LONDON (REUTERS) - History is on the side of leaders Liverpool as they chase a first English league title since 1990 but their four-point lead over Manchester City after 21 games is the smallest margin between the top two in over a century.
The last 11 teams with the equivalent of 52 or more points at the same stage since 1905-06 went on to lift the title, but the strength of this year's top four means Liverpool on 54 points face an especially daunting task.
Sports data company Gracenote have recalculated seasons before the English top flight moved from two to three points for a win in 1981 and say the data reveals that the current top four is the most dominant ever.
Liverpool, City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are separated by 10 points, and are on course to break the record cumulative tally of 333 points set by the top four in each of the last two seasons.
Of the 11 teams that won the league after leading at this stage since 1905-06, when 20 teams competed for the first time, many had sizeable leads unlike Liverpool's slender advantage this time round.
City, for instance, held a 14-point advantage over Chelsea at the same stage last year and are the first top-flight team to reach the 50-point mark after 21 games and not lead the table.
While wealthy teams at the top of the pile have improved, the evidence suggests those at the other end of the table have got comparatively worse.
Basement side Huddersfield Town's 10 points after 21 games is the lowest by any Premier League team since Derby County managed seven points 11 seasons ago, while Fulham's tally of 14 points is the lowest for a team in 19th place for six years.
Fulham are one of only four teams in the Premier League era to record 14 points or less at this stage and not be bottom of the league. The others Watford (1999-2000), Southampton (2004-2005) and Reading (2012-2013) were all relegated.
And that has got Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Lim Kia Tong and his council worried. "We need to see if we need to tweak the system or the coaching staff," added Lim, whose
Lim Kia Tong 'willing to change', gets support ahead of FAS
Olaroiu tells Al Ahli: Forget past matches and focus on the game at hand despite Makhete Diop's brace within two minutes to subdue the Hawks. And for this we need to stay focused all the
Conte: We have to stay focused - Premier League
Argentina hands 128 Boca Junior fans four-year stadium ban Argentina hands 128 Boca Junior fans four-year stadium ban AFP/File / ALEJANDRO PAGNI Ultra leaders Rafael Di Zeo, centre, and Mauro
How Face Recognition Keeps Banned Fans Out of Stadiums
Arsenal favourites with best run-in - Latest News
Man Utd latest financial results: 6 things you might have missed as Ed Woodward faced investors. The share price is rising, the App remains No.1 and "entertainment centres" in China are very much
Mourinho´s huge pay-off fails to dent Manchester | Daily
Mar 15, 2019 · Olivier Giroud is the Europa League's top scorer - here he is, with Dominic Fifield: Olivier Giroud wants Premier League spot at Chelsea after European hat-trick Read more
Olivier Giroud determined to earn starting spot for Chelsea
Solskjaer 'confident' of Manchester United miracle in Paris Solskjaer's side will be aiming to overturn a 2-0 deficit at PSG in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. Share Via Email
Premier League » News » Solskjaer 'confident' of Man Utd
Iran's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup last 16 ended as they lost to already-eliminated Bosnia-Hercegovina - BBC (June 25, 2014) Iran coach expects easy win
AFC Asian Cup 2019: Charting Vietnam's journey to the
Soccer Football - Round of 16 Second Leg - Manchester City v Schalke 04 - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - March 12, 2019 Manchester City's Raheem Sterling looks on as his goal and the fourth fo
Football: Ikhsan Fandi signs two-year deal with Norwegian club Ikhsan Fandi, son of local football legend Fandi Ahmad, is the first Singaporean international to join a European club in 30 years.
Singapore striker Ikhsan Fandi signs two-year deal with
Rangers have signed Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe and Southampton midfielder Steven Davis on loan. Ex-Tottenham forward Defoe, 36, who won 57 England caps, has made only eight appearances for
Football: Scottish title-chasing Rangers sign Jermain Defoe
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Belgium - GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus - March 24, 2019 Belgium's Eden Hazard in action with Cyprus' Kostakis Artymatas and Georgios Efrem
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
Bayern Munich won a record-extending seventh consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday after crushing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to finish two points ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich win Bundesliga title for seventh successive
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen