REVEALED: Aston Villa are the Premier League’s biggest overperformers this season while league leaders Arsenal are beaten by a major rival in the handicap table… but where do Man United rank after turbulent campaign?
The Premier League‘s biggest over and underperformers have been revealed in a new handicap table by Sky Bet – with surprise package Aston Villa leading the standings.
Villa have been a force to be reckoned with under Unai Emery this season, making their way to fourth in the Premier League and are serious contenders to claim a Champions League spot – despite being hammered 4-0 at home to Tottenham.
But while their season suffered a hiccup on the weekend, the Villans are still top of a table calculating the biggest overperformers this season.
The standings are calculated by taking each team’s current points total so far this season after 28 games and adding it to their handicap.
A club’s handicap is worked out by taking their games played so far, multiplied by their points per game (PPG).
Aston Villa are the Premier League’s biggest overperformers this season as they sit top of the handicap table
For these standings, the PPG is determined by dividing the club’s handicap by the amount of games they play across the season (38). Now that the maths is out the way – let’s look at Villa. They sit top with a handicap of 31 after 0.82 points per game and a total score of 77.96.
There is another surprise name behind them in second. While Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City are scrapping it out for the title, it is high-flying Wolves, who have a handicap of 47, with a total of 74.72 points after 41 points from 28 games.
Gary O’Neil’s men were averaging 1.24 points per game.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool – who are second in the actual table – slip one place lower in the handicap table, with theirs rated at 11.
Wolves find themselves in second place after an impressive showing under Gary O’Neil
Tottenham held off north London rivals Arsenal to rank above them in the handicap table – depsite the Gunners being top of the Premier League
West Ham, who have a handicap of 39, are in fourth – with their points per game worked out at 1.03, giving them a total of 71.84 points, summing up their positive season under David Moyes despite being tipped to struggle.
Just below the Hammers are Tottenham in fifth following their encouraging start to life under Ange Postecoglou this term, and while Arsenal are the current league leaders – they are only good enough for sixth in this table.
Mikel Arteta’s men started with a handicap of nine and are calculated at 0.24 PPG, taking their total to 70.72.
Last season’s Premier League champions and treble winners Manchester City – who started with a handicap of zero and are bang in the middle of the table in 10th.
Luton – despite being 18th in the Premier League table – are still punching way above their weight, being placed in 11th in the new standings, having been given a handicap of 57 – the biggest of any team.
Manchester United’s turbulent campaign is reflected in them being 15th in the handicap table
Chelsea are one of the highest underperformers this season, with the Blues in 19th place
This brings us to the biggest underachievers. This season’s relegation battlers Burnley are about the same position – one place below their actual place of 19th. But there are three notable teams in eye-catching positions after tough seasons.
Manchester United have had an up and down campaign, despite currently being sixth in the Premier League table with 43 points from 28 games.
But with a handicap of 13 and points per game of 0.34, Erik ten Hag’s men have slumped to 15th in the handicap table – with their total at 56.52.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have suffered a fall from grace after clinching a famous place in