After an exciting start to the Premier League, here are five things we've learnt from the first five rounds...

1. Chelsea must get Modric in January

Tottenham’s iron grip on Luka Modric has ensured the brilliant Croatian has remained at White Hart Lane for the time being, but if Chelsea want to contend with their rivals in Manchester, they will need to do everything in their power to get their man in January. You couldn’t help but wonder what Andres Villa-Boas was thinking on Saturday as he watched Modric put on a brilliant display against Liverpool, particularly after Chelsea’s lightweight midfield succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United. The loss of Essien to another long term injury, the profligacy of the hard working Ramires and what seems to be the natural decline of Frank Lampard leaves this Chelsea squad crying out for someone of Modric’s capabilities in the middle of the park. Perhaps Tottenham are aware that they will face an uphill battle to keep Modric at the Lane, but they will know that Chelsea’s desperation and Modric’s continued brilliance could force Abramovic into a bid of more than £45 million, a tidy profit on the £16.5 million spent on him in 2008.

2. Manchester United are still the team to beat

Sir Alex correctly described last Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Old Trafford as United’s toughest test. It says a lot then, that they still managed to score three goals, and see off the team that pushed them furthest last season 3-1.  The scoreline perhaps flattered the Champions, but United’s vicious streak in front of goal doesn’t lie. In their first five matches, they have had to play Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, three of the other five teams that made up the top six last season, beating all three comfortably by a combined margin of 11 goals. Injuries to Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Rafael, Cleverley, Welbeck have failed to slow the champs down, but United will need to tighten up at the back. No team has conceded more shots on goal than United. United’s crunch games thus far have come at home, and United will remember the start Chelsea made last season before succumbing to a mid-season form crisis. No one’s ever won the title in the opening five games, but on current form it is hard to see many teams in the league that can match them over the remaining 33 games.

3. King Kenny’s Revolution needs time…and defenders

The season could have hardly got off to a better start for Liverpool, it seemed. Undefeated in their opening three matches of the season, the optimism around Anfield was undeniable. The new signings of Enrique, Henderson and Adam all integrated seamlessly into the first team, and the results were good. Luis Suarez was rampant, Andy Carroll was still misfiring but at least functional, Liverpool weren’t leaking goals and they were scoring heaps of them. What a difference two weeks can make then. Consecutive losses on the bounce, suspensions, an injury to Agger and suddenly things are a little more uncertain at Liverpool. Dalglish will be longsighted enough to know that in the long term, Liverpool are a team that looks to be on the rise, but for now, a combination of a failure to invest in more defenders and a bit of bad luck with injuries, will continue to compromise Liverpool’s form in the short term.

4. A Refreshing Approach to Promotion Is Getting Results

It was very pleasing this season to see the three promoted clubs, Queens Park Rangers, Norwich and Swansea City have all avoided the tedious and rather bemusing transfer policy usually taken up by teams coming up from the Championship of buying players who were for the most part relegated the season before, or who have been part of relegated clubs several times before. Instead, for the most part, this season’s promoted trio have all entrusted the squads that got them to the Premier League. QPR are perhaps the exception given their new found financial clout, but all three have acted sensibly in the transfer market, resulting in squads that, though perhaps lacking in big names, are built on last season’s successes. This provides greater continuity and stability within the squad, keeps morale high and ensures that there regardless of whether or not the clubs avoid relegation come May; they will be well placed to continue to build next season. The clubs have thus far been rewarded for this refreshing approach to staying in the Premier League with not one of the three clubs in the relegation zone.

5. Moyes Is A Mastermind

It was another disastrous summer for Everton off the pitch, losing a number of key players and not being able to replace any of them directly in the transfer market. Everton’s senior squad is the smallest in the league, but that hasn’t stopped Moyes from once again finding a way to rejuvenate this football club. An unrelenting, but perhaps necessary, faith in youth has borne fruit once more, with the emergence of the brilliant Ross Barkley. Royston Drenthe could prove another masterstroke in the transfer market. Rodwell and Coleman are also proving reliable performers, whilst Phillip Neville and our own Tim Cahill provide the squad with a wealth of experience and leadership. It’s still set to be a long season ahead for Everton, but you can’t help but admire the continued excellence of David Moyes.