Liverpool have rarely converted top spot at Christmas into Premier League success as they find themselves in first once again with teams enduring mixed results when top in December
Liverpool have looked relentless and will sit top on Christmas Day
Liverpool have looked relentless and will sit top on Christmas Day
(
Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Sitting top on Christmas Day makes the festivities that much more enjoyable - but success is far from guaranteed for league leaders.
Liverpool will enjoy the pleasure this season following a blistering start under Arne Slot. Their 6-3 win at Tottenham was as big a statement that has been laid down all year, but the Reds know better than most that being top of the pile on December 25 means little come May.
This will be the seventh time they've been at the summit of the Premier League but only once have they converted that into success months later. That was back in 2019/20 when they had all but wrapped up the title by the New Year such was their form.
Other clubs have been well clear by the time Santa Claus makes his annual visit - both Manchester clubs previously enjoying huge leads. For others there have been tales to forget as promising positions didn't end up manifesting the trophy in May.
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Few are betting against Liverpool this year with Manchester City faltering. Arsenal and Chelsea look to be their closest challengers but there appear to be few chinks in the Anfield armour this term, but history tells us there could still be a host of twist and turns to come yet.
We take a look at every club to be looking pretty come Christmas Day - and where they eventually finished up.
1992/93 - Norwich City. Final position - 3rd
In the first year of English football's brave new world it was the Canaries who looked as if they may take the spoils. They ultimately finished 12 points off Ferguson's United side with Norwich losing four of their final eight games with Aston Villa pipping them into second.
1993/94 - Man Utd. Final position - 1st
It was Ferguson's first double and it was hardly in doubt for much of the season. A team that boasted experience and youthful energy in the form of Roy Keane made light work of retaining their crown. They only lost four times in 42 games and reached the summit in August, never once looking back.
1994/95 - Blackburn Rovers. Final position - 1st
The first non-red winner of the Premier League came courtesy of Alan Shearer's goals, Kenny Dalglish's experience and Jack Walker's funding. The team from Ewood Park realised a dream when they got the job done, albeit in dramatic fashion. They lost at Anfield on the final day but still won the title as United could only draw.
Blackburn Rovers claimed the title at Anfield (
Image:
Popperfoto via Getty Images)
1995/96 - Newcastle. Final position - 2nd
Still one of the most well documented title races in English history. Kevin Keegan's Newcastle were looking good, winning 12 of their first 15 games. That was before the mind games began with Ferguson, which led to the iconic "I will love it if we beat them" rant. It wasn't to be for King Kev as the Magpies blew their lead in spectacular fashion.
1996/97 - Liverpool. Final position - 4th
The first time the men from Anfield topped the pile at Christmas in the Premier League era and the first of many disappointments. Roy Evans was the man at the helm and a team, nicknamed the Spice Boys, were looking to realise their potential. They won just four of their final 12 games though, but did finish level on points with Newcastle in second. They, the Geordies and Arsenal were separated by goal difference.
1997/98 - Man Utd. Final position - 2nd
A rare example of a time when Ferguson's winning machine let their grasp on the title slip. At this point they'd won four of the last five Premier League's but this would be the beginning of their rivalry with Arsene Wenger's Arsenal. The Gunners went into overdrive in the final months with their 1-0 win at Old Trafford proving a seismic moment.
Arsenal would overhaul Man Utd to win the title in 1998 (
Image:
Shaun Botterill /Allsport)
1998/99 - Aston Villa. Final position - 6th
This is remembered as United's treble year as they did battle with Arsenal up until the final day of the campaign. It is also statistically the worst decline from a team who were in the hunt come Christmas. Villa, led by John Gregory, lost ten of their final 16 games from the end of January to finish well out of the picture.
1999/2000 - Leeds. Final position - 3rd
The Yorkshire outfit had a young team that were threatening to upset the established order. David O'Leary's side celebrated being the last team of the 20th century to top the table, but later fell away. Results fell off a cliff after losing to Arsenal on December 28 and they would finish 22 points behind the champions from Old Trafford.
