Brighton top the class as City go five from five
Manchester City have won five from five, but Brighton take the top grade in the BBC's early Premier League assessment.
City sit three points clear after a 5-3 win heading into the break, according to Reuters. The BBC's review, made with every team five games in, gives Brighton a 9 out of 10 for their start BBC. There is now a three-week international break, with no Premier League games until 10 October.
Brighton have earned it. They have scored 16 goals in five top-flight games. Three of those came against Arsenal, the defending champions. That win lifted Brighton to third in the table with 10 points from five games, according to Reuters.
City remain the pace-setters. The BBC notes they won all five of their opening league games. That run included victory at Manchester United despite going down to 10 men midway through the first half.
Brentford and Hull City both score 8 in the BBC ranking. Brentford are unbeaten after five matches. They have beaten Spurs and Chelsea in that run. Hull have eight points from their first five fixtures. They beat Manchester United and drew with Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Leeds United and Arsenal both get a 7. Leeds are fifth, unbeaten, with the joint-best defensive record after five matches. That record includes a 4-1 win against Newcastle United.
Liverpool sit in a large group rated 6. They are unbeaten after five matches. They kept three clean sheets in their past three games, meaning three matches without conceding a goal. Chelsea also get a 6 after losing two of their past three games, including defeat by Brentford. Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Everton and Coventry City receive the same mark.
There is texture inside that mid-table group. Everton are led by David Moyes. Coventry, managed by Frank Lampard, won away at Nottingham Forest. Fulham, rated 5, have drawn against both Liverpool and Manchester United.
Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town also get a 5. Ipswich have found late drama. Their six points have come through late winners against Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
What makes this stand out is the spread. One perfect team at the top. One free-scoring chaser. Then a crowd of unbeaten sides and slow starters separated by a point or two. The break gives every manager three weeks to reset before the league returns on 10 October.
