The Premier League table since the turn of the year makes for interesting reading, with some surprise packages punching above their weight to pick up more points than the established powerhouses.
Arsenal and Man City have enjoyed largely very good form since New Year’s Day, while the likes of Aston Villa, Brentford and Brighton are doing brilliantly to compete with established members of the old ‘big six’ like Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
The Gunners’ title charge has remained on course in 2023, although has faltered a little of late, allowing the reigning champions Man City to make up three points since the turn of the year. No side has picked up more points than Pep Guardiola’s Man City this calendar year.
Astonishingly, Aston Villa have kept the pace with the title challengers over the past three and a half months. They’ve only picked up two fewer points than City in 2023 and actually have a better record than Arsenal over the past 15 matches.
Unai Emery’s Villa are perhaps the biggest surprise package. The Spanish coach has them in genuine top-four form, while Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton have shown that their strong start to the season was no flash in the pan.
Erik ten Hag has done a sensational job to get Manchester United competing on four fronts. He’s ended their six-year trophy drought with the League Cup already, and they remain on course in the Europa League and FA Cup. No side in Europe has picked up more wins in all competitions this season.
However, their form has dipped just a little in their league campaign, with 27 points from 14 matches in 2023. They’ve fallen out of the title picture but look comfortably set to regain their place in the Champions League with a top-four finish.
At the other end of the calendar year table, Leicester City sit rock bottom with just eight points from 14 matches. That run resulted in the sacking of head coach Brendan Rodgers.
In fact, of the bottom seven sides of the 2023 table – which shockingly includes Chelsea – only one side have kept faith in their manager. Nottingham Forest have kept Steve Cooper in the job, but Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Leeds, Everton, Southampton and Leicester have all changed managers since the turn of the year.
Sean Dyche, Javi Gracia, Ruben Selles, Frank Lampard, Roy Hodgson and Dean Smith have all come in and enjoyed mixed fortunes. Hodgson has had the best new manager bounce of the lot, leading Palace to three wins from three matches, while Lampard has suffered back-to-back defeats since returning to Stamford Bridge.
Here’s the full Premier League table from 2023 so far:
1. Manchester City – 34 pts, GD +22 (played 14)
2. Aston Villa – 32 pts, GD +12 (played 15)
3. Arsenal – 31 pts, GD +17 (played 15)
4. Manchester United – 27 pts, GD +5 (played 14)
5. Brighton – 25 pts, GD +13 (played 13)
6. Tottenham – 23 pts, GD +2 (played 15)
7. Newcastle United – 22 pts, GD +3 (played 13)
8. Wolves – 21 pts, GD 0 (played 14)
9. Brentford – 20 pts, GD +5 (played 14)
10. Fulham – 17 pts, GD -1 (played 13)
11. West Ham – 17 pts, GD -3 (played 13)
12. Bournemouth – 17 pts, GD -10 (played 14)
13. Liverpool – 16 pts, GD +1 (played 13)
14. Chelsea – 15 pts, GD -5 (played 16)
15. Crystal Palace – 14 pts, GD -5 (played 15)
16. Nottingham Forest – 14 pts, GD -10 (played 15)
17. Leeds United – 13 pts, GD -9 (played 14)
18. Everton – 12 pts, GD -15 (played 14)
19. Southampton – 11 pts, GD -12 (played 14)
20. Leicester City – 8 pts, GD -10 (played 14)
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