2000/01 - Man Utd. Final position - 1st
This was another of those years when Ferguson's United side were, uncharacteristically, fast out of the blocks and none of their rivals could reel them back in. They would finish ten points clear at the top - and that was despite them losing their final three games with the title already wrapped up.
Sir Alex Ferguson's outfit won a hat-trick of Premier Leagues around the millennium (
Image:
John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
2001/02 - Newcastle. Final position - 4th
Sir Bobby Robson looked as if he was poised to deliver the title those at St James' Park so craved. Shearer led his attack and the former England boss clearly still had that magic. They had beaten United, Arsenal and Leeds in the opening months but couldn't continue that momentum as their results fell away from March.
2002/03 - Arsenal. Final position - 2nd
The Gunners were looking to retain their crown and had begun the season like true champions. It was another edition of their epic rivalry with the Manchester outfit and that battle ran for much of the campaign. A draw at Bolton in April ensured they blinked first and Ferguson's outfit were able to pounce.
2003/04 - Man Utd. Final position - 3rd
For the eighth time in nine seasons the Christmas No 1 didn't convert. It was Ferguson's side who sat top despite Arsenal below them still being unbeaten - something they would continue en route to their Invincible season, which remains historic. Chelsea would also overhaul United, who lost to Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Man City and Portsmouth in the final months.
2004/05 - Chelsea. Final position - 1st
It was the start of the Jose Mourinho domination. The Champions League winner arrived in west London and made the Premier League a procession for the next two seasons. They would lose just once as they raced to the title, setting defensive records as their backline formed the cornerstone of their success. They also set a then record for amount of points.
Chelsea were irresistible as they won successive titles (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images) Don't Miss
2005/06 - Chelsea. Final position - 1st
The Blues led from the front as they wore the champion tag with ease. Statement wins early on over Liverpool at Anfield underlined their dominance. They would end up claiming the title with a 3-0 win over Ferguson's United side at Stamford Bridge - passing the 90 point mark yet again.
2006/07 - Man Utd. Final position 1st
For the third time on the trot the leaders at Christmas would be the leaders come May. Ferguson finally wrestled back the Premier League trophy after four years with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney inspiring the Red Devils on this occasion as Mourinho finally had to accepted second place in England, departing just months later.
2007/08 - Arsenal. Final position - 3rd
Wenger's outfit, now at their new Emirates Stadium, were adapting well to life after Thierry Henry, who left that summer. They won 13 of their first 18 games, losing just once. A draw at Birmingham, which came thanks to a controversial penalty after Edouardo's horrific injury, would derail their season and open the door for United. Arsenal won just one of their seven games after the St Andrew's stalemate.
William Gallas slumped on the St Andrew's pitch remains a defining image (
Image:
PA)
2008/09 - Liverpool. Final position - 2nd
Rafa Benitez came oh so close to ending the club's wait for a top flight title, which then stood at nearly two decades. His Liverpool side only lost twice, but too many draws cost them. They would win 4-1 at Old Trafford to set up a nervy finish, but the team from Manchester ultimately held on to their crown for the third straight year.
2009/10 - Chelsea. Final position - 1st
The Blues hired two-time Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti and the Italian would bring the good times back to London. They sat top at Christmas but the Manchester outfit ran them close. A 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, owing to a controversial Didier Drogba goal, would prove the season's defining moment in the final weeks.
2010/11 - Man Utd. Final position - 1st
The Red Devils were far from their electric best but the lack of a challenger meant they largely eased to another title. By Christmas they were undefeated and it wasn't until February that they finally lost at Wolves. Chelsea made the league somewhat competitive, but they lost a title showdown in Manchester in May as Ferguson claimed another title.
Sergio Aguero ensured that Man City didn't fluff their lines on the final day (
Image:
Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
2011/12 - Man City. Final position - 1st
A sign of what was to come. The two Manchester teams blew everyone away as it quickly became a two-horse race. City sat top in December following a 6-1 win at the home of their neighbours. They almost threw the title away though against lowly QPR until Sergio Aguero produced THAT moment in stoppage time on the final day. The rest is history.
