New name at the top of ‘calendar year’ Premier League table

If asked to consider which Premier League team has been the best during 2024, most people would probably have two names at the top of the list.

There’s Manchester City, the reigning champions, who surged away from the chasing pack at the start of the year to claim a fourth consecutive title. Then there’s Liverpool, who look rejuvenated since the summer arrival of Arne Slot and now sit six points clear heading into the final matchday of 2024.

But when it comes to the ‘calendar year’ standings - a tally of points across 2024 - neither of those teams claim first place. Top spot in the annual rankings is currently Arsenal, who have been the most consistent team across the 12 months. With one more round of games to be played, Arsenal sit on 85 points and Liverpool on 82. Man City are on 79 points but have played one more game.

Liverpool still have one game remaining in 2024 so could draw level with Arsenal on points, but Slot’s team will have played more games and have a worse goal difference than the Gunners. This will be the first time since 2015 that Arsenal will have finished a calendar year with the points PL point.

Despite the lack of silverware, it’s been another successful year for Arsenal as they battled against two of the strongest teams in world soccer. However that effort has undoubtedly pushed the squad to its limits and Arsenal, competing on multiple fronts, have sustained serious injuries in recent weeks.

Speaking to reporters this week, Mikel Arteta highlighted the strain placed on players by the busy fixture schedule and hinted at upcoming problems.

“You know, for example, Bukayo [Saka] and Declan [Rice], they played over 130 games in two seasons,” the Arsenal boss explained. “So what’s gonna happen in the second one, the third one or the fourth one, if that continues the same way? Probably it’s unsustainable, unless we find ways to, yeah, physically turn them into monsters, you know, that they can cope with anything.”

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