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Brighton's Julio Enciso, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at the AMEX stadium in Brighton, England, Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

The 2022-23 top six head-to-head table: Brighton extraordinary…

The top six spots have all been sorted going into the final round of fixtures – Manchester City are champions, Arsenal are runners-up, while Newcastle United and Manchester United will be joining them in the Champions League next term. Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion have qualified for the Europa League.

But how have this season’s top Premier League sides fared against one another? We’ve taken a look at the top six head-to-head table to see.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City have unsurprisingly fared best in the often season-defining top-of-the-table clashes. Their relatively routine league double over Arsenal ultimately accounts for the difference between themselves and Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, who are eight points behind.

The treble-chasers have beaten each of their fellow top six this season, with half of their total four league defeats this season coming against Manchester United and Liverpool.

Surprisingly, it’s Brighton with the second-best record in these outings in 2022-23. Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls have punched well above their weight to qualify for Europe and their record against sides vastly better-resourced is a big reason why.

Brighton have beaten Liverpool and Arsenal and done the double over Manchester United (and Chelsea for that matter), while their recent Europa League-securing 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City ended the table-toppers’ 12-match winning streak.

“It has been difficult, we’ve had a transition with a new manager coming in and everyone has responded in a brilliant way,” Brighton striker Danny Welbeck told Sky Sports after the draw against City.

“To get Europa League football is amazing. From top to bottom the club is outstanding. This club is on a rise and we can’t wait for the Europa League next season.”

Liverpool have the next-best record. They’ve beaten Manchester City, done the double over Newcastle and thrashed Manchester United 7-0. Ultimately Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have lost out on Champions League qualification due to their results against the sides lower down the division, with Newcastle and Manchester United showing more consistency.

Arsenal have a similar, respectable record, with the difference between themselves and City ultimately the home-and-away defeats against them. The runners-up have beaten Brighton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle but also dropped costly points against them.

Newcastle have proven largely competitive, boasting the best defensive record in top six clashes this season. However, they’ve also scored the fewest goals and won just two of their 10 matches against the fellow top six sides – food for thought for Eddie Howe ahead of them facing Europe’s elite in the Champions League next term.

Manchester United have the worst record, although they have registered statement-making home victories over Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. There’s evidently something there for Erik ten Hag to build on, but the next port of call is to improve the Red Devils’ away form, having lost on the road to each of their fellow top six in 2022-23.

Here’s the lowdown of results in full:

1. Manchester City – 20 points

Played: 10
Won: 6
Drawn: 2
Lost: 2

Goals for: 25
Goals against: 14
Goal difference: +11

2. Brighton – 15 points

Played: 10
Won: 4
Drawn: 3
Lost: 3

Goals for: 19
Goals against: 16
Goal difference: +3

3. Liverpool – 14 points

Played: 10
Won: 4
Drawn: 2
Lost: 4

Goals for: 21
Goals against: 18
Goal difference: +3

4. Arsenal – 14 points

Played: 10
Won: 4
Drawn: 2
Lost: 4

Goals for: 17
Goals against: 20
Goal difference: – 3

5. Newcastle United – 10 points

Played: 10
Won: 2
Drawn: 4
Lost: 4

Goals for: 10
Goals against: 12
Goal difference: -2

6. Manchester United – 10 points

Played: 10
Won: 3
Drawn: 1
Lost: 6

Goals for: 13
Goals against: 24
Goal difference: -11


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