Comparing every PL club to the same stage last season: Liverpool worst…
Newcastle United, Arsenal, Brighton and Brentford are the Premier League’s most improved sides since the same stage last season, while Liverpool, Chelsea and West Ham have all suffered shocking drop-offs since this point 12 months ago.
At this stage of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, with the majority of sides having played 26 of 38 matches, we’ve taken stock of how every side in the division is doing in comparison to the same point last season.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were already showing improvement last term, up in fourth after 18 games before ultimately falling away in their bid to qualify for the Champions League, but they’ve enjoyed a stratospheric rise in 2022-23.
Arsenal have 15 more points than the same point in 2021-22, with 19 goals more scored and six fewer conceded. They’re a better side front-to-back.
But Arsenal aren’t actually the Premier League’s most improved outfit. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have enjoyed a truly astonishing turnaround – this time around they’re battling for Champions League qualification, boasting the best defensive record in the division.
After the same number of games last season Newcastle were just starting to pull away from the relegation zone after Howe started to turn their form around.
Manchester United have scored three more goals at the same stage of last term, despite pushing top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo to a peripheral role before his mid-season exit. The remarkable turnaround in Marcus Rashford’s form – the England international only scored four Premier League goals last term.
But they’re playing better and showing better game management – they’ve picked up four more points, moving up one place in the table compared to the same point of their disastrous 2021-22 campaign.
Brighton and Brentford were arguably already punching above their weight to be in midtable midway through last season. Yet the two surprise packages are continuing to improve, having deservedly nailed down places in the top half.
Despite the ridiculous goalscoring exploits of Erling Haaland, Man City have only actually scored three more goals than at this point in their title-winning 2021-22 campaign.
But they have picked up five fewer points and have a considerably worse defensive record, which gives them work to do if they’re to catch league leaders Arsenal.
West Ham are among the sides to have suffered the worst drop-off in comparison to last season. David Moyes’ Hammers were flying high and challenging for a top-four place this time last season but now they find themselves in a relegation battle.
Chelsea and Liverpool both finished in the top four last season but the two sides have suffered considerable declines over the past 12 months. Liverpool, in particular, have a shocking record in comparison to their title-challenging results last term – they’ve picked up 18 points fewer, scored 23 fewer goals and conceded nine more than after the same number of games last term. That’s all despite registering a history-making 7-0 victory over Manchester United.
We’ve not included the three promoted sides that were in the Championship last season – Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. But for reference, eighth-place Fulham already have 11 more points than they mustered in their entire last top-flight campaign (2020-21) – with 11 games left to play.
Here’s every team in order of how much they’ve improved or declined in comparison to the same point last season. Note: all teams have played 26 games unless otherwise specified.
1. Newcastle United (25 games)
Points: +19
Goals for: +9
Goals against: -27
Position: +9
"They wouldn't swap Eddie Howe for any manager in the world." 💭
Analysing an "unbelievable" #NUFC season so far… 🔲 pic.twitter.com/DQ6lQYu0jw
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 5, 2023
2. Arsenal (27 games)
Points: +15
Goals for: +19
Goals against: -6
Position: +3
3. Brentford (25 games)
Points: +14
Goals for: +14
Goals against: -7
Position: +5
4. Brighton (24 games)
Points: +6
Goals for: +20
Goals against: +6
Position: +2
5. Manchester United
Points: +4
Goals for: +3
Goals against: +1
Position: +1
6. Tottenham (27 games)
Points: +3
Goals for: +7
Goals against: +2
Position: +4
7. Aston Villa
Points: +2
Goals for: -5
Goals against: -2
Position: =
8. Leeds United
Points: =
Goals for: +2
Goals against: -18
Position: -3
9. Everton (27 games)
Points: =
Goals for: -9
Goals against: -9
Position: +2
10. Crystal Palace
Points: -2
Goals for: -15
Goals against: -4
Position: -1
11. Manchester City (27 games)
Points: -5
Goals for: +3
Goals against: +8
Position: -1
12. Leicester City
Points: -9
Goals for: -3
Goals against: -1
Position: -4
13. Southampton
Points: -13
Goals for: -14
Goals against: +4
Position: -11
14. Wolves (27 games)
Points: -13
Goals for: -4
Goals against: +14
Position: -5
15. Chelsea
Points: -16
Goals for: -26
Goals against: +8
Position: -7
🗣️ “It’s imperative that you give him time, I don’t think you can keep chopping and changing managers. It would be naive to make a decision now.”
Jody Morris says Chelsea need to go through the tough times and commit to the Graham Potter project. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/wYn0GMYyTj
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 12, 2023
16. West Ham United
Points: -18
Goals for: -21
Goals against: =
Position: -11
17. Liverpool
Points: -18
Goals for: -23
Goals against: +9
Position: -4
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