan Jovanovic (Free, Standard Liege), Christian Poulsen (4.5m, Juventus), Danny Wilson (2 million, Rangers).
Out: Philipp Degen (Season loan, VfB Stuttgart), Yossi Benayoun (Undisclosed, Chelsea), Albert Riera (5 million, Olympiakos).
Everton (8th, 61 points)
All of Everton's impressive pre-season form evaporated in their tame 1-0 loss at Blackburn and then they suffered more frustration in a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Spaniard Mikel Arteta is being touted as possible England midfielder as he now qualifies through residency.
In: Jan Mucha (Undisclosed, Legia Warsaw), Jermaine Beckford (Free, Leeds United), Magaye Gueye (1 million, Strasbourg).
Out: Dan Gosling (Free, Newcastle United)
Birmingham City (9th, 50 points)
Birmingham have started the season well, drawing with Sunderland then beating Blackburn Rovers 2-1 with striker Matt Derbyshire making his debut after joining on loan from Greek side Olympiakos.
In: Ben Foster (Undisclosed, Manchester United), Enric Valles (Free, NAC Breda), Nikola Zigic (Undisclosed, Valencia), Matt Derbyshire (Loan, Olympiakos).
Out: Lee Carsley (Free, Coventry City), Colin Doyle (Loan, Coventry City), Gary McSheffrey (Free, Coventry City), Franck Queudrue (Free).
Blackburn Rovers (10th, 50 points)
Blackburn got off to a good start with a 1-0 home win over Everton but stuttered against Birmingham.
Manager Sam Allardyce said he hopes his side can scare Arsenal at home this weekend.
In: Mame Diouf (Loan, Manchester United).
Out: Steven Reid (Free, West Bromwich Albion).
Stoke City (11th, 47 points)
Kenwyne Jones looks to have escaped serious damage after injuring his ankle 10 minutes into his debut in the 2-1 opening day defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Another 2-1 defeat followed at home to Tottenham and manager Tony Pulis was left angry after Bosnia keeper Asmir Begovic opted not play in the League Cup match against Shrewsbury.
Begovic said he was not in the right frame of mind to play after reported interest from Chelsea.
In: Kenwyne Jones (8 million, Sunderland), Florent Cuvelier (Undisclosed, Portsmouth), Carlo Nash (Free, Everton), Jon Walters (2.7 million, Ipswich)
Out: James Beattie (Undisclosed, Rangers), Andy Griffin (Undisclosed, Reading), Steve Simonsen (Free, Sheffield United).
Fulham (12th, 46 points)
The west London club have enjoyed a good week, first earning a 2-2 draw with Manchester United then putting six goals past Port Vale in the League Cup with Bobby Zamora scoring twice.
New signing Philippe Senderos will not feature for around six months after rupturing an Achilles pre-season.
In: Mouassa Dembele (Undisclosed, AZ Alkmaar), Philippe Senderos (Free, Arsenal), Jonathan Greening (Undisclosed, West Bromwich).
Out: Chris Smalling (Undisclosed, Manchester United), Erik Nevland (Free, Viking).
Sunderland (13th, 44 points)
Manager Steve Bruce invited World Cup final referee Howard Webb to the training ground to try and resolve the club's poor disciplinary record which continued when Lee Cattermole was sent off in the 2-2 draw against Birmingham City on the opening day of the season.
Defender Nedum Onuoha is not eligible to face Manchester City on Sunday as a condition of his loan signing.
In: Marcos Angeleri (Undisclosed, Estudiantes), Titus Bramble (Undisclosed, Wigan Athletic) John Mensah (Loan, Olympique Lyon), Simon Mignolet (Undisclosed, St Truidense), Cristian Riveros (Undisclosed, Cruz Azul), Danny Welbeck (Loan, Manchester United), Nedum Onuoha (Loan, Man City)
Out: Kenwyne Jones (8 million, Stoke), Lorik Cana (5 million, Galatasaray), Marton Fulop (Undisclosed, Ipswich Town), Daryl Murphy (Free, Celtic).
Bolton Wanderers (14th, 39 points)
Bolton began the season with a flat start in a 0-0 home draw with Fulham but impressed in the 3-1 victory at West Ham United last weekend.
In: Marcos Alonso (Undisclosed, Real Madrid), Robbie Blake (Free, Burnley), Martin Petrov (Free, Manchester City).
