The traditional Premier League elite looks less secure on the pitch, with Manchester City under scrutiny, Manchester United and Tottenham struggling, and clubs such as Aston Villa, Brighton and Newcastle closing the gap.
01Summary
- 01The Premier League's traditional 'Big Six' are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
- 02Tottenham have not finished in the top six in each of the past two seasons and are second bottom on three points after six games this season.
- 03Manchester United are 13th and Liverpool are ninth this season, while Chelsea and United have each missed the top six twice since 2021-22.
- 04Five of the top six places have gone to clubs outside the traditional six in the past three years, matching the total from the previous eight years combined.
- 05Brighton sold Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for £115m, while Newcastle's 2021 takeover was worth £305m and helped them rise to fourth and fifth in successive seasons.
02Why it matters
The balance of power in English football may be shifting, which affects title races, European qualification and how clubs compete financially. Fans of clubs outside the old elite now have clearer evidence that the top six is no longer fixed.
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