Leicester City

Review: The 2018/19 season will forever be overshadowed by the tragedy that struck Leicester City in October, and with that in mind performances on the pitch have paled into insignificance. Fans have been broadly unhappy with the dull possession football of Claude Puel, and his position remains under threat following the decision to rest key players for a League Cup quarter-final tie. A recent win at Chelsea was proof they should return to their counter-attacking philosophy.

Best player: James Maddison – Leicester’s new number ten has settled superbly at the King Power, providing five goals and three assists so far this season. His ability to drive forward in possession and thread a through ball has seen the Englishman forge a strong partnership with Jamie Vardy

Biggest disappointment: Rachid Ghezzal – Signed as a direct replacement for Riyad Mahrez, so far Ghezzal has failed to impress under Puel, scoring just once in 12 matches. He is yet to record an assist.

Target: A top half finish is the best Leicester can hope for.

Grade: C

Liverpool

Review: Liverpool fans couldn’t have expected such an outstanding response to the disappointment that followed last season’s Champions League final defeat. Jurgen Klopp’s side have followed the path of his old Borussia Dortmund team in suddenly clicking into an unstoppable gear, thanks to a hugely improved defence, a more pragmatic attacking approach, and added squad depth in the shape of Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho.

Best player: Virgil van Dijk – The Dutch centre-back might just be the best player in the world in his position right now, helping Liverpool to concede a mere seven goals in the first half of the campaign. Brilliant in the air and with his feet, Van Dijk sends a ripple of calm into his team-mates.

Biggest disappointment: Naby Keita – It’s still early days for Liverpool’s £53 million central midfielder, but after a promising debut Keita has struggled to settle at Anfield. The flashes of quality he has shown suggest Keita can be a huge asset for Klopp in the future.

Target: Following Man City’s back-to-back defeats Liverpool fans can smell a first Premier League title since 1990. That has to be the goal, even if it means sacrificing the latter rounds of the Champions League.

Grade: A+

Manchester City

Review: Things were going perfectly up until two weeks ago. Even in Kevin de Bruyne’s absence Man City looked better than in 2017/18, racking up wins as pundits predicted another run-away success in the league. But a series of defeats has threatened to destroy their campaign as opponents highlight their vulnerabilities in defence and the lack of cover for Fernandinho. It’s not quite time to panic, but with expectations sky high it’s been a disappointing half season for Pep Guardiola.

Best player: Bernardo Silva – A quietly outstanding campaign for Bernardo Silva is probably best highlighted by how little City have missed De Bruyne. Silva’s running with and without the ball has added a grace to the right side of midfield.

Biggest disappointment: full-backs – Kyle Walker is having a bad season, which is terrible timing considering City’s issues on the other flank. Benjamin Mendy doesn’t have the positional awareness to defend to the highest level, while Danilo and Fabian Delph both struggle when defending one-on-one.

Target: Become the first team this decade to retain the Premier League title.

Grade: B

Manchester United

Review: An unmitigated disaster – until Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived and United’s players breathed three huge gulps of fresh air. It’s psychological freedom driving them at the moment (the hard tactical work begins in January), and so we can only really review Jose Mourinho’s ill-fated third season. In a word: pathetic.

Best player: Anthony Martial – The Frenchman has excelled in spite of Mourinho this season, contributing  eight goals in 15 matches so far from the left wing.

Biggest disappointment: Jose Mourinho – From whinging about transfers to throwing players under the bus, from his clueless tactics to his dreadfully dull football, Mourinho’s third year at Old Trafford conjured black clouds over Manchester. Good riddance.

Target: Eight points behind Chelsea in fourth might seem a lot, but Maurizio Sarri’s side are dramatically slowing down. Certainly United can fight hard for a Champions League place.

Grade: E

Newcastle United

Review: There has to come a point when either Rafael Benitez gets bored of Newcastle or Newcastle gets bored of Rafael Benitez: his tedious defensive football is understandable in the circumstances, and is unlikely to end until Mike Ashley finds a buyer. Their league position and prospects are as achingly dull as the football at St. James Park.

Best player:  Salomon Rondon – Strong in the air and clinical in the box, Rondon is a classic Newcastle striker. His five goals have been absolutely crucial in avoiding what looked – at one point – to be a disastrous season for the club.

Biggest disappointment: Kenedy – Once so highly rated, Kenedy has failed to kick on and remains a hit-and-miss player for Newcastle. The Brazilian is far too unreliable at this level, amassing just one goal and one assist from 14 league games.

