Welcome to the latest edition of The Alternative Premier League Table, where each week, The Athletic analyses the entire division through a specific lens.
After looking at ball-in-play time in last week’s edition, this week we will be looking at each team’s points won from behind and lost from ahead.
As usual, the article that follows is long and detailed, so please settle down and enjoy it all — or use the index at the bottom of the page to jump to a specific club.
Taking leads and managing games from that position of strength is crucial for teams to achieve their goals in a long league season.
Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were two of the best teams in this regard in 2024-25, taking the lead in 59 combined games and losing just once. Arne Slot’s side won the title, while Forest qualified for Europe for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Gaining points from behind, while generally not a sustainable formula for success throughout a league season, is often useful, too. Liverpool and Arsenal lost just eight of the 28 combined matches they trailed in on the way to finishing first and second. The five-substitute rule gives deep squads an improved chance of turning games around too.
With that in mind, this week’s Alternative Table orders the 20 teams by points lost while ahead and points won from behind. Click on the title of the column to re-order the standings.
Key takeaways include:
Aston Villa lead all teams in points won from behind with 18, while Manchester City are bottom with zero.
Bournemouth have dropped a league-high 18 points from a winning position.
Manchester United have dropped 14 points from winning positions (from seven draws) but only three sides have gained more from a losing situation.
Liverpool have failed to win any of the nine games in which they have trailed this season.
Aston Villa
It’s been an unusual season in Birmingham. Villa drew three and lost two of their opening five matches, scoring once and conceding five times.
Since then, they have trailed nine times and won six of those matches, losing three times. Villa’s 18 points won from losing positions in this stretch is at least six more than the next-best team. It also means that in the overall table since Matchday 5, Villa’s 43 points from 18 matches would place them first, three points ahead of Arsenal and four clear of Manchester City.
As the table below shows, Villa have been one of the league’s best teams in losing game states, with an expected goal difference of 0.78 per 90, while ranking close to the bottom when winning (-0.4) and drawing (-0.5). They are seemingly a team who wakes up when they fall behind.
No player has scored more than Ollie Watkins’ five goals while trailing in matches, with Morgan Rogers’ four goal contributions (three goals, one assist) not far behind.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth were one of the league’s better teams at managing game states last season, despite their style often resulting in open games where they threw away leads before re-taking them. They led in 22 of their 38 matches and won 15 while losing just twice, the same as Liverpool and Manchester City.
That has not come to pass this season. Bournemouth have led in 15 matches but have won just seven, already losing twice. They have averaged more goals per game (1.7 per 90 vs 1.5) but are conceding at a much higher rate at 1.9 per 90 (up from 1.2).
While there were signs of this changing earlier in the season, Bournemouth have often struggled to break down defensive blocks with settled possession. They have won just two of the 13 matches they have trailed in, losing seven.
Manchester City
City were one of the league’s best teams when it came to coming from behind in 2024-25, picking up 20 points from losing game states. Their 17 matches trailed in, however, was the highest figure they’ve recorded in any of the last eight seasons and four more than 2019-20 (13), the only other season in which they failed to win the title during this stretch.
The positive this season is that they have trailed only five times in 23 matches, at least three fewer than the next-best team (Arsenal on eight). However, they have lost all those games — to Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion, Villa, Newcastle United and Manchester United. Pep Guardiola’s side are the only team with both zero points and zero open-play goals in a losing-game state.
Conversely, City have led in 18 matches, more than any other team, while winning 14, but have dropped nine points. Of the 13 goals they have conceded while ahead, eight have been equalisers, with City sitting deeper at times with a lead and inviting pressure due to the threat they possess on the counter.
Erling Haaland has feasted when City have led in games, with eight goals and three assists. He has also helped break deadlocks, with 12 goals and an assist to give City the lead.
(Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool
Liverpool’s success in 2024-25 was built on taking leads and exercising control, settling into an organised defensive shape while excelling at circulating possession.
Their attack has regressed this season, with their 1.6 expected goals (a measure of the quality of a team’s chances) per 90 and 1.5 goals scored per 90 their lowest in the last eight seasons. That has meant they have led in only 13 matches but have won 10 of those and drawn three, dropping just six points.
When trailing, their 22 big chances created in nine matches are the second-highest behind Burnley (23 in 19). But they have scored just five, with their conversion rate of 23 per cent ranking second from bottom ahead of Manchester City (zero per cent from three big chances).
