The aim for each Premier League campaign is to improve from the one before, but which teams have had the greatest upturn in points in 2023/24?
After reaching the halfway point of the Premier League campaign, we’ve looked at the five teams with the greatest improvement on their points total from the same stage of last season.
The most improved teams in the Premier League this season:
5. Bournemouth (+9 points)
Bournemouth’s new manager bounce took a little while to kick in, but the Cherries are on the march under the management of Andoni Iraola.
The Spaniard was brought in to replace Gary O’Neil during the summer and began his tenure in difficult fashion, as Bournemouth failed to win in their opening nine games of the Premier League season. Since then, no team has taken more points than the Cherries (22), a run of results that has lifted Bournemouth up to 12th, with a game in hand on the sides above them.
Brilliant team move, brilliant finish ????
Ten different players were involved in the build-up to Luis Sinisterra’s sensational goal. pic.twitter.com/hlxiraKmWn
— AFC Bournemouth ???? (@afcbournemouth) December 27, 2023
Bournemouth are nine points better off than they were at the same stage of last season and are upwardly mobile. It’s now four consecutive wins for Iraola’s side after beating Fulham 3-0 last time out.
4. Everton (+11 points)
Sean Dyche has instilled a siege mentality into his Everton squad this season, as the Toffees look to navigate a 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Everton have narrowly avoided relegation in each of the past two campaigns, requiring a last-day win over Bournemouth last season to secure survival. This time around, the Blues have been much improved and have won 11 more points than they did at the half-way stage in 2022/23.
Without their punishment from the Premier League, the Toffees would be in the top half.
3. Liverpool (+13 points)
Liverpool have bounced back from an underwhelming 2022/23 season to lead the Premier League table heading into the final fixtures of the calendar year.
The Reds missed out on Champions League qualification last season after their lowest league finish (5th) in a full season under Jurgen Klopp, but have responded to move into title contention at the turn of the new year.
Liverpool lead the way ???? pic.twitter.com/WJW9ptJk6u
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 29, 2023
Klopp’s reboot in midfield has been a success, while Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have returned to form this season. Liverpool have lost just one of their last 30 games in the Premier League.
2. Aston Villa (+14 points)
Unai Emery’s arrival at Aston Villa has had a transformative effect on the Midlands outfit.
Emery inherited a team hovering just above the relegation places in November 2022, following a dismal end to Steven Gerrard’s reign as manager. Since then, the Spaniard has led Villa into Europe for the first time in over a decade, before mounting an unexpected push for Champions League football this season.
After 19 games last season, Villa were 11th in the table. This time around, Villa find themselves third and are just three points behind leaders Liverpool. The club’s fanbase is daring to dream.
1. West Ham (+18 points)
David Moyes has taken his fair share of flak as West Ham manager, and last season’s battle to beat relegation appeared a backwards step for the club.
Moyes’ saving grace was a run to Europa Conference League success, as the Irons won a first major trophy in 43 years after beating Fiorentina in Prague.
The loss of Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer was, albeit expected, a blow but the Hammers have reinvested those funds well with Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Mohammed Kudus all excellent so far this season.
Dinos opens his account for the Club ???? pic.twitter.com/KtwaCSVKVp
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 29, 2023
West Ham have won six of their last eight games to climb into the Premier League’s top six, while the East Londoners have progressed through to the last 16 of the Europa League.
No team has had a bigger positive swing in their points total from the same stage of last season (+18).
Read – Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend
See more – Ranking the best right-backs in the Premier League right now