Target: Avoiding relegation is the best possible achievement for Newcastle.

Grade: C

Southampton

Review: Saints are another club that have undergone a dramatic change of fortune since appointing a new manager. Mark Hughes’s uninspiring football had put Southampton on a course for relegation, but Ralph Hasenhuttl has sparked a revival based on high pressing, high intensity football. They will only improve from here, with a solid central midfield providing a good quality foundation for Hasenhuttl to build upon.

Best player: Mario Lemina – Southampton’s under-rated terrier in central midfield has tied things together neatly since Hasenhuttl’s arrival, providing bite in the tackle and quality in possession. Together with Pierre-Emile Hjojberg and Oriol Romeu Southampton have a midfield far superior to their relegation rivals’.

Biggest disappointment:  Hughes’s mismanagement – Another old British manager left behind by modern tactics, Hughes played cagey defensive football that failed to utilise the cultured talent at the club’s disposal. He should have gone much sooner.

Target: Surviving relegation is obviously the priority, but a secondary target for Southampton should be to bring back their aesthetic football and  lay the foundations for a revival next season.

Grade: C+

Tottenham

Review: Considering they failed to make any new signings in the summer, Spurs have been brilliant so far. Mauricio Pochettino continues to improve his team, bringing through some exciting young prospects and adding a new sense of resilience; no longer do Spurs draw tricky games against defensive opponents.

Best player: Christian Eriksen – The Dane goes from strength to strength, running games just like Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric did at White Hart Lane just before his move to Real Madrid.

Biggest disappointment: No new signings – Spurs would be pushing for the title this campaign had Daniel Levy opened his cheque book and allowed Pochettino to strengthen in key areas. They need a new central midfielder, while Jack Grealish would offer a different dimension in the final third.

Target: Spurs can finish runners up, but a more important target is to convince Pochettino to stay – and that means making funds available in January, plus a smooth transition into the new stadium.

Grade: A

Watford

Review: Javi Gracia has continued a stable job at Watford, earning himself a new contract and ensuring that the club firmly join the newly forming mid-table. His narrow 4-2-2-2 formation is beginning to get found out, although with a talented squad Watford should continue to pick up points as they chase European football.

Best player: Etienne Capoue – Watford’s good season is built on a solid central midfield, and Capoue is the understated leader. Few Premier League players amass as many tackles and interceptions as the Frenchman.

Biggest disappointment: Still no striker – Watford really need a goalscorer to lead the line. Troy Deeney is playing far too often and Isaac Success is struggling to find the back of the net, which explains why Watford haven’t been able to push on after a strong start to the campaign.

Target: Top ten.

Grade: B +

West Ham

Review: Since losing each of their first four matches of the season Manuel Pellegrini has done an exceptional job, quickly abandoning his expansive possession approach for a simpler, deeper counter-attacking system. The switch has helped Felipe Anderson and Robert Snodgrass flourish, while Pellegrini’s decision to move Declan Rice into central midfield proved to be a masterstroke. It’s the happiest West Ham fans have been since moving to Stratford.

Best player: Felipe Anderson – The Brazilian has taken to Premier League life far better than expected, scoring eight times already this season. The 25-year-old is the perfect fit for the Hammers, too, who have always indulged a luxury attacker.

Biggest disappointment: Jack Wilshere – Injuries and poor form have restricted Wilshere to just four league matches this season. West Ham really should have seen this coming.

Target: Seventh. There’s no reason why West Ham cannot become the best of the rest, ahead of Everton.

Grade: B

Wolves

Review: Things could hardly have gone better for Wolves since being promoted. They had a very productive summer and almost every new signing has bedded in successfully, leading the club into a race for European football. The only drawback is that Nuno Esperito Santo sticks rigidly to a 3-4-3 formation, which could see them come unstuck eventually.

Best player: Joao Moutinho – The little Portuguese midfielder has shown great energy in the middle of the park, forming a strong bond with Ruben Neves to ensure Wolves keep a compact defensive shape despite only fielding two central midfielders.

Biggest disappointment: Scoring goals – Wolves look competitive in every game they play but just don’t create enough high-quality chances. Adama Traore is too inconsistent and for all their hard work Helder Costa and Diogo Jota don’t feed the striker often enough.

Target: A top ten finish would be a brilliant way to start life in the Premier League.

