Premier League table after five games: how much can it tell us?
Five games into the Premier League season, the table is more settled than it looks, though title and relegation races still carry notable exceptions.
Five matches into the Premier League campaign, the early table may already reveal more than fans expect, though it remains far from final. Across the past decade, 138 of 200 teams finished within four places of their position after five games, and 27 stayed in exactly the same spot. Last season, 13 of 20 sides ended within four places of where they stood at this stage, showing that the shape of the division often begins to form quickly.
The top of the table has been less predictable. The side leading after five games has won the title in only one of the last six seasons and three of the last 11. Manchester City have five wins from five this term, but previous City sides also began with five straight victories in 2015-16 and 2016-17 without going on to lift the trophy. Chelsea in 2018-19, Arsenal in 2022-23 and Liverpool last season were also top with perfect records yet did not finish as champions.
However, the eventual winners have been in the top two after five games in each of the last four campaigns, pointing to Manchester City or Arsenal. The article notes a significant asterisk over the table because Manchester City were found guilty of the majority of Premier League charges levelled at them; they have appealed, and potential sanctions could affect the standings.
At the bottom, early struggles have proved more decisive. The side bottom after five games has been relegated in six of the last seven seasons, and at least one of the bottom three at this stage has gone down in each of the last eight. Tottenham sit bottom, while Fulham and Coventry are also in the drop zone. The last three sets of relegated clubs were all in the bottom six after five games, which would bring Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace into the relegation picture.
Supporters may debate whether Brentford can genuinely challenge for Europe or whether Hull and Ipswich can stay clear of trouble, but the article’s historical patterns suggest those outcomes are less far-fetched than they appear. The main exceptions show how quickly things can change: Aston Villa and Tottenham effectively swapped ends of the table last season, while Leeds and Southampton were relegated in 2022-23 despite sitting seventh and ninth after five games.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
