Nine rounds, 83 matches, 248 goals and countless talking points later, iafrica.com thought it was time to take stock of what has transpired thus far in this season?s English Premiership, and what we think we might be in store for the rest of 2009/10.

The Big Four:

So Man United are top, Chelsea second, Arsenal are playing the most attractive football and Liverpool can't win without Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres - pretty standard going for the 'Big Four' then, right?

Maybe, but while the League table may not have a particularly astonishing look about it, there has been plenty in the early part of the season to suggest that this may prove to be one of the most open and exciting title-contests in recent memory.

A shock loss to newly-promoted Burnley and a 2-2 draw to Steve Bruce's increasingly impressive Sunderland has not been enough to keep Manchester United off of the top of the standings.

The squad may lack a bit of quality without the trickery and goals of Ronaldo, but what the Red Devils haven't lost are their Championship-winning habits of grinding out unspectacular wins and scoring late (or sometimes very, very late) winners - just ask Mark Hughes. The worrying thing for the other contenders is that the Manchunian?s have yet to hit their best form.

A quick glance at the Chelsea squad is enough to justify many critics' opinion that the Blues are favourites to be on the winners podium come May 2010, and up until recently it looked as if Carlo Ancleotti?s side would be unstoppable.

The Drogba-Anelka strike pairing has worked wonders and the defence have conceded fewer goals than any of their title-chasing rivals, but recent defeats to Wigan and Aston Villa has cast some doubt over the Londoners' championship credentials. They will certainly be there or thereabouts when it's all decided.

Arsenal have always played beautifully in destroying lesser teams, while so often coming up short when it really counts. The young squad continued the trend in giving up a golden opportunity to beat United earlier in the campaign, but their form since has been spectacular.

The coming of age of players such as Alexandre Song and Abou Diaby, as well as the signing of free-scoring centre-back Thomas Vermalaen, has given the side some much-needed defensive steel to add to their potency up front.

Arsene Wenger's men lead the scoring charts with 27 goals, and with the mouthwatering prospect of an attacking trident of Andrei Arshavin, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie yet to be unleashed, the Gunners could be preparing their most serious title tilt for years.

Liverpool have been the biggest disappointment thus far and are languishing in eighth spot, seven points adrift of the pace setters. Admittedly, the loss against Sunderland was seriously unlucky, but without their talismanic duo the Reds looked startlingly ordinary. Liverpool fans will say 'there?s still a long way to go', but if they lose to Man United on the weekend, this season could well prove longer than they ever anticipated.

The Best of the Rest:

Mark Hughes' expensively assembled Manchester City squad have made a good start to their quest to break into the top-tier of English football and are currently well-placed in fifth.

It is doubtful that the store-bought side will have the spirit and experience to challenge for the title but they, along with Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and Aston Villa, will be the sides most likely to make a push for European places.

Managers Under-Fire:

The relegation places are the obvious place to look for the candidate most likely to lose his job and right now it?s the managers of Portsmouth, Hull and West Ham that will be feeling the pressure.

Paul Hart's record of one win from nine in the Pompey hotseat will soon see him unemployed if there isn't a dramatic change, while Phil Brown may get a bit more leeway given his impressive history with the Tigers. Likewise, Gianfranco Zola's job should be safe for now as a result of his popularity with Hammers fans.

Meanwhile, Rafa Benitez is under more scrutiny than at any period in his stay Anfield and there is a feeling that Reds fans would not be too displeased to see the back of him. Time, and more importantly results, will tell.