Is it too early to look at Premier League table? — SkimNews
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- Premier League history shows the table after five games is more settled than assumed, with 13 of 20 sides last season (65%) finishing within four places of their early position, and 138 of 200 teams across the past 10 seasons landing in the same narrow band.
- Manchester City have started with five wins from five but the data tempers expectations — the team leading the PL after five games has won the title in just one of the past six seasons and three of the past 11.
- Chelsea (2018-19), Arsenal (2022-23) and Liverpool (2024-25) all sat top with 100% records at this stage and won nothing, though the eventual champions have been in the top two after five games in each of the last four campaigns.
- Tottenham sit bottom of the table, a position that has led to relegation in six of the past seven seasons — though Spurs themselves recovered from bottom with two points after five games in 2008-09 to finish eighth under Harry Redknapp.
- Manchester City carry a 'huge asterisk' after being found guilty of the majority of Premier League financial charges; the club has appealed, but potential sanctions could still reshape the standings before the season ends.
- Tottenham, Fulham and Coventry occupy the bottom three, and at least one side in that zone has been relegated in each of the past eight seasons, while the three relegated teams in each of the last three campaigns were all in the bottom six at this stage.
Why it matters: The early-season narrative is wrong on two fronts: Tottenham fans have historical reason to worry (bottom after five games means relegation in six of seven seasons), while City supporters shouldn't read too much into their perfect start — Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all had 100% records at this stage recently and won nothing. The table is already pointing toward a Manchester City or Arsenal title, but City's ongoing appeal over 115 financial charges could still rewrite the standings.
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