EFL Championship: power rankings
Season 2026/27 · updated 13 October 2026
The strongest side by the model is West Ham United: +0.61 goals per game against an average opponent. Biggest climber of the week: Burnley (+4). Norwich City are 18th in the table but 10th by strength — better than their points.
- Best attackWest Ham United1.84 goals per game
- Best defenceWolverhampton Wanderers0.99 conceded per game
- Climber of the weekBurnley▲4 · now 18
- Faller of the weekWest Bromwich Albion▼4 · now 20
Ranking
Rating — goal difference per game against an average opponent at a neutral venue. ▲▼ — places gained or lost in a week.
| # | Team | Rating | Att. | Def. | Table | Form | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Ham United | +0.61 | 1.84 | 1.22 | 4 | DDWWW | 14 October · at Lincoln City (9) |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | +0.53 | 1.52 | 0.99 | 6 | LWWDL | 16 October · at Burnley (18) |
| 3▲1 | Middlesbrough | +0.52 | 1.58 | 1.06 | 2 | WDDWW | 17 October · Cardiff City (14) |
| 4▼1 | Southampton | +0.49 | 1.64 | 1.14 | 3 | WLWWD | 14 October · at Norwich City (10) |
| 5 | Millwall | +0.35 | 1.55 | 1.19 | 9 | WDDLW | 17 October · Lincoln City (9) |
| 6 | Swansea City | +0.33 | 1.35 | 1.02 | 1 | WWWLD | 17 October · West Ham United (1) |
| 7▲1 | Birmingham City | +0.27 | 1.41 | 1.14 | 8 | WDWLD | 17 October · Queens Park Rangers (8) |
| 8▼1 | Queens Park Rangers | +0.24 | 1.26 | 1.02 | 7 | DDDDL | 14 October · Derby County (24) |
| 9 | Lincoln City | +0.04 | 1.08 | 1.04 | 16 | LLWWD | 14 October · West Ham United (1) |
| 10 | Norwich City | +0.04 | 1.49 | 1.46 | 18 | LLLWW | 14 October · Southampton (4) |
| 11▲2 | Wrexham | −0.06 | 1.03 | 1.08 | 15 | DWLDD | 17 October · Preston North End (21) |
| 12▲3 | Portsmouth | −0.06 | 1.12 | 1.18 | 19 | LDDWL | 14 October · Sheffield United (17) |
| 13▼2 | Bristol City | −0.06 | 1.22 | 1.28 | 11 | DWLLW | 17 October · Sheffield United (17) |
| 14▼2 | Cardiff City | −0.09 | 1.37 | 1.45 | 21 | LWLDL | 17 October · at Middlesbrough (3) |
| 15▲2 | Blackburn Rovers | −0.09 | 1.16 | 1.25 | 13 | WDWLL | 17 October · at West Bromwich Albion (20) |
| 16▼2 | Stoke City | −0.17 | 1.15 | 1.32 | 5 | WWWDW | 17 October · at Derby County (24) |
| 17▲2 | Sheffield United | −0.18 | 1.02 | 1.20 | 14 | WLLWL | 14 October · at Portsmouth (12) |
| 18▲4 | Burnley | −0.20 | 1.18 | 1.39 | 22 | WDLDL | 16 October · Wolverhampton Wanderers (2) |
| 19▲1 | Bolton Wanderers | −0.21 | 1.18 | 1.39 | 17 | LWWLL | 17 October · at Southampton (4) |
| 20▼4 | West Bromwich Albion | −0.21 | 1.01 | 1.22 | 10 | LLDWW | 17 October · Blackburn Rovers (15) |
| 21▼3 | Preston North End | −0.27 | 1.10 | 1.37 | 24 | LDLLW | 17 October · at Wrexham (11) |
| 22▲1 | Charlton Athletic | −0.38 | 0.86 | 1.24 | 12 | DLDDL | 17 October · at Watford (23) |
| 23▼2 | Watford | −0.53 | 0.87 | 1.40 | 20 | LLLWL | 17 October · Charlton Athletic (22) |
| 24 | Derby County | −0.53 | 0.94 | 1.47 | 23 | DDLLL | 14 October · at Queens Park Rangers (8) |
How it is calculated
Only this season counts. The model rates every team’s attack and defence from this season’s matches — by expected goals (xG, the quality of chances) and actual goals, 60 to 40 — taking into account how strong the opponents were. The rating is the goal difference per game it expects against an average team of the league at a neutral venue. Every team starts with three games of league-average form, so a couple of lucky results early on do not make a leader.
Championship: matches and table →
Championship: season forecast →