2012/13 - Man Utd. Final position - 1st
Robin van Persie would inspire the Red Devils to regain their crown as Ferguson bowed out in the perfect way. Another occasion where they were hardly challenged as they eventually became champions with an 11-point cushion. It remains their most recent top flight triumph.
2013/14 - Liverpool. Final position - 2nd
This was the only time across a nine year period that the Christmas leaders didn't convert that into the title come May. It seems obvious that it would be Liverpool as Brendan Rodgers became the latest man to almost deliver a Premier League. A loss to Chelsea and a draw at Crystal Palace in the final weeks would destroy their dreams.
Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea helped Man City beat Liverpool to the title (
Image:
Getty)
2014/15 - Chelsea. Final position - 1st
Mourinho's third title was won in similar fashion to his other two. He was in the second season of his second stint and finally had the players he wanted. They would win 14 of their first 18 matches and no one could live with them as they made light work of another Premier League season.
2015/16 - Leicester. Final position - 1st
It was a good story for football that the Foxes were top at Christmas with Claudio Ranieri, the tinkerman, at the helm. Surely it had to end eventually though? Well no, the 5,000/1 miracle as its known truly did come true. Leicester lost just three times and held off challenges from Tottenham and Arsenal to shock the world.
2016/17 - Chelsea. Final position - 1st
Antonio Conte would become another Italian to win the Premier League. An early switch of formation to his usual 3-4-3 method would see the Blues rewrite England's history books with a lengthy winning run. Come the end of the season and they would end up registering the most points ever amassed - at least for 12 months.
Chelsea were relentless as they raced to the title ( Image: Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
2017/18 - Man City. Final position - 1st
Pep Guardiola proved that he could cut it in England after a mixed debut year with perhaps the most dominant season in English history. By Christmas Day then won all but one of their games and held a 13 point lead. Come May they would hit triple figures, breaking nearly every record in the process.
2018/19 - Liverpool. Final position - 2nd
For the first time in five years the Christmas leaders couldn't convert as Liverpool fans bemoaned another near miss. On December 25 they were still unbeaten as City endured a mid-season wobble. However too many draws would cost them as City's relentless winning run saw them come out on top by a point, even though the Reds would only lose once all season.
2019/20 - Liverpool. Final position - 1st
Finally the unwanted streak was broken as Jurgen Klopp became the man to put the Reds back on top. It was another relentless start and come December people were already handing the title to Liverpool. They didn't lose until March and amassed 99 points - one short of the record.
Jurgen Klopp finally delivered the Premier League success Liverpool wanted (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
2020/21 - Liverpool. Final position - 3rd
For the third year going Klopp had the Reds on top come Christmas. They had initially coped well without Virgil van Dijk, who suffered a season-ending injury. However after December 25 they won just three of 14 games and lost six straight at Anfield in a scarcely believe collapse.
2021/22 - Man City. Final position - 1st
The champions were on top but they were pushed all the way up until the final day. Liverpool would again be their major challengers with Chelsea falling away. City threatened to blow it at the final hurdle but produced a stunning comeback in another ninety points plus title race.
Man City have just claimed four titles on the spin, despite only leading once at Christmas (
Image:
Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
2022/23 - Arsenal. Final position - 2nd
They came out of nowhere but the Gunners quickly looked like champions in waiting. Even a season disrupted by a winter World Cup wouldn't halt their momentum as City waited and hoped for a slip up. They won 17 of their first 20 games before capitulating in the final weeks as Guardiola swooped in.
2023/24 - Arsenal. Final position - 2nd
The Gunners looked wiser 12 months on following their first attempt at a title charge in years. Declan Rice was on board and they were up against Liverpool and City. It was in their grasp and they were nearly perfect. But City only needed one slip up and a defeat to Aston Villa in April opened the door and the Manchester side walked through to create history on the final day.
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