Liverpool’s issues have been compounded on the other end, too. Their 8.0 non-blocked shots conceded per 90 is the highest in the last eight seasons.
Issues at either end have in turn left them in a poor position to chase games, with Liverpool drawing two and winning none of the nine matches they have trailed in.
Nottingham Forest
Forest have led in just nine games this season, only a third of the 27 they managed across 2024-25. To their credit, though, they have won seven and drawn two, avoiding defeat in all nine.
The return to direct football under Sean Dyche has helped recreate some of what they had with Nuno Espirito Santo last season, with six wins from seven games in which they have taken the lead under the former Everton manager.
The struggles have come when trailing, which has happened 16 times this season — already one more than in the whole of last season. Forest picked up six points from those situations in 2024-25 and have got eight this time around.
Chris Wood’s 12 goals with Forest drawing or losing was the fourth-best league-wide mark last season. He has played just eight times this season, scoring twice, before missing their last 15 matches after undergoing knee surgery.
Arsenal
Arsenal trailed in 12, 10 and 11 games across the previous three seasons, finishing second each time. They have already trailed in eight this season and picked up nine points from them, continuing a trend from the last two seasons (11 from 10 games in 2023-24 and 13 from 11 in 2024-25).
Last weekend’s 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United was the first time they have lost this season after taking the lead, having won 15 of 16 before that. That is an improvement on 2024-25 when they drew nine of the 30 matches they took the lead in, resulting in 21 dropped points.
Arsenal have never been more reliant on set pieces, as the graph below shows.
Only 57 per cent of Arsenal’s total goals have come from open play, their lowest proportion in the last eight seasons (down from 73 per cent last season), and only good for 17th in the league. That is despite averaging 69 per cent possession while trailing (most) and 53 per cent when ahead (third most).
Manchester United
Manchester United took the lead in only 16 matches last season, ranking 17th in that regard, ahead of only the relegated sides. They won 11 of those games, dropping 11 points with just one loss.
United have already led in 17 matches this season. Their issue has been game management, with 14 equalisers conceded (including three in the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth). Their total of 17 goals conceded while leading in games is the most in the league and has resulted in seven draws and 14 points dropped, the third-most behind Bournemouth (18), Chelsea and West Ham (both 15).
United also trailed in 25 matches last season, with that falling to 12 this season. They have had 63 per cent possession while trailing, the fifth-most in the league behind Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. Their 11 points won from these situations ranks fourth.
Bruno Fernandes is level with Haaland in goal contributions when his team is drawing or losing with 13 (four goals, nine assists).
Brentford
Despite being the set-piece darlings of the Premier League, 78 per cent of Brentford’s goals scored while drawing or leading this season have come from open play, up from 73 per cent last season. They have won 32 points from 15 games in which they have led, dropping 13 (joint fourth worst mark).
Keith Andrews’ side have struggled while trailing, however, continuing a trend from previous years. They won just 11 points from 26 such matches in 2023-24 and 17 from 21 in 2024-25.
Brentford have had a decent season but struggle to come from behind in games (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
This season, they have fallen behind 12 times and won just four points. They have no open-play goals (level only with Manchester City) in these scenarios, scoring only from throw-ins (against Newcastle and Chelsea) and an Igor Thiago penalty against Forest on the opening weekend.
Igor Thiago’s total of nine goals with his team drawing is the second-most behind Haaland’s 12.
Fulham
Fulham were third in the league when trailing last season, doing so on 23 occasions and picking up 21 points (only Liverpool and Brighton won more). Marco Silva’s side have already trailed 15 times this season but have picked up just 10 points. They are, however, the league’s most accurate shooters while trailing, getting 42 per cent of their efforts on target.
Their 12 goals scored in this game state is the third-most, though their 6.7xG is 16th. Stunning goals have been the theme of their season, with their four goals from behind in the 5-4 loss to Manchester City coming from a mere 0.3xG. Harrison Reed’s long-range stunner to rescue a 2-2 draw with Liverpool was worth just 0.03xG.
Fulham have improved in their game management when ahead. They have won 10 of 13 such games this season, having won 15 of 26 in 2024-25, despite recording the second-worst xGD per 90 while winning (-0.6, only ahead of Burnley’s -2.3).
Two of their five goals scored while ahead have been own goals, while Harry Wilson has scored the other three (against Burnley, Tottenham and Wolves) from just 0.3xG.
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe’s side dropped just seven points in the 23 games they led in last season, the best record in the league. Their away record was especially impressive, with eight wins and no losses in nine games when they took the lead.
