Manchester United are the standout improvers. Michael Carrick’s side added 29 points to their previous season’s total – the biggest swing in the division – securing Champions League football and finishing third.
A remarkable turnaround from a club that had endured back-to-back finishes outside the top four.
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Arsenal added 11 points to cement their title challenge into a title win. The Gunners’ 85-point haul ended a 22-year wait and reflected a squad that improved incrementally across multiple seasons under Mikel Arteta.
Manchester City added seven points despite the end of the Guardiola era, finishing second and remaining one of the most consistent clubs in the division. Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Everton were broadly stable, each moving by no more than one point in either direction.
At the other end of the table the story is stark. Liverpool lost 24 points compared to last season’s title-winning campaign – the biggest drop in the division. A season that began with Champions League ambitions ended with Arne Slot under serious pressure and the club finishing fifth. Chelsea dropped 17 points. Newcastle dropped the same.
Nottingham Forest shed 21 points following their extraordinary overachievement the previous season. Wolves lost 22 and were relegated. Brighton dropped eight as did Crystal Palace.
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West Ham’s four-point drop proved fatal. The Hammers were relegated to the Championship after 14 consecutive seasons in the top flight – a sad end for a club that had been a fixture in the Premier League since 2012.
Premier League points comparison – 2024-25 vs 2025-26
| Club | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 42 | 71 | +29 |
| Arsenal | 74 | 85 | +11 |
| Manchester City | 71 | 78 | +7 |
| Tottenham | 38 | 41 | +3 |
| Bournemouth | 56 | 57 | +1 |
| Everton | 48 | 49 | +1 |
| Aston Villa | 66 | 65 | -1 |
| Fulham | 54 | 52 | -2 |
| Brentford | 56 | 53 | -3 |
| West Ham | 43 | 39 | -4 |
| Brighton | 61 | 53 | -8 |
| Crystal Palace | 53 | 45 | -8 |
| Chelsea | 69 | 52 | -17 |
| Newcastle | 66 | 49 | -17 |
| Nottingham Forest | 65 | 44 | -21 |
| Wolves | 42 | 20 | -22 |
| Liverpool | 84 | 60 | -24 |
Photo: REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
