We’re nearly a third of the way into the Premier League season and each team will now have clear ideas of their ambitions for the remainder of the campaign.
Statistics have been unveiled by Opta, detailing the amount of time each side has held the lead this season, with some surprising numbers at both ends of the table.
Manchester City lead the rankings having been ahead of 47.9% of their game time in all competitions this season, with the European champions ahead of Newcastle (47.3%) and Liverpool (39.9%) who round out the Premier League’s top three. West Ham, however, are fourth, ahead of both Arsenal and Tottenham.
It’s a different story at Manchester United, however. Bruno Fernandes’ late goal snatched a stoppage time win at Fulham at the weekend, in a continuation of an unconvincing start to the campaign for the Red Devils.
Erik ten Hag’s team have also claimed late wins against Brentford, Copenhagen, Wolves and Nottingham Forest this season and have led for just 15.8% of their match time this season, ranking them 17th in the Premier League.
Only three teams have led for a lesser percentage of their games this season, with Sheffield United – bottom of the division after a difficult start – holding an advantage for just 4.5% of their minutes in 2023/24.
The Blades secured a first Premier League win of the campaign last weekend, but required a 100th minute penalty from Oliver Norwood to beat Wolves at Bramall Lane.
The percentage of match time Premier League teams have led for in 2023/24 (all competitions):
- 47.9% – Manchester City
- 47.3% – Newcastle United
- 39.9% – Liverpool
- 38.9% – West Ham United
- 37.3% – Arsenal
- 35.9% – Aston Villa
- 33.4% – Tottenham Hotspur
- 33.1% – Everton
- 31.4% – Chelsea
- 31.0% – Brighton and Hove Albion
- 29.9% – Brentford
- 27.0% – Fulham
- 24.5% – Nottingham Forest
- 23.0% – Crystal Palace
- 22.0% – Wolverhampton Wanderers
- 16.2% – Burnley
- 15.8% – Manchester United
- 14.7% – Luton Town
- 13.3% – Bournemouth
- 4.5% – Sheffield United
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