The downright crazy Premier League table since the World Cup break | OneFootball

Manchester United have the best record in the Premier League since the 2022-23 season resumed following the World Cup break.

But some of the rest of the Premier League’s big guns have struggled to pick up points since the Premier League resumed in December. Liverpool and Chelsea, in particular, have suffered disastrous spells of form.

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

Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils have taken 16 points from seven 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.

Indeed, the termination of Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract doesn’t appear to have had a derailing effect. Quite the opposite, in fact – United returned to win successive matches against Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Bournemouth and Man City. They’ve also navigated their way to the League Cup final and the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Manchester United did suffer a set-back with a 1-1 draw away to midtable Crystal Palace and a dramatic 3-2 defeat at table-toppers Arsenal, but they’ve since recovered by beating Palace at home.

Brentford are arguably the most remarkable story since the World Cup. They’re one of only two sides to go unbeaten since the mid-season break and no team boasts a better goal difference over that period.

Brighton and Hove Albion are similarly punching above their weight under Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi. They have an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League and may bridge that gap if they can maintain their current form – four wins, one draw and just one defeat since the World Cup.

Champions Man City have failed to put together the kind of relentless run that we’ve come to expect in recent years under Pep Guardiola, with damaging defeats to big six rivals Manchester United and Tottenham since the season resumed.

Still, they’re keeping pace with league leaders Arsenal, who have taken 13 points from six matches, suffering only their second league defeat of 2022-23 at Everton last weekend.

Newcastle’s Champions League push continues. Eddie Howe’s Magpies have still not tasted defeat since their last-gasp loss at Liverpool in August. But they are dropping points, with four draws from their last six Premier League outings.

Further down the table, Liverpool are enduring their worst-ever form since Jurgen Klopp took over. They’ve lost three of their six league matches since returning and have also been eliminated in the League Cup and FA Cup.

Chelsea aren’t faring a great deal better, with just nine points from seven matches since Christmas – in spite of bolstering Graham Potter’s squad to the tune of almost £300million in January.

Only Leeds United and Bournemouth are yet to win a Premier League match since the World Cup, while Everton picked up their first three points in months in Sean Dyche’s first match in charge – against Arsenal, no less.

Here’s how the full table since the World Cup stacks up in full:

Note: All teams have played six games unless otherwise specified.

1. Manchester United – 16 points, GD +8 (Played 7) 2. Brentford – 14 points, GD +9 3. Brighton – 13 points, GD +7 4. Manchester City – 13 points, GD +6 (Played 7) 5. Arsenal – 13 points, GD +6 6. Fulham  – 13 points, GD +4 (Played 7) 7. Nottingham Forest – 11 points, GD +1 8. Newcastle United – 10 points, GD +4 9. Wolves – 10 points, GD +1 10. Tottenham – 10 points, GD 0 (Played 7) 11. Aston Villa – 10 points, GD 0 12. Chelsea – 9 points, GD +1 (Played 7) 13. Liverpool – 7 points, GD -5 14. West Ham United – 5 points, GD -3 15. Crystal Palace – 5 points, GD -7 (Played 7) 16. Leicester City – 4 points, GD -5 17. Everton – 4 points, GD -6 18. Leeds United – 3 points, GD -4 19. Southampton – 3 points, GD -7 20. Bournemouth – 1 point, GD -10