Honestly, if you’d told me back in August that we’d be sitting here in mid-January looking at a seven-point gap at the top, I probably would’ve guessed Manchester City had finally broken the league. Again. But look at the Premier League league table today, January 17, 2026, and the view from the summit is decidedly red.
Arsenal is flying. Mikel Arteta’s squad hasn’t just "improved"—they’ve evolved into this weirdly efficient machine that doesn't seem to care about pressure. They’re sitting on 50 points after 22 games. That is a massive haul.
Meanwhile, City just fell flat on their faces in the Manchester derby. 2-0 to United. Michael Carrick, in his first game back in the dugout after the club binned Ruben Amorim earlier this month, somehow found a way to neutralize Pep Guardiola’s setup. It was a tactical masterclass, or maybe just a "new manager bounce," but it leaves City six points adrift of the Gunners.
The Chaos at the Top of the Standings
It is crowded up there. City is tied with Aston Villa on 43 points, though Pep’s lot has a better goal difference. Unai Emery has Villa playing some of the most disciplined football I’ve seen in years. They had an eight-match winning streak earlier this season that basically proved they aren't just "top four hopefuls" anymore; they are legitimate problems for the traditional Big Six.
Liverpool is lurking in fourth with 36 points. They’re the defending champions, remember. But they’ve looked a bit leggier this year, drawing six games already. It's that classic "title hangover" vibe where you're good, but not quite ruthless enough to kill off games against teams like Brentford or Fulham.
Speaking of Manchester United, that derby win was huge. It moved them into fifth place with 35 points. Carrick has inherited a mess, but a 2-0 win over City is the kind of result that changes the entire mood at Carrington. They’re only one point behind Liverpool now. The race for those Champions League spots is going to be a bloodbath.
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Who’s Actually Surprising Us?
Brentford and Sunderland. No, seriously.
Sunderland came up from the Championship through the play-offs and everyone—and I mean everyone—pegged them for a quick trip back down. Instead, they’re 8th. They’ve drawn nine games, which is kind of insane, but they are incredibly hard to beat. They’ve got 33 points, level with Brentford who are also having a storming season in 7th.
Then you have Chelsea. They are the definition of a "project" that keeps changing its blueprints. Enzo Maresca was sacked on New Year’s Day after the players basically stopped listening to him. Liam Rosenior is in now, and they’re sitting in 6th with 34 points. On paper, that’s not bad. In reality, given they’ve spent enough to buy a small country, the fans are restless.
The Mid-Table Muddle
- Newcastle United: 9th place (32 points). They’ve been hit-and-miss. One week they look like world-beaters, the next they’re losing to a struggling West Ham.
- Fulham: 10th place (31 points). Marco Silva is still the most underrated manager in the league.
- Brighton: 11th place (29 points). Still playing "the right way," still failing to turn 70% possession into actual goals.
- Everton: 12th place (29 points). Their first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium has been decent. Moving away from Goodison was emotional, but they’ve made the new place a bit of a fortress lately.
The Relegation Nightmare
This is where it gets grim. If you’re a Wolves fan, maybe look away.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are rock bottom. 7 points. In 21 games. That is historically bad. They’ve only won one game all season. They sacked Vítor Pereira back in November and it hasn't helped one bit. They look like a team that has already accepted their fate.
Burnley isn't doing much better in 19th with 14 points. They’ve gone 12 matches without a win. It’s tough because they were so good in the Championship last year, but the step up has felt like a mountain they can’t climb.
West Ham is the big shocker here. 18th place. 17 points. They have too much talent to be down there, but the "Graham Potter era" was a total disaster and he’s already gone. They are currently three points behind Nottingham Forest, who are in 17th. Sean Dyche is now in charge at Forest (he replaced Ange Postecoglou, who lasted about five minutes after replacing Nuno). If anyone can grind out a 17th-place finish, it's Dyche.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Premier League League Table
People tend to look at the points and assume the team with the most wins is the "best." But look at the draws. Sunderland has nine draws. If they had turned just three of those into wins, they’d be in the top four.
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The Premier League league table is often a story of who doesn't lose the games they should’ve won. Arsenal has only lost twice. That’s the secret sauce. While City and Liverpool have been dropping points in weird stalemates, Arsenal has been grinding out 1-0 and 2-1 wins.
Also, don't sleep on the "games in hand" factor. Newcastle and Aston Villa have a game in hand over most of the top half. If Villa wins theirs, they go clear into second place, just four points behind Arsenal. That puts a very different spin on the "title race."
Key Stats to Keep an Eye On
- Erling Haaland: Still leading the Golden Boot race with 20 goals. Even when City struggles, he scores. It’s a law of nature at this point.
- Arsenal’s Defense: Only 14 goals conceded in 22 matches. Saliba and Gabriel are basically a brick wall.
- The "Sacked" Count: We’ve already had six managerial changes this season. Six! Wolves, Chelsea, Manchester United, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest (twice). The pressure is genuinely reaching boiling point.
What Happens Next?
If you're looking at the Premier League league table and trying to figure out where your money should go, keep an eye on the January transfer window. It closes in two weeks (February 2nd).
Arsenal is reportedly looking for another midfielder to cover for Declan Rice, while City desperately needs someone to inject some life into their transition play. If City doesn't buy someone to fix their "January blues," Arsenal might actually run away with this.
Actionable Insights for the Next Month:
- Watch the Villa vs. Arsenal match: It’s coming up soon and could decide if we have a real title race or a procession.
- Monitor the bottom three: If West Ham wins their next two, they could leapfrog Leeds and Forest, dragging five teams into a massive relegation scrap.
- Check the European fatigue: The Champions League knockouts start in February. Arsenal, City, Liverpool, and Villa are all still in it. This is usually when the squad depth (or lack thereof) shows up in the domestic table.
Keep your eyes on the points, but watch the goal difference—that’s where the real story of the season is hidden.