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The new Premier League campaign has seen some shocking results alongside the surprise opening title and European rivals, shaking up the established order.
The so-called ‘Big Six’ have had mixed starts to the 2020-21 season, with Leicester leading the Premier League before the international break in November, with Brendan Rodgers’ team closely followed by José Mourinho’s Tottenham.
Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United languish in the middle of the table, while Liverpool and Chelsea are at the top, but remain inconsistent in performances and results.
Sportsmail has compared each team’s results so far to their form in corresponding games from last season, and the comparable points scores make for interesting reading.
So which team has improved the most since last season? And in whose way the worst comparison?
Those who have improved by far the most this season are Dean Smith’s Aston Villa, who have 11 points more after eight games compared to corresponding games last season.
The Midlands club were beaten at Arsenal and Leicester, as well as at home to Liverpool last season, but were victorious in each of those three games this season.
David Moyes’ West Ham has also made great strides and is eight points better compared to last season’s games. The Hammers won at home to Wolves and away at Leicester when they failed to do so last season, and the east London club also scored precious points against Tottenham and Manchester City.
Meanwhile, the Foxes struggled with newly promoted teams last season, but managed to beat Leeds and West Brom on their own grounds this season and even surprised Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium 5-2 at the start of the season.
Tottenham may have worsened their record at home to Everton and West Ham, but Mourinho’s men are in second place after winning unexpected points at Southampton and Manchester United this campaign.
Arsenal had made great strides in last season’s results with better results at home to Sheffield United and away at Manchester United, but this season’s total was affected compared to last season when the Gunners were beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa at home on Sunday. The Gunners sneaked past Dean Smith 3-2 in September 2019.
Results are also deteriorating this season for the top two from last season, Liverpool and Manchester City, who are two points worse compared to last season’s corresponding games.
The champions Jurgen Klopp’s only defeat this season came toward the start of the season when they were beaten 7-2 by Dean Smith’s Villa away from home. Liverpool won the same match 2-1 last season thanks to late goals from Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane.
City, however, have six points less this season than they did in the same games last season. Pep Guardiola’s team beat Leicester and Liverpool at home along with West Ham on the road last season, but this time they have just two points from those three games.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are doing a little better than their noisy neighbors, but their record against the ‘Big Six’ this season will worry them.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team beat Chelsea and Spurs at home last season and did not lose to Arsenal. This season he has two defeats and a draw in these games, having scored just one goal in the process.
It’s no wonder that Burnley and Sheffield United, who are in the bottom two spots in the top flight, are the underperformers this season compared to the previous period.
Burnley have failed to get results against Southampton, Newcastle and Tottenham this season when they did last time. Chris Wilder’s team, meanwhile, beat the Wolves at home last season and also scored vital points at Chelsea and Aston Villa.
The Blades have been left empty-handed in each of those three games this season.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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