Premier League giants underfired so far this season.
The Premier League season has now been underway for almost two months, with a clear pattern starting to emerge – Chelsea and Manchester City, perhaps along with Arsenal, look like a genuine title contenders, but the likes of Southampton and Swansea City are also overachieving at the top.
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Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all underperforming, however, whilst Newcastle United and Burnley find themselves marooned to the bottom of the table.
The Mirror have crunched the numbers, however, and worked out just how much teams are overachieving or underachieving based on their averaging finishing positions for the last five seasons, coming up with this alternative Premier League table:
1) Southampton (26.2) – Having spent time in League One, Southampton are now riding high, 26.2 places above their average position.
2) Crystal Palace (21.8) – Another club to have spent plenty of time in the Football League is Crystal Palace, but they have started the season well under Neil Warnock.
3) Leicester City (14.2) – The Foxes have had a fine start to their first season back in the Premier League after an elongated spell in the Championship and League One.
4) Swansea City (11.4) – Despite being Premier League regulars these days, Garry Monk’s Swansea City are still well ahead of their average placing.
5) Burnley (8.4) – They may be struggling in the Premier League under Sean Dyche, but just being in the top flight is an achievement for the Clarets.
6) Aston Villa (6.2) – A strong start to the Premier League season under Paul Lambert has seen Aston Villa rise above some of their recent underachievement.
7) Queens Park Rangers (5) – Rangers aren’t at their best under Harry Redknapp so far this season, but have spent plenty of time in the Championship of late.
8) Hull City (4.2) – Steve Bruce will hope that his Hull side can improve as this season goes on after a slow start.
9) West Bromwich Albion (3.6) – West Brom have started the season strongly under Alan Irvine but are only just ahead of their average position, having become Premier League regulars.
10) West Ham United (3.6) – West Ham’s season in the Championship has helped to mean that they are slightly ahead of their average position.
11) Chelsea (2) – Despite being perpetually in the thick of the title battle in recent seasons, Chelsea’s lightning start means they are still up on the average.
12) Stoke City (1) – Premier League regulars Stoke City tend to be in mid-table – and that is just where they sit under Mark Hughes.
13) Arsenal (-0.4) – The first club to be behind their average finish are Arsenal, despite a solid start to the campaign by Arsene Wenger’s side.
14) Manchester City (-0.6) – A shock Premier League defeat to Stoke City was the main contributor to City falling slightly behind their average.
15) Tottenham Hotspur (-3.2) – A slow start to the season under Mauricio Pochettino has left Spurs struggling to match expectations.
16) Sunderland (-3.6) – Still winless under Gus Poyet, Sunderland have specialised in draws this season but need to get some wins on the board.
17) Manchester United (-4.4) – Despite their season finally showing signs of life under Louis van Gaal, Manchester United are still nowhere near where they want to be.
18) Newcastle United (-6.2) – With calls for the sacking of Alan Pardew continuing in the stands at St. James’ Park, things aren’t looking good for Newcastle.
19) Liverpool (-8) – A dreadful start to the Premier League season has left Liverpool looking unlikely to match last season’s title challenge.
20 Everton (-8.4) – Everton have also struggled to match expectations early on this season, with Roberto Martinez’s side letting in too many goals.