Scoring in quick succession often helped. Newcastle scored twice in five second-half minutes at Wolves, three in 29 at Forest, twice in 15 at Manchester United and twice in nine at Leicester City.
But this season Newcastle have led in only four away games, winning two and losing two. Defensive errors have been a concern, with their 22 errors leading to a shot or goal ranking fifth among all teams.
Their home record has remained excellent, with seven wins and two draws from 10 matches where they have taken the lead.
Newcastle have had only one comeback win all season, but it proved to be one of the games of the season as they beat Leeds United 4-3 earlier this month, thanks to a last-gasp Harvey Barnes winner.
Chelsea
Since the start of last season, Chelsea have had to switch between different styles.
The early months of Enzo Maresca’s reign saw them continue to play the transitional football drilled in by Mauricio Pochettino. The second half of the season and early weeks of this campaign brought more control and longer spells of possession, though they shifted to more direct football towards the end of 2024-25 and at the Club World Cup.
This season, Chelsea have struggled to break teams down after falling behind, with just seven points won from 11 such games (one win, four draws).
More damagingly, they have been unable to prevent mistakes when leading in games. In 16 such matches, they have made six errors leading to a shot or goal and won just 51 per cent of their duels, contributing to 15 dropped points, the second most behind Bournemouth’s 18.
Chelsea managed the same tally in 26 matches in which they took the lead in 2024-25.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton dropped 22 points from winning positions in 2024-25 after drawing eight of the 26 games they took the lead in.
Leads have been harder to come by this season, with just 11 in 23 matches, with six goals conceded between minutes 16 and 30, the second-most behind Everton (seven). Each of those goals have been openers for the opposition and they have won only two of those games — 3-1 against 10-man Chelsea in September and 2-1 against Brentford in November.
That has often given them a mountain to climb, and Brighton have conceded leads on 15 occasions. Their 14 goals scored in these games rank second behind Burnley (15 in 19 games), while their 7.7 shots per 90 when trailing rank third behind Liverpool (11.1) and Manchester United (9.3). Eight of their goals when trailing have come from set pieces, the best mark in the league.
Brighton have also twice let a 2-0 lead slip — in a draw with Spurs in September and the 4-3 loss to Aston Villa in December. That defeat to Villa and the game at Fulham last week are the only games they have lost after taking the lead this season.
Brighton took the lead at Craven Cottage last weekend, but lost the game (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham dropped 29 points from winning positions last season, more than relegated Southampton (28). They were also vulnerable to conceding in clusters. They allowed three goals in 22 first-half minutes and two more in seven second-half minutes in the 6-3 loss to Liverpool. Two goals in four first-half minutes led to a 2-1 loss at Arsenal and the same in the second half resulted in a home defeat to Leicester City. They also conceded three times in 18 second-half minutes to lose 3-2 at Brighton after leading 2-0.
Thomas Frank’s Spurs have had plenty of issues, but have been better in managing games, picking up 24 points from 12 matches they have taken the lead in. But their draws with Sunderland and Manchester United saw them concede late, while poor defending of runs in behind led to a 3-2 loss at Bournemouth earlier this month.
A lack of creativity has meant they have struggled mightily in games they have fallen behind in, with zero wins in 14 matches after conceding a lead this season (five draws, nine losses). Four of their 12 goals scored while trailing have come from Cristian Romero, the second-most in the league. Three of those goals helped rescue draws against Newcastle and, more recently, Burnley last weekend.
Everton
Everton and Villa are the only teams to not lose a league game they have led in since the start of 2025, when David Moyes took over on the blue half of Merseyside. Everton have led in 24 matches in this stretch and won 17, drawing the other seven.
Moyes’ side tend to fall into a resolute block after taking the lead, daring teams to beat them. Their 38 per cent possession in these 24 matches ranks 14th out of the 17 teams to have competed in both 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Everton have regressed, however, in games they have trailed in, despite adding greater on-ball quality. They have won just one of 10 such games — 2-1 against Crystal Palace in October — and lost eight, having won one and drawn four of nine such matches in 2024-25.
Surprisingly for a Moyes team, it is their defence that has let them down. Everton conceded a further goal 10 times in the 20 games they trailed in last season. In contrast, they have conceded 11 such goals this season, resulting in some heavy defeats to Brentford (4-2), Newcastle (4-1) and Tottenham (3-0).
