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Cape Town - There's usually one team that pops up near the top of the standings for the first weeks of the season before typically falling away.
This season, there are two sides who have made surprising starts.
Aston Villa haved picked up 10 points from a possible 12, with their third win of the campaign coming away at Liverpool on Sunday.
The reward for manager
Paul Lambert was a new contract on Wednesday through the summer of 2018.
Villa, which battled to avoid relegation last season, are in the middle of a tough run of fixtures that will test its resurgence, with the home match against Arsenal followed by games against Chelsea, Man City and Everton.
Swansea is the other unlikely member of the current top four, with their run of three straight wins ended only by Chelsea last week despite an
encouraging first half performance at Stamford Bridge.
Swansea are at home to Southampton on Saturday, September 20 with kick-off scheduled for 16:00.
Aston Villa host Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday, September 20. The match kicks off at 16:00.
Did you read: Villa keep the faith in Lambert
