Revealed - The damning stats Klopp and Conte won't want to see... as Manchester's dominance is confirmed
Both Manchester clubs have made huge strides forward in this Premier League season, but Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal all have fewer points than they had a year ago.
A glance at the Premier League table after 17 games of last year’s Premier League story reveals Chelsea were leading the way on 43 points after a fine winning run that had established Antonio Conte’s side as firm title favourites.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were sitting in second place with 37 points, while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were a point further back and Arsenal were in fourth place with 34 points.
Tottenham were sitting in fifth with 33 points and Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United were languishing back in sixth, three points behind Spurs after a turbulent start to Jose Mourinho’s first season at Old Trafford.
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It will come as no surprise that City are the team that have improved most of their statistics after 17 games of this Premier League season, with the current table toppers notching up 49 points after a 15-game winning run that has broken a host of records in England’s top division.
Mourinho and United may have come under fire time and again in recent months but the statistics confirm they have made huge strides forward this season, as they have eight points more than they had at this point a year ago and have also scored 13 more goals.
The story is not so rosy for the other four teams in the top four, with Liverpool collecting six less points than they had a year ago and have also scored seven fewer goals.
Chelsea are also well down on the marks they set last season, with the reigning Premier League champions picking up eight points less this term and also scoring four fewer goals.
Arsenal also appear to be moving backwards, with Arsene Wenger’s side currently sitting in seventh place in the table with four less points than they had a year ago but with discontent among their supporter base still as fervent as it was a year ago.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham are currently in fourth place heading into their game against Manchester City this weekend, even though they have two points less than after 17 games last season.
The facts confirm that the clubs chasing Manchester’s big two are all struggling to make progress this season, with City’s dominance at the top of the table likely to ensure that the race for a top four finish and Champions League qualification will become the focus of attention in the second half of the season.
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AFTER 17 GAMES LAST SEASON
Chelsea – 43 points
Liverpool – 37 points
Manchester City – 36 points
Arsenal – 34 points
Tottenham – 33 points
Manchester United – 30 points
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AFTER 17 GAMES THIS SEASON
Manchester City – 49 points
Manchester United – 38 points
Chelsea – 35 points
Tottenham – 31 points
Liverpool – 31 points
Burnley – 31 points