Grade: A

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Arsenal

Review: Unai Emery has introduced a high-pressing, speedy counter tactical philosophy far quicker than anticipated, making good use of the pace and technical ability of his attackers to successfully modernise the club. They remain badly understocked in defence, while Aaron Ramsey’s contract situation and Mesut Ozil’s worsening relationship with the manager have destabilised what could have been a perfect transitional half season for the new boss.

Best player: Lucas Torriera – Already looks the combative central midfielder Arsenal have needed throughout the last decade. His performances suggest Emery is good in the transfer market, which bodes well for replacing Ramsey in the summer.

Biggest disappointment: Mesut Ozil – He just doesn’t seem to fit with Emery’s demands for constant pressure and self-sacrifice, a fact made all the more frustrting by his obvious talent, huge wages, and the absence of a clear exit strategy.

Target: Safely securing Europa League football, plus a good run in Europe’s secondary competition, is all Arsenal can expect in Emery’s first season. Pushing Chelsea all the way for fourth spot can be counted a success.

Grade: B+

Bournemouth

Review: Eddie Howe has transformed Bournemouth from a possession side into one that sits deep and plays on the counter-attack, with mostly excellent results. Their form tends to come in waves, and although they currently sit 12^th Bournemouth are only three points from 7^th. It is worth remembering that Howe has normalised the unthinkable: this small south coast club spent a net of just £15 million in the summer and are pushng for a place in Europe.

Best player:Ryan Fraser – Leading the Premier League assist charts with eight, Fraser is the player benefitting most clearly from Bournemouth’s move to a counter-attacking approach. He frequently finds himself running one-on-one against an opposition right-back – and invariably comes out on top.

Biggest disappointment: Lewis Cook – The former Leeds United central midfielder has never quite fulfilled his promise, and this year the 21-year-old continues to hover on the fringes of the Bournemouth first team despite their relative weakness in this area of the pitch.

Target: Finishing in eighth is probably the highest Howe can hope for, with Everton’s vastly superior resources meaning they should complete the top seven behind Man Utd. A good FA Cup run is certainly on the cards.

Grade: A

Brighton

Review: Somehow Chris Hughton just keeps pulling off good results. Brighton’s squad is arguably the poorest in the Premier League, and yet 35-year-old Glen Murray won’t stop scoring, Solly March is making huge strides, and Shane Duffy is surprisingly dominant at the back. They are ten points clear of the relegation zone and only need another three wins to secure their place.

Best player: Shane Duffy – The 26-year-old Ireland defender has been instrumental to Brighton’s success this season. The club’s first three wins – all in a row in October – were 1-0, reflecting Duffy’s vital work in organising the defence.

Biggest disappointment: Alireza Jahanbakhsh – You’d be forgiven for never having heard of Jahanbakhsh, and yet he is Brighton’s record signing at £17 million from AZ Alkmaar in the summer. He’s only managed four starts and is yet to score or assist a Premier League goal.

Target: A mid-table finish is definitely on the cards now, since Brighton should hit a safe 35 points by early spring.

Grade: A

Burnley

Review: Things have gone horribly wrong for Sean Dyche and Burnley. Perhaps exhausted from the endless Europa League qualification matches in July, or maybe suffering an existential crisis after the high of last season, Burnley have sunk like a stone. Their infamously poor xG against has finally translated into goals this campaign; only Fulham have conceded more than their 41.

Best player: Johan Gudmundsson – One of the few players still looking like his old self is Icelandic midfielder Gudmundsson, whose combative presence has helped Burnley stay competitive.

Biggest disappointment:Joe Hart – All that shouting and screaming seems to increase the nerves of those around him. Hart has made several errors, while it cannot be purely coincidence that Burnley’s form has dropped dramatically since they changed goalkeepers… or that they kept a rare clean sheet in a 2-0 win over West Ham with Hart dropped at the weekend.

Target: Survival. That’s all they have to aim for now, but with new managers improving their rivals Burnley don’t look like a good bet to avoid the drop.

Grade: D -

Cardiff City

Review: Many pundits tipped Cardiff to set a record low points tally this season, which seemed reasonable given the low quality of their squad. But Neil Warnock has instilled a fearless, never-say-die attitude into these players and so far their season has been a big success.

Best player: Callum Paterson – Paterson has played in central midfield, right-back, and up front so far this campaign, highlighting his versatility before eventually nailing down the role of striker. The 24-year-old has scored four times in 11 league starts up front.

Biggest disappointment: Bobby Reid – He hasn’t been dreadful, but Reid cost Cardiff £11 million and looks well short of the required level to succeed.

Target: Cardiff are only three points above the drop zone and are unlikely to earn as many points in the second half of the season as the first. Survival would be a big achievement.

