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Liverpool 2nd

In English football, there’s a common adage that a league table isn’t worth considering until after matchday 10. Early-season struggles, player adjustments, and managers figuring out their best lineups can all lead to unexpected points dropped in the first weeks of a new Premier League season. However, by the time clubs have played 10 matches, fans usually have a clearer idea of which teams will compete for trophies and which will battle to avoid relegation.

With this in mind, Transfermarkt has reviewed the last decade of Premier League seasons to determine which clubs typically get off to the best starts. For instance, last season, Arne Slot’s Liverpool ended matchday 10 at the top of the table, ahead by two points, while two of the three clubs that eventually faced relegation were firmly in the bottom three. As the new English top-flight season approaches, let’s explore which teams are likely to be in strong positions after 10 matches.

Unsurprisingly, the usual suspects are at the top in terms of average points per game after 10 matches over the last decade. Manchester City leads with an impressive average of 2.32 points per game, followed by Liverpool at 2.12 and Arsenal at 2.01. This indicates that, on average, Pep Guardiola’s team is already three points ahead of Mikel Arteta’s after 10 games, with a significant drop-off in performance thereafter.

Interestingly, Tottenham comes in fourth, despite finishing in the top four only five times in the last 10 seasons. This suggests that Spurs often start campaigns strongly but struggle to maintain momentum later on. This aligns with the fact that they have only managed to rank in the top six for points earned in the second half of the season once in the past five years.

Manchester United supporters should take note of their position in the standings, currently sixth and trailing fifth-placed Chelsea with an average of only 1.68 points per game. Unlike Tottenham, the Old Trafford club generally performs better in the latter half of the season, which has allowed them to finish above sixth place five times in the past decade. However, these statistics indicate that sluggish starts often hinder their chances of cracking the top four or contending for the title.