Out: Zoltan Harsanyi (Released), Nicky Hunt (Free, Bristol City), Ricardo Vaz Te (Free, Panionios).
Wolverhampton Wanderers (15th, 38 points)
Wolves won on the opening day for the first time in 11 years as new signing Steven Fletcher marked his debut with the second goal against Stoke. They then backed that up with a gritty 1-1 draw against Everton.
Chelsea's highly-rated full-back Michael Mancienne returned for a season-long loan on Thursday.
In: Steven Fletcher (Undisclosed, Burnley), Stephen Hunt (Undisclosed, Hull City), Jelle Van Damme (Undisclosed, Anderlecht), Michael Mancienne (Loan, Chelsea)
Chris Iwelumo (500,000, Burnley), Andrew Surman (Undisclosed, Norwich).
Wigan Athletic (16th, 36 points)
If they were not relegation favourites before the season's start then they are now after being humiliated at home by promoted Blackpool and then obliterated by Chelsea.
It could get worse as they visit in-form Tottenham on Saturday, scene of a 9-1 defeat last season.
In: Antolin Alcaraz (Free, Club Bruges), Mauro Boselli (Undisclosed, Estudiantes), Ali Al Habsi (Loan, Bolton).
Out: Titus Bramble (Undisclosed, Sunderland), Richard Kingson (Released), Jason Koumas (Loan, Cardiff City), Mario Melchiot (Released), Paul Scharner (Released).
West Ham United (17th, 35 points)
Two league defeats and Manchester United and Chelsea up next for the Hammers. Scott Parker scored a stoppage time winner to beat League Two (fourth division) Oxford United in League Cup but hard times appear in store for new manager Avram Grant.
In: Tal Ben-Haim (Loan, Portsmouth), Pablo Barrera (4 million, Universidad Nacional), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Free, Lazio), Frederic Piquionne (Undisclosed, Lyon).
Out: Guillermo Franco (Free), Bondz N'Gala (Free, Plymouth Argyle), Alessandro Diamanti (2.2 million euros, Brescia)
Newcastle United (Promoted as Championship champions)
Andy Carroll burst on to the Premier League stage with a hat-trick in the 6-0 defeat of Aston Villa last Sunday -- a result will creat a surge of optimism among fans.
One cloud on an otherwise encouraging week was stalwart defender Steven Taylor being placed on the transfer list.
They are at Wolves this weekend -- the type of fixture that will decide whether they will flourish or struggle on their return to the top flight.
In: James Perch (Undisclosed, Nottingham Forest), Dan Gosling (Free, Everton), Sol Campbell (Free, Arsenal).
Out: Nicky Butt (Released).
West Bromwich Albion (runners-up Championship)
The ultimate yo-yo club began their return to the top flight with a relegation-style display as they were thumped 6-0 at Stamford Bridge but they responded to beat Sunderland at home.
Ishmael Miller and Joe Mattock are both out for a month after being injured in training. Marek Cech is also doubtful for this weekend's clash with Liverpool after injuring his foot in the midweek League Cup win at Leyton Orient.
In: Boaz Myhill (1 million, Hull City, Nicky Shorey (Free, Aston Villa), Steven Reid (Free, Blackburn), Pablo Ibanez (Free, Atletico Madrid), Gabriel Tamas (800,000, Auxerre).
Out: Robert Koren (Released), Filipe Teixeira (Released), Borja Valero (Loan, Villarreal), Reuben Reid (Loan, Walsall), Leon Barnett (Loan, Norwich City).
Blackpool (promoted via playoffs)
Blackpool came back to earth with a bump after their opening day victory. A 6-0 defeat at Arsenal was followed by a 4-3 League Cup defeat by MK Dons.
However, the Tangerines will be at home for the first time on Saturday against Fulham after improvements have been made to their Bloomfield Road ground.
In: Craig Cathcart (Undisclosed, Manchester United), Elliot Grandin (Undisclosed, CSKA Sofia), Marlon Harewood (Free, Aston Villa), Malaury Martin (Free, Monaco), Ludovic Sylvestre (Undisclosed, Mlada Boleslav),
Out: Ben Burgess (Free, Notts County), Hameur Bouazza (Free, Angers,) Daniel Nardiello (Free, Exeter City).