Grade: A

Chelsea

Review: Maurizio Sarri surprised everyone by making a big impact so quickly at Stamford Bridge, dramatically altering Chelsea’s philisophy effortlessly – until results started to turn sour as winter set in. His expansive attacking football is going down well with fans, but Chelsea are too predictable at the moment, invariably filtering their attacks through Eden Hazard and Jorginho. They need more variety, as well as a better centre-back partnership anda  goalscoring striker.

Best player: Eden Hazard – On course for the most productive Premier League campaign of his career, Hazard is excelling in a side that like to play on the front foot. He is finally free to indulge his most creative side.

Biggest disappointment: Alvaro Morata – The Spaniard is simply too lightweight for English football and, after spendng years as a squad player for Real Madrid and Juventus has not developed the self-confidence needed to play week in week out. The sooner Chelsea find a replacement the better.

Target: Champions League qualification is the goal for Sarri, whose side are not enjoying the Europa League’s gruelling Thursday-Sunday schedule.

Grade: B

Crystal Palace

Review: It would be unfair to criticise Crystal Palace too much given the low quality of their squad, but Roy Hodgson’s dreary football is far too reliant on Wilfried Zaha for quality. Palace ought not to be so dangerously flirting with relegation, while Hodgson’s signings have generally flopped.

Best player: Wilfried Zaha – The Ivorian is laughably far ahead of his team-mates,who only just ended a sequence of 14 successive defeats in matches in which Zaha was absent.

Biggest disappointment: Christian Benteke – Few players have fallen as dramatically as Benteke, a man who was once picked ahead of Romelu Lukaku for the Belgium national team and was considered an exciting signing when Liverpool bought him from Aston Villa. Benteke has only managed four starts this season.

Target: Surviving the drop is just about good enough, although it’s hard to see Hodgson sticking around much longer unless their football improves.

Grade: C

Everton

Review: It took a little while for Marco Silva to stamp his tactical authority onto this team, but things are really coming together now for an Everton side that looked completely lost under Sam Allardyce. They’re some way behind the ‘big six’, but Richarlison’s goals and the return to form of Gylfi Sigurdsson have given the fans something to cheer about. The trio of signings from Barcelona have also impressed, suggesting Silva has a good eye for a transfer.

Best player: Richarlison – Refreshed after a summer break, finally the Brazilian is able to give a full season to the Premier League without collapsing from exhaustion. The result has been an instant payout on the £50 million tranfer fee, with Richarlison netting nine times so far.

Biggest disappointment: Morgan Schneiderlin – The former Manchester United midfielder looks disinterested and totally out of his depth, making just four starts in the 2018/19 season. Idrissa Gueye was sorely missed recently, and yet Silva still didn’t feel able to call on Schneiderlin.

Target: They should be looking to finish above Man Utd in sixth given the chaos that has engulfed that club, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s manager bounce makes seventh a more likely target for Everton.

Grade: B

Fulham

Review: Slavisa Jokanovic’s attempts to play expasnive possession football proved disastrous for a club that spent too much money in the summer on established players. Fulham, unexpectedly promoted via the playoffs, should have shown greater caution – and appear to have found the right balance with Claudio Ranieri. They need goals, mind.

Best player: Aleksandar Mitrovic – The Serbian striker has scored eight times already this season, and looks set to play an even bigger role under Ranieri, who has begun to instruct his players to play long balls onto the target man’s head.

Biggest disappointment: Jean Michael Serri has looked lost in the centre of midfield, struggling to adapt to the speed and intensity of the Premier League midfield battle.

Target: Avoid the drop, although battling with pride might be considered good enough in the current circumstances.

Grade: D

Huddersfield

Review: Things have gone predictably badly for Huddersfield, a club that have performed magnificently to even be playing at this level. Their battle against the drop looks doomed, despite the best efforts of a talented manager and hard-working squad.

Best player: Philip Billing – The central midfielder combines a quiet technical artistry with powerful running in the centre of the park, injecting some tempo into a Huddersfield team that too often play a safe sideways pass. His (occasional) risk-taking has been the bright spot in a dreadful season.

Biggest disappointment: The strikers – Incredibly, not a single centre-forward has scored a league goal for Huddersfield this season. Centre-back Zanka is their top scorer with three, emphasising the club’s lack of cutting edge.

Target: Keep fighting until the bitter end.

