Premier League: Why this season is the most open in history | Football news

Unpredictable. That seems to be the best word to describe the results in the top flight in 2020/21. And our study of the statistics after 12 games suggests that this is, in fact, the most open Premier League season ever.

This weekend has reminded us again that no result is a certainty in the Premier League at this time.

On Saturday, Chelsea in shape lost a chance to rise to the top of the table by losing to Everton, who only managed one win in their previous seven.

The next day, Tottenham made what appeared to be a costly slip at Crystal Palace, only to see Liverpool fail to capitalize after a first-half upset in Fulham.

Arsenal’s failures in front of goal seem to be about the only thing we can rely on in the Premier League at the moment.

Add in the Manchester derby stalemate and this was the first round of games in 12 years that City, United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool failed to win.

These unlikely outcomes have been a recurring theme of the campaign, from jaw-dropping blows, such as Liverpool’s beating at the hands of Aston Villa, to recent winners and draws by losers.

The result is an extremely congested Premier League table. Almost a third of the start of the season, only eight points separate the top 13 teams.

In fact, it is the most congested top half after 12 matches in Premier League history.

Tottenham, Liverpool, Leicester, Southampton, Everton and Arsenal have all been leaders this season, but it is Spurs who are on top on goal difference ahead of Liverpool.

Those of José Mourinho have 25 points in their first twelve games.

The gap between Spurs and 10th-ranked Aston Villa is just seven points. It could have been even less if Villa, who has played two fewer games, hadn’t had his showdown with Newcastle earlier this month.

Both Tottenham’s point count and their gap to 10th are the lowest figures for a Premier League leader after 12 games since the competition was formed in 1992/93.

Manchester United also had 25 points at this stage in 1997/98, with a margin of nine points to 10th.

In 2001/02, Liverpool led after 12 games with a seven-point difference to 10th-ranked Blackburn, although the Rovers had played two more games.

The combined numbers have never been seen in the last 28 years in the Premier League.

Why is it so tight?

This is a Premier League season like no other, not only in the results we are seeing, but also in its structure.

The condensed schedule, as a result of last season’s suspension, left teams with a shortened preseason and congested match roster. Throw in three rounds of international games and the Carabao Cup and it is clear that training time for crucial tactical and technical work is reduced.

Another side effect of that increased workload over the past four months is the threat of injury, forcing teams to cope without key men or rotate their sides to rest players.

Teams competing in Europe have been hit the hardest.

Tottenham have played 22 games in 13 weeks. Their opponents on Sunday, Crystal Palace, have played 13. Injured Liverpool have recorded 21, while Fulham has only 15.

You have leveled the playing field. “Maybe this was the weekend we all felt a little sorry for it,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said after the draw at Craven Cottage.

And that’s before we take into account the absence of supporters, or the implications of the coronavirus on the club’s preparations for matches or overall finances, and how that affected their transfer spending plans.

Will anyone win?

So what do those statistics tell us? Simply predicting a champion in the Premier League this season is harder than ever.

Surprisingly, Manchester City, who are in ninth place and six points above, are still the favorite to win the Premier League with the bookmakers.

But Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea have every reason to believe that they have the attributes to outlast the rest in this unusual season.

Leicester and Southampton supporters won’t want to be left out of the conversation after their teams’ impressive starts, while West Ham, Everton and Manchester United – all above ‘favorites’ Man City – will feel on their way to an end. high.

However, all of these sides have also had their own upheavals and slip-ups.

Don’t mention the late Newcastle and West Ham draws to Spurs fans. Liverpool supporters will never forget the 7-2 scoreline.

Leicester is on top after beating Brighton, but it would be so much better if they hadn’t lost at home to West Ham, Villa and Fulham.

Crystal Palace caused problems for Southampton and the Saints, in turn, cost Chelsea points in the end.

West Ham will feel like they have only left points to the teams they were hoping for, save for a nightmare performance at home against Newcastle.

Everton lost four of five earlier this season, while it has been Manchester United’s Theater of Screams at Old Trafford, with Crystal Palace and Tottenham scoring historic victories there.

The City of the bookmakers’ boys has been defeated by Leicester and held back by Leeds and West Ham.

Villa may have beaten the defending champions at Villa Park, but they have also lost to Leeds, Southampton and Brighton on their own turf.

Those title odds could undergo another shakeup on Wednesday night, when leaders Tottenham go to second-placed Liverpool.

Who will win at Anfield? Liverpool are unbeaten in 65 league games at home, winning 31 of the last 32.

Good luck with your prediction …