The Premier League has reached its first international break of the 2026-27 season, with five matches played and plenty of early talking points across the division.
While there is still a long way to go in the campaign, some teams have made impressive starts, while others already have plenty of work to do.
BBC Sport on Monday ranks Premier League teams’ performances before the international break
Arsenal — 7/10
Arsenal have made a solid start to their title defence, although their 3-0 defeat at Brighton exposed some weaknesses. They also survived a penalty scare against Sunderland before suffering their first league loss.
Aston Villa — 6/10
Villa have shown signs of moving in the right direction after losing several key players during the transfer window. Their away win at Tottenham provided another encouraging result.
Bournemouth — 6/10
The Cherries have shown plenty of promise but continue to struggle late in matches. If games ended after 80 minutes, their position in the table would be considerably stronger.
Brentford — 8/10
Brentford have enjoyed an impressive unbeaten start. They demolished both Tottenham and Chelsea and have shown enough to raise questions about whether they can maintain their form and challenge for European football.
Brighton — 9/10
Brighton have been one of the most entertaining sides in the league, scoring 16 goals in their opening five matches. Their 3-0 victory over Arsenal, including three goals against the champions, underlined their attacking threat.
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Chelsea — 6/10
Chelsea began strongly under Xabi Alonso but have now lost two of their past three matches. Their heavy defeat by Brentford will raise questions about whether they are progressing as expected.
Coventry City — 6/10
Coventry finally ended a difficult run with a 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest. Frank Lampard will hope the result provides the platform for a stronger run after the international break.
Crystal Palace — 5/10
Palace have endured a difficult opening, with one win and three defeats leaving plenty of room for improvement.
Everton — 6/10
Despite a difficult transfer window, David Moyes has made Everton a difficult side to beat. The Toffees have shown resilience during the opening weeks of the campaign.
Fulham — 5/10
Fulham have picked up useful draws against Liverpool and Manchester United but are still searching for their first victory. Their upcoming fixtures against Ipswich, Hull, Coventry and Crystal Palace could provide an opportunity to improve their position.
Hull City — 8/10
Hull have made an excellent start, collecting eight points from five difficult fixtures. Victories over Manchester United and draws against Aston Villa and Chelsea have particularly impressed.
Ipswich Town — 5/10
Ipswich remain vulnerable defensively but have demonstrated plenty of fighting spirit. Late winners against Sunderland and Crystal Palace have already earned them six points.
Leeds United — 7/10
Leeds have made an unbeaten start and sit fifth in the table, with one of the league’s best defensive records. Their outstanding 4-1 victory over Newcastle showed what they can produce.
Liverpool — 6/10
Liverpool remain unbeaten but have yet to hit their best form. Three consecutive clean sheets provide encouragement, although more will be expected from Andoni Iraola’s side.
Manchester City — 9/10
City have made a perfect start with five wins from five. They also overcame Manchester United despite playing with 10 men for much of the match. Erling Haaland’s goalscoring form has added to the optimism around their title challenge.
Manchester United — 4/10
United have endured a disappointing opening. Defeats at Hull and a draw at Fulham have frustrated supporters, while their only victory so far came against Ipswich. They also surrendered a win at Everton after conceding a late equaliser.
Newcastle United — 6/10
Newcastle have produced mixed results under new manager Matthias Jaissle. They drew with Liverpool and won comfortably at Tottenham, but suffered a poor defeat at Leeds before responding with a victory over Hull.
Nottingham Forest — 5/10
Forest’s best results have come away from home, including a draw at Liverpool and a win at Aston Villa. Their home record is a major concern, however, with only one point from three matches at the City Ground and no goals scored.
Sunderland — 5/10
After finishing seventh last season, Sunderland would have hoped for a stronger start. The Black Cats have competed well against Arsenal and Manchester City but ultimately lost both games.
Tottenham Hotspur — 2/10
Spurs have endured the most difficult start of the teams assessed. Despite spending more than £300m during the summer, they failed to score in their opening four league matches. Supporters will expect a significant improvement when the Premier League resumes after the international break.
With five matches gone, the table is already beginning to provide some early clues, but the three-week international break offers every team an opportunity to regroup before the season resumes on 10 October.
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