Having previously covered Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, and Fulham, we continue our midterm assessment of the Premier League's 20 teams.

LIVERPOOL

The Reds have largely embraced the possession football espoused by new manager Brendan Rodgers, but the pattern remains much the same as it was under Kenny Dalglish: maddeningly inconsistent results, and a chronic inability to put away chances. The latter failing, along with the profligacy and injury problems of new boy Fabio Borini, means the Reds are more reliant than ever on Luis Suarez, the only other senior striker in the squad; fortunately, the Uruguayan has been more than up to the task thus far. Rodgers has successfully integrated teenage prodigy Raheem Sterling and stiffened a defence which got off to a rocky start, and the Merseyside club now sit just five points off the Champions League places.  

Midterm grade: C+
A lack of attacking alternatives has hampered the Reds somewhat but that should be rectified in January.  

MANCHESTER CITY

The champions haven’t quite matched their performance levels from last season, but still managed to remain unbeaten for their first 15 games before their derby defeat to United. Roberto Mancini’s occasional tactical tinkering has received blame in some quarters, but the truth is that outside of two Argentines, striker Carlos Tevez and utility man Pablo Zabaleta, there has been a notable absence of outstanding individual performances. New signings like Jack Rodwell, Scott Sinclair, Java Garcia, and Maicon have failed to move the needle much, although young defender Matija Nastastic has settled quickly. City deserve credit for their penchant for grinding out results with eleventh-hour heroics, but Mancini will know his side are capable of much more than they have shown thus far.  

Midterm grade: B-
Four points off the top without really hitting top gear.  

MANCHESTER UNITED

Every year the Red Devils seem to be struck down by a defensive injury crisis, and this season has been no different. The absences of Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling, and Phil Jones have made the United rear-guard as leaky as it’s been in several years, although all three are now fit again. Sir Alex Ferguson seems to have settled on an effective midfield partnership in Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, with Anderson’s fine season halted by his latest spell on the treatment table. For all the question marks in other areas, a lethal attack has carried the day thus far, with marquee signing Robin van Persie maintaining the devastating form he showed in his final 18 months at Arsenal and dovetailing neatly with Wayne Rooney. Vidic’s return should ensure Ferguson’s side no longer have to rely so heavily on their front-men to get them out of jail.  

Midterm grade: B+
The Red Devils must improve at the back but top the table by four points and have played some thrilling football at times.  

NEWCASTLE
The Magpies’ struggles have underlined the thin margin for error for clubs aspiring to break into the Premier League’s upper echelons. Several key men from last season – Yohan Cabaye, Fabrizio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote, Papiss Cisse – have been hampered by injuries and (in Cisse’s case) loss of form, and Alan Pardew’s squad have simply lacked the depth to cope, especially given the added burden of European football. The goals of Senegalese striker Demba Ba and the invention of Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa have been rare positive stories, although the latter has also spent some time on the sidelines of late. Having decided against major reinforcements in the summer, the Newcastle brain trust will surely be compelled to strengthen in January to avoid getting dragged into the battle against the drop.  

Midterm grade: D
Injuries have hit hard but there should still be enough quality on hand to be better than five points away from the relegation zone.  

NORWICH

Second Season Syndrome looked a real concern when the Canaries failed to win in their first seven games, but new boss Chris Hughton has since steadied the ship and then some. With a pair of summer signings – centre-back Sebastien Bassong and defensive midfielder Alexander Tettey – making the once-porous East Anglians a lot tougher to beat, and a third in Robert Snodgrass providing creativity both from set-pieces and open play, Norwich rocketed up the table with a ten-game unbeaten run which was only just ended by West Brom. The concern going forward is that increased security at the back has been offset by far less potency in the final third – a significant injury to skipper Grant Holt could conceivably have Hughton’s side slipping back into relegation danger.  

Midterm grade: B+
Hughton’s approach is far more conservative than Paul Lambert’s, but the results have been equally impressive thus far.