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Liverpool Tenth in First Premier League Power Rankings

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Weighed down by a poor opening day performance against West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool came in in tenth place in the first week of SBNation's Premier League power rankings despite a strong showing in week two that saw them outplay defending champions Manchester City on the way to a draw. City, meanwhile, finished a strong second to leaders Chelsea thanks to a week one win and the universally high expectations for Roberto Mancini's side to succeed over the course of the season. Elsewhere, the tension that exists in any power rankings between performance and expectation led to West Brom finishing behind Liverpool in eleventh despite having won their match in week one before battling Tottenham to a draw in week two, while this week's opponent Arsenal were given the benefit of the doubt when voters selected them the fifth best side following a pair of nil-nil draws many felt they would have won with Robin van Persie—or another player capable of clinical finishing—still at the club.