Grade: D

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Arsenal

Review: Unai Emery has introduced a high-pressing, speedy counter tactical philosophy far quicker than anticipated, making good use of the pace and technical ability of his attackers to successfully modernise the club. They remain badly understocked in defence, while Aaron Ramsey’s contract situation and Mesut Ozil’s worsening relationship with the manager have destabilised what could have been a perfect transitional half season for the new boss.

Best player: Lucas Torriera – Already looks the combative central midfielder Arsenal have needed throughout the last decade. His performances suggest Emery is good in the transfer market, which bodes well for replacing Ramsey in the summer.

Biggest disappointment: Mesut Ozil – He just doesn’t seem to fit with Emery’s demands for constant pressure and self-sacrifice, a fact made all the more frustrting by his obvious talent, huge wages, and the absence of a clear exit strategy.

Target: Safely securing Europa League football, plus a good run in Europe’s secondary competition, is all Arsenal can expect in Emery’s first season. Pushing Chelsea all the way for fourth spot can be counted a success.

Grade: B+

Bournemouth

Review: Eddie Howe has transformed Bournemouth from a possession side into one that sits deep and plays on the counter-attack, with mostly excellent results. Their form tends to come in waves, and although they currently sit 12^th Bournemouth are only three points from 7^th. It is worth remembering that Howe has normalised the unthinkable: this small south coast club spent a net of just £15 million in the summer and are pushng for a place in Europe.

Best player: Ryan Fraser – Leading the Premier League assist charts with eight, Fraser is the player benefitting most clearly from Bournemouth’s move to a counter-attacking approach. He frequently finds himself running one-on-one against an opposition right-back – and invariably comes out on top.

Biggest disappointment: Lewis Cook – The former Leeds United central midfielder has never quite fulfilled his promise, and this year the 21-year-old continues to hover on the fringes of the Bournemouth first team despite their relative weakness in this area of the pitch.

Target: Finishing in eighth is probably the highest Howe can hope for, with Everton’s vastly superior resources meaning they should complete the top seven behind Man Utd. A good FA Cup run is certainly on the cards.

Grade: A

Brighton

Review: Somehow Chris Hughton just keeps pulling off good results. Brighton’s squad is arguably the poorest in the Premier League, and yet 35-year-old Glen Murray won’t stop scoring, Solly March is making huge strides, and Shane Duffy is surprisingly dominant at the back. They are ten points clear of the relegation zone and only need another three wins to secure their place.

Best player: Shane Duffy – The 26-year-old Ireland defender has been instrumental to Brighton’s success this season. The club’s first three wins – all in a row in October – were 1-0, reflecting Duffy’s vital work in organising the defence.

Biggest disappointment: Alireza Jahanbakhsh – You’d be forgiven for never having heard of Jahanbakhsh, and yet he is Brighton’s record signing at £17 million from AZ Alkmaar in the summer. He’s only managed four starts and is yet to score or assist a Premier League goal.

Target: A mid-table finish is definitely on the cards now, since Brighton should hit a safe 35 points by early spring.

Grade: A

Burnley

Review: Things have gone horribly wrong for Sean Dyche and Burnley. Perhaps exhausted from the endless Europa League qualification matches in July, or maybe suffering an existential crisis after the high of last season, Burnley have sunk like a stone. Their infamously poor xG against has finally translated into goals this campaign; only Fulham have conceded more than their 41.

Best player: Johan Gudmundsson – One of the few players still looking like his old self is Icelandic midfielder Gudmundsson, whose combative presence has helped Burnley stay competitive.

Biggest disappointment: Joe Hart – All that shouting and screaming seems to increase the nerves of those around him. Hart has made several errors, while it cannot be purely coincidence that Burnley’s form has dropped dramatically since they changed goalkeepers… or that they kept a rare clean sheet in a 2-0 win over West Ham with Hart dropped at the weekend.

Target: Survival. That’s all they have to aim for now, but with new managers improving their rivals Burnley don’t look like a good bet to avoid the drop.

Grade: D -

Cardiff City

Review: Many pundits tipped Cardiff to set a record low points tally this season, which seemed reasonable given the low quality of their squad. But Neil Warnock has instilled a fearless, never-say-die attitude into these players and so far their season has been a big success.

Best player: Callum Paterson – Paterson has played in central midfield, right-back, and up front so far this campaign, highlighting his versatility before eventually nailing down the role of striker. The 24-year-old has scored four times in 11 league starts up front.

Biggest disappointment: Bobby Reid – He hasn’t been dreadful, but Reid cost Cardiff £11 million and looks well short of the required level to succeed.

