We’re approaching the two-thirds mark in the Premier League and there is plenty to play for throughout the table.
At the top, Arsenal are looking like strong favourites to win the title – with Manchester City and Aston Villa leading the chasing pack.
Meanwhile at the bottom, perennial Premier League sides West Ham and Wolves are among those battling to maintain their top-flight status for another campaign.
However, if you rewind the Premier League to this stage a season ago then the fortunes for the 17 teams that were in it is vastly different to now.
Taking to X on Wednesday afternoon, Sky Sports journalist Dougie Critchley compared the Premier League standings of the 24-25 term against the 25-26 one after 24 matches.
And looking at the stats, there are some glaring points differences.
The most eye-catching one is Liverpool. The Reds were on course for a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title 12 months ago – sitting seven points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table. The idea of title No 21 is remote to say the least, with the Reds 18 points worse off a year on.
Liverpool are 18 points worse off in the Premier League after 24 games this term than last year
Last season, the Reds were on course to win a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title
The Reds have dealt with a myriad of issues this season but Arne Slot’s side were the title favourites of many after a huge summer outlay that brought in Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak and other highly-rated talents.
However, Slot’s side have often failed to click this campaign – with Saturday’s 4-1 thumping win over Newcastle their sole Premier League win in 2026, drawing four and losing another.
Remarkably though, Liverpool’s negative points differential is not the worse of any side.
That unwanted ‘honour’ goes to Nottingham Forest.
Twelve months ago, Forest were flying – sitting third in the Premier League and dreaming of Champions League football. They had 47 points and were four ahead of Chelsea and six clear of Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Fast-forward to now and Forest have sacked Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou this season with Sean Dyche currently at the helm.
With so much upheaval at the City Ground, it may be no surprise that their points differential has suffered. However, by the margin of minus 21 points will surprise many.
As it stands, the two-time European champions are looking to avoid relegation as they sit 17th, six points above the drop zone.
Nottingham Forest are a staggering 21 points worse off than they were at this stage last season
Liverpool and Forest are just two of three teams who have a negative points differential in double digits. The other? Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wolves were flirting with relegation last season and this year they’re firmly mired within it. After 24 games in the 2024-25 campaign, the Molineux outfit sat two points above the drop zone on 17 points. Now? They’re sat at the bottom of the table on eight points – seven behind 19th Burnley and 16 adrift of Forest.
Overall there are 10 teams worse off than last season points-wise – with Chelsea (-3), Fulham (-2), Newcastle United (-8), Bournemouth (-7), Brighton (-3), Crystal Palace (-1) and West Ham (-7) joining the three aforementioned clubs above.
The current title hopefuls in Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are all enjoying better terms than 12 months ago.
Premier League leaders Gunners are three points better off, City have improved by six and Villa by nine.
However, the greatest upturn comes from the team in fourth-place: Manchester United. The resurgent Red Devils are 12 points better off this season as they begin to flourish under Michael Carrick.
Manchester United are 12 points better off as they look to secure Champions League football
Last term, the Old Trafford outfit were down in 12th on 29 points and had just lost 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace. Things didn’t improve as they finished their worst-ever top-flight campaign in 15th and on 42 points under Ruben Amorim.
With Amorim sacked in January, United’s trajectory is currently soaring upwards under Carrick – with the club having beaten City, Arsenal and Fulham since he took over last month. These results have helped propel them up the table and they currently have 41 points after 24 games – just one less than they achieved all of last season.
Brentford (+5), Everton (+7) and Tottenham (+2) are the other teams to have a positive points differential compared to the previous campaign.
Despite all of their domestic struggles and with some fans calling for Thomas Frank to leave, maybe the under-fire Dane can you use this as a metric to tell his doubters to stay patient as he looks to overcome multiple injuries within his squad.
