The remarkable PL table since the World Cup: Liverpool 3rd, Man Utd 4th…

Nestor Watach • 09 May 2023

Everything that happened in the Premier League before the World Cup break feels like a long time ago, doesn’t it?

As Qatar 2022 got underway, the season was left with Arsenal enjoying a five-point lead at the top of the table, Tottenham in fourth and Chelsea in the top half.

Things have changed quite dramatically since then. Many of the Premier League’s big guns have struggled to pick up points since the Premier League resumed in December. Chelsea, in particular, have suffered a disastrous spell of form.

We’ve taken a look at how the table shapes up since attention returned to club action after Qatar 2022.

As predicted, reigning champions Manchester City have clicked into gear in the second half of the campaign. Pep Guardiola’s side have been utterly relentless in recent months, picking up 50 points from 20 matches since the World Cup – six more than Arsenal, having played a game fewer.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners – just about – remain in contention for the title, having taken more points than any other side.

Elsewhere, Liverpool are making a late push for a top-four finish after recovering their form of late. Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled badly either side of the mid-season break but have finally clicked into gear and have closed the gap on old rivals Manchester United in their bid to qualify for the Champions League.

Manchester United have taken 37 points from 20 matches since returning to action. They ended the first portion of the season on a high note after Alejandro Garnacho scored a last-gasp winner away to Fulham and they didn’t seem to lose any momentum from there, but injuries and fatigue appear to have taken their toll and now the question remains of whether they can make it over the line.

Spurs and Chelsea have dropped off considerably in the second half of the season. Many questioned Tottenham’s performances before the break, albeit while picking up a reasonable number of points, and that appears to have caught up with them in terms of results – 10 teams have performed better since the World Cup.

Chelsea were far from great in the first few months of the season but they’ve plumbed new depths in recent months with genuine relegation form. They’ve averaged just over a point per game since Christmas while replacing Graham Potter with Frank Lampard did not have the desired effect.

Further down the table, the current bottom three – Southampton, Leicester and Leeds – matches the bottom three since the World Cup. Southampton are all but down, while Leeds and Leicester need a dramatic uptick in form in their last three fixtures if they’re to close the gap on Nottingham Forest and Everton.

Here’s how the full table since the World Cup stacks up in full. All teams have played 20 games unless otherwise specified:

1. Manchester City – 50 points, GD +32
2. Arsenal – 44 points, GD +22 (Played 21)
3. Liverpool – 40 points, GD +14 (Played 21)
4. Manchester United – 37 points, GD +8
5. Aston Villa – 36 points, GD +9
6. Newcastle United – 35 points, GD +14 (Played 19)
7. Brighton – 34 points, GD +14 (Played 19)
8. Brentford – 31 points, GD +9
9. Wolves – 30 points, GD -4
10. Fulham – 29 points, GD +3
11. Tottenham – 28 points, GD -3
12. West Ham United – 23 points, GD -7
13. Bournemouth – 23 points, GD -16
14. Chelsea – 21 points, GD -5
15. Crystal Palace – 21 points, GD -8 (Played 21)
16. Nottingham Forest – 20 points, GD -12
17. Everton – 18 points, GD -15
18. Leeds United – 15 points, GD -21 (Played 21)
19. Leicester City – 13 points, GD -15
20. Southampton – 12 points, GD -19

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