Target: Cardiff are only three points above the drop zone and are unlikely to earn as many points in the second half of the season as the first. Survival would be a big achievement.

Grade: A

Chelsea

Review: Maurizio Sarri surprised everyone by making a big impact so quickly at Stamford Bridge, dramatically altering Chelsea’s philisophy effortlessly – until results started to turn sour as winter set in. His expansive attacking football is going down well with fans, but Chelsea are too predictable at the moment, invariably filtering their attacks through Eden Hazard and Jorginho. They need more variety, as well as a better centre-back partnership anda  goalscoring striker.

Best player: Eden Hazard – On course for the most productive Premier League campaign of his career, Hazard is excelling in a side that like to play on the front foot. He is finally free to indulge his most creative side.

Biggest disappointment: Alvaro Morata – The Spaniard is simply too lightweight for English football and, after spendng years as a squad player for Real Madrid and Juventus has not developed the self-confidence needed to play week in week out. The sooner Chelsea find a replacement the better.

Target: Champions League qualification is the goal for Sarri, whose side are not enjoying the Europa League’s gruelling Thursday-Sunday schedule.

Grade: B

Crystal Palace

Review: It would be unfair to criticise Crystal Palace too much given the low quality of their squad, but Roy Hodgson’s dreary football is far too reliant on Wilfried Zaha for quality. Palace ought not to be so dangerously flirting with relegation, while Hodgson’s signings have generally flopped.

Best player: Wilfried Zaha – The Ivorian is laughably far ahead of his team-mates,who only just ended a sequence of 14 successive defeats in matches in which Zaha was absent.

Biggest disappointment: Christian Benteke – Few players have fallen as dramatically as Benteke, a man who was once picked ahead of Romelu Lukaku for the Belgium national team and was considered an exciting signing when Liverpool bought him from Aston Villa. Benteke has only managed four starts this season.

Target: Surviving the drop is just about good enough, although it’s hard to see Hodgson sticking around much longer unless their football improves.

Grade: C

Everton

Review: It took a little while for Marco Silva to stamp his tactical authority onto this team, but things are really coming together now for an Everton side that looked completely lost under Sam Allardyce. They’re some way behind the ‘big six’, but Richarlison’s goals and the return to form of Gylfi Sigurdsson have given the fans something to cheer about. The trio of signings from Barcelona have also impressed, suggesting Silva has a good eye for a transfer.

Best player: Richarlison – Refreshed after a summer break, finally the Brazilian is able to give a full season to the Premier League without collapsing from exhaustion. The result has been an instant payout on the £50 million tranfer fee, with Richarlison netting nine times so far.

Biggest disappointment: Morgan Schneiderlin – The former Manchester United midfielder looks disinterested and totally out of his depth, making just four starts in the 2018/19 season. Idrissa Gueye was sorely missed recently, and yet Silva still didn’t feel able to call on Schneiderlin.

Target: They should be looking to finish above Man Utd in sixth given the chaos that has engulfed that club, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s manager bounce makes seventh a more likely target for Everton.

Grade: B

Fulham

Review: Slavisa Jokanovic’s attempts to play expasnive possession football proved disastrous for a club that spent too much money in the summer on established players. Fulham, unexpectedly promoted via the playoffs, should have shown greater caution – and appear to have found the right balance with Claudio Ranieri. They need goals, mind.

Best player: Aleksandar Mitrovic – The Serbian striker has scored eight times already this season, and looks set to play an even bigger role under Ranieri, who has begun to instruct his players to play long balls onto the target man’s head.

Biggest disappointment: Jean Michael Serri has looked lost in the centre of midfield, struggling to adapt to the speed and intensity of the Premier League midfield battle.

Target: Avoid the drop, although battling with pride might be considered good enough in the current circumstances.

Grade: D

Huddersfield

Review: Things have gone predictably badly for Huddersfield, a club that have performed magnificently to even be playing at this level. Their battle against the drop looks doomed, despite the best efforts of a talented manager and hard-working squad.

Best player: Philip Billing – The central midfielder combines a quiet technical artistry with powerful running in the centre of the park, injecting some tempo into a Huddersfield team that too often play a safe sideways pass. His (occasional) risk-taking has been the bright spot in a dreadful season.

Biggest disappointment: The strikers – Incredibly, not a single centre-forward has scored a league goal for Huddersfield this season. Centre-back Zanka is their top scorer with three, emphasising the club’s lack of cutting edge.

Target: Keep fighting until the bitter end.

Grade: D

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