The Premier League season is shaping up to be a compelling one, despite being only 11 games in. Here’s a breakdown of key trends and narratives emerging from the data:

1. Incredibly Tight Standings
– This season’s Premier League table is one of the closest yet, with just a four-point gap between 3rd place (Chelsea) and 13th place (Manchester United). Historically, after 11 games, the gap between 3rd and 13th was 8-12 points. This season’s unprecedented closeness highlights the competitiveness of the league.

2. Goals Galore
– The Premier League has seen 314 goals across 110 matches, averaging 2.85 goals per game. Although this is slightly lower than last season’s average (3.28), it still ranks as one of the highest-scoring seasons on record. Tottenham leads with 23 goals, with Manchester City and Brentford close behind at 22 each.

3. Liverpool’s Strong Start
– Liverpool tops the league with 28 points from 11 games. Historically, teams achieving 28+ points at this stage have often gone on to win the title, with only three exceptions (Newcastle in 1994-95 and 1995-96, and Arsenal in 2022-23). Liverpool last started this well in their 2019-20 title-winning season.

4. Clean Sheets and Defensive Struggles
– Despite a rocky start, Manchester United have kept five clean sheets, second only to Liverpool’s six. Meanwhile, Manchester City, typically defensively strong, have managed only two clean sheets—their lowest since the 2016-17 season. Surprisingly, five of last season’s top six teams are averaging over a goal conceded per game, a rarity last seen in 2014-15.

5. Set-Piece Goals
– Arsenal remains the most effective team from set-pieces, scoring 27 goals since last season under the guidance of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. This season, 20% of Premier League goals have come from set-pieces, a slight increase from last year. However, the overall trend shows a gradual decline in set-piece goals, with the 2020-21 season recording the lowest (19.2%).

6. Rising Comebacks
– Comeback wins (from at least one goal down) have become more frequent, making up 21% of all matches this season—a significant increase compared to 11.6% in 2021-22. If this trend continues, the season may break records for comeback wins, reflecting an era of resilient teams and last-minute dramas.

With such a competitive landscape, high-scoring games, and an uptick in comebacks, this Premier League season promises excitement and unpredictability as it progresses.