EPL Team Rankings After Five Matches: How They Stand

The Premier League has hit its first international break of the 2026-27 season. Five matches have been played, and there are many early stories to discuss.

Some teams have made strong starts, while others have a lot of work ahead.

On Monday, BBC Sport ranked the Premier League teams based on their performances before the break.

Arsenal, 7/10

Arsenal have had a decent start to their title defence. But their 3-0 loss at Brighton showed some weaknesses. They also faced a penalty scare against Sunderland before getting their first league loss.

Aston Villa, 6/10

Aston Villa are showing progress after losing key players during the transfer window. Their away win at Tottenham gave them another positive result.

Bournemouth, 6/10

Bournemouth have shown promise but still struggle towards the end of matches. If games ended after 80 minutes, they would be much higher in the table.

Brentford, 8/10

Brentford are off to an impressive start, remaining unbeaten. They thrashed both Tottenham and Chelsea and have raised questions about whether they can keep this up and aim for European football.

Brighton, 9/10

Brighton have been one of the most entertaining teams in the league, scoring 16 goals in five matches. Their 3-0 win over Arsenal showed their attacking power.

Chelsea, 6/10

Chelsea started strong under Xabi Alonso but have lost two of their last three matches. Their heavy defeat to Brentford has raised concerns about their progress.

Coventry City, 6/10

Coventry finally got a much-needed win, defeating Nottingham Forest 1-0. Coach Frank Lampard hopes this victory will lead to better results after the break.

Crystal Palace, 5/10

Crystal Palace have had a tough start, with just one win and three losses. They need to improve quickly.

Everton, 6/10

Despite a tough transfer window, David Moyes has made Everton hard to beat. The Toffees have shown grit during the early weeks of the season.

Fulham, 5/10

Fulham have managed draws against Liverpool and Manchester United but are still looking for their first win. Their next matches against Ipswich, Hull, Coventry, and Crystal Palace could help them improve.

Hull City, 8/10

Hull have had a great start with eight points from five tough matches. Wins over Manchester United and draws with Aston Villa and Chelsea have been impressive.

Ipswich Town, 5/10

Ipswich still have defensive issues but have shown fighting spirit. They earned six points with late winners against Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

Leeds United, 7/10

Leeds are unbeaten and sit fifth in the table. They have one of the best defensive records in the league. Their 4-1 win over Newcastle showed their potential.

Liverpool, 6/10

Liverpool are unbeaten but have not yet reached their best. Three straight clean sheets are encouraging, but more is expected from Andoni Iraola's team.

Manchester City, 9/10

City have made a perfect start with five wins from five games. They beat Manchester United even while playing with 10 men. Erling Haaland's goals have added to the excitement around their title push.

Manchester United, 4/10

United have had a rough start. They lost at Hull and drew at Fulham, leaving fans frustrated. Their only win so far came against Ipswich. They also let a win slip against Everton with a late equaliser.

Newcastle United, 6/10

Newcastle have had mixed results under new manager Matthias Jaissle. They drew with Liverpool and won comfortably at Tottenham but suffered a bad loss at Leeds before bouncing back with a win against Hull.

Nottingham Forest, 5/10

Forest have done better away, drawing with Liverpool and winning at Aston Villa. Their home form is concerning, with just one point from three matches at the City Ground and no goals scored.

Sunderland, 5/10

After finishing seventh last season, Sunderland wanted a stronger start. They played well against Arsenal and Manchester City but lost both matches.

Tottenham Hotspur, 2/10

Spurs have had the toughest start of all the teams assessed. Despite spending over £300 million in summer, they could not score in their first four league matches. Fans will expect a big turnaround when the league resumes after the international break.

With five matches completed, the league table is starting to show some early trends. But the three-week international break gives every team a chance to regroup before the season continues on 10 October.