Chelsea staked their claim on the title race with a thrilling 4-3 win against Spurs
It was more misery for Man United who were beaten 3-2 by Nottingham Forest
By BEN WILLCOCKS
Published: 12:47 EST, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 12:49 EST, 9 December 2024
With well over a third of the 2024-25 campaign already in the books, the Premier League table is taking shape - with 30 points now separating leaders Liverpool and rock-bottom Southampton.
The season has already thrown up a few hefty surprise, with perennial champions Manchester City only claiming eight wins from their opening 15 games to reside in fourth place behind Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.
It has not been all rosy for the Gunners, however, who failed to close the gap on Arne Slot's Reds this weekend with a 1-1 draw against Fulham, given that Liverpool's Merseyside derby with Everton was postponed as a result of Storm Darragh.
Chelsea, meanwhile, triumphed 4-3 over Tottenham on Sunday to put themselves within four points of the league leaders, staking a genuine claim in the title race after several seasons of disappointment under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Reflecting on Man City's disappointing 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Match of the Day this weekend, Alan Shearer ruled Pep Guardiola's side out of the title race - and the Newcastle legend's view is shared by several top pundits in the game.
Perhaps surprisingly, City are only three points worse off than they were at this point last season, despite winning just one in six in the Premier League since November.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are only three points worse off than they were last campaign
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer and Chelsea have 12 points more than they did at this stage last term
In-form Nottingham Forest are also 12 points better off, topping the table alongside Chelsea
Meanwhile, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are 12 points better off than last campaign, with the Blues on 31 points under Enzo Maresca compared to 19 during Mauricio Pochettino's tenure in 2023-24.
Stats Perform's points comparison table shows just how well Nuno Espirito Santo is doing at the City Ground, with Forest currently on 25 points compared to 13 points last term.
Nottingham Forest's most recent triumph came against struggling Manchester United, as Chris Wood continued his hot streak in front of goal to consign Ruben Amorim's side to a 3-2 defeat with what proved the winner in Saturday's late kick-off.
No club is worse off than Manchester United when compared to last season, with the Red Devils now eight points behind their 2023-24 tally of 27 points at this stage.
Under Amorim, his sacked predecessor Erik ten Hag and interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, Man United have registered just five wins from 15 games so far, losing six and drawing four.
It is grim reading for both sets of fans in north London too, with Arsenal and Spurs each seven points worse off than last campaign, alongside Unai Emery's Aston Villa who have not quite kept up the superb levels that saw them finish in a Champions League in 2023-24.
West Ham fans will be hugely disappointed by the start their club has made under new boss Julen Lopetegui, who replaced David Moyes at the end of last season.
The Hammers, who take on Wolves in a seismic match for both under pressure Lopetegui and Gary O'Neil, sit 14th in the table despite making several exciting high profile signings in the summer.
It has been a disaster for Man United, who have endured the biggest drop off from last season
Pressure is mounting on Ange Postecoglou after Chelsea's 4-3 win over Spurs
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal suffered another blow in the title race after being held 1-1 against Fulham
Arne Slot's Liverpool are one of only six teams to be better off for points so far this campaign
Premier League points compared to last season after 15 games
This season
Chelsea 31
Nottingham Forest 25
Bournemouth 24
Fulham 23
Liverpool 35
Brentford 23
Brighton 24
Man City 27
Everton 14
Crystal Palace 13
Newcastle 20
West Ham 15
Wolves 9
Arsenal 29
Aston Villa 25
Tottenham 20
Man United 19
Last season
Chelsea 19
Nottingham Forest 13
Bournemouth 16
Fulham 18
Liverpool 31*
Brentford 19
Brighton 25
Man City 30
Everton 17*
Crystal Palace 16
Newcastle 26
West Ham 21*
Wolves 15*
Arsenal 36
Aston Villa 32
Tottenham 27
Man United 27
Difference
Chelsea 12
Nottingham Forest 12
Bournemouth 8
Fulham 5
Liverpool 4*
Brentford 4
Brighton -1
Man City -3
Everton -3*
Crystal Palace -3
Newcastle -6
West Ham -6*
Wolves -6*
Arsenal -7
Aston Villa -7
Tottenham -7
Man United -8
* = Teams have played only 14 games
Source: Stats Perform
Both Wolves and West Ham are six points off than they were last campaign, with Eddie Howe's Newcastle also sharing that margin.
Only Chelsea (12), Forest (12), Bournemouth (8), Fulham (5), Liverpool (4) and Brentford (4) are better off at this stage than they were in 2023-24.
Andoni Iraola's Cherries looked to be staring down the barrel of a defeat against Ipswich on Sunday, before a remarkable turnaround saw Bournemouth snatch a late win in stoppage time thanks to goals from substitutes Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara.
Brighton supporters will also be pleased with how their team is faring during Fabian Hurzeler's debut season at the Amex, given they are just one point worse off than last campaign and sitting comfortably at seventh in the Premier League table.