Everton have an enviable record when leading since David Moyes returned to the club (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Sunderland
Sunderland’s march towards the 40-point mark, invariably enough to keep a team up these days, has been built on their ability to hold onto leads. They have won eight of the 11 games they have led, while conceding once each when in the lead in draws with Arsenal (2-2), Liverpool (1-1) and Leeds (1-1).
Their three goals scored when in the lead is the least of any team that has taken the lead in seven or more games. Two of those came in the 3-0 win against West Ham, while another came in a 2-0 victory over Wolves.
Regis Le Bris’ side have been impressive when trailing too, picking up 16 points in the 14 games they have trailed in, only behind Villa’s 18 (from 11 matches). They have beaten Brentford, Chelsea, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace from behind, while drawing with Arsenal, Tottenham, Villa and Everton.
Crystal Palace
Palace have suffered a dramatic drop-off in recent weeks and are on an 11-game winless run across competitions since beating Shelbourne 3-0 in the Conference League on December 11. They have only taken the lead in two of their eight Premier League matches in this run, drawing with Fulham and losing 2-1 to Sunderland.
Prior to that, Oliver Glasner’s side had led in 10 and won seven of those games with a draw and two defeats. They scored three and conceded six in those games, which fades in comparison to 2024-25 when they scored 12 and conceded 14 on their way to 13 wins and five draws in 20 such matches.
Palace were also considerably better when chasing games last season, managing 13 points from 20 such games with two wins and seven draws. In 2025-26, they have not won from behind, losing nine of 10 such matches.
Palace are yet to record a comeback win in the Premier League this season (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Wolves
Wolves have led in at least 16 games in each of the last seven seasons, including 2024-25 (18) when they flirted with relegation early on. But this season, they have taken the lead on just four occasions with a solitary win over former boss Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham, while losing to Leeds and drawing with both Brighton and Spurs.
Wolves have also trailed in 20 or more games in each of the last seven seasons and could hit that mark this weekend. Their 19 games in losing game states leads the league with Burnley and they have won just two of 57 available points in those scenarios. Meanwhile, 17 goals conceded while losing games is the most of any team.
Wolves have struggled to create good opportunities while trailing, with 35 per cent of their shots coming from outside the box. That is the fourth-worst mark in the league behind Burnley, Forest, and Manchester United.
Leeds United
Leeds have created 18 big chances when trailing across 14 matches and have scored seven times in that game state.
Four of those goals helped secure draws against Liverpool (3-3), Brentford (1-1) and Sunderland (1-1), with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring three of them. Their only comeback win was against Wolves when Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser helped set up a 3-1 win.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been particularly effective when Leeds have trailed this season (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Daniel Farke’s game management has been a concern, with Leeds winning only six of the 12 matches they have led in with three draws — including Monday night’s game with Everton — and three defeats.
Burnley
Burnley led in 16 matches in 2023-24 under Vincent Kompany but won just five of those games, dropping 27 points. They have been much better in that respect this time around but have led just six times, picking up 11 of 18 points on offer with a single defeat.
They have been able to build on their lead on only three occasions, with convincing 2-0 wins over Leeds and Sunderland in the first three months of the season. Scott Parker’s side also beat Wolves 3-2.
Burnley’s bigger problem has been finding ways to go ahead, with their 24 goals conceded in drawing game states the most in the league. Limited investment in the summer in comparison to their fellow relegation candidates has been a factor.
Burnley have trailed in 19 matches, drawing five and losing 14. They have scored seven times from set pieces when trailing, the second-best mark, but building open-play momentum has been difficult. Their setup often has them sitting deep, with their 46 per cent possession while trailing ranking dead last.
West Ham United
West Ham have won just five of the 11 matches they have taken the lead in, ranking joint-second for points dropped from winning positions with 15. Their 1.1 goals conceded per 90 while leading is the worst mark in the league, with opponents averaging 2.5 shots on target per 90 in these games (fourth-worst).
An absence of control and work rate in midfield, where Mateus Fernandes has impressed but others have struggled, has been a key factor. West Ham have averaged just 31 per cent possession when leading in games, the joint lowest with Burnley, while their 71 per cent pass completion rate when ahead is the second worst (narrowly above Sunderland’s 70).
They have struggled while trailing, too, winning two and drawing two of 17 such games. Their 3.1 chances created per 90 when trailing ranks bottom and, to compound matters at the other end, their seven goals conceded from set pieces (including two penalties) in these situations is the worst such record in the league.