Liverpool may be leading the league this season, but there is a surprise rival for the most points in 2024.
If asked which Premier League team has been the best in 2024, most people would probably have two names at the top of the list.
There is Manchester City, the reigning champions, who broke away from the chase at the start of the year to claim a fourth consecutive title. Then there is Liverpool, who look rejuvenated since the arrival of Arne Slot in the summer and are now six points clear heading into the final matchday of 2024.
But when it comes to the calendar year rankings – a points tally for 2024 – none of these teams come out on top. First place in the annual rankings is currently Arsenal, who have been the most consistent team over the past twelve months. With one round to go, Arsenal is on 85 points and Liverpool on 82. Man City is on 79 points, but has still played one match.
Liverpool have one game left in 2024 and could therefore draw level on points with Arsenal, but Slot's team will have played more games and have a worse goal difference than the Gunners. It will be the first time since 2015 that Arsenal will end a calendar year with the PL points.
Despite the lack of success, it has been another successful year for Arsenal as they battled against two of the strongest teams in the world. But that effort has undoubtedly pushed the team to its limits and Arsenal, who compete on multiple fronts, have suffered serious injuries in recent weeks.
Speaking to reporters this week, Mikel Arteta highlighted the pressure put on the players by the busy fixture list and hinted at problems ahead.
'For example, you know Bukayo [Saka] and Declan [Rice]”They played more than 130 games in two seasons,” the Arsenal boss explained. “So what's going to happen in the second, third or fourth, if it continues the same way? It's probably unsustainable unless we find ways to physically turn them into monsters, you know, so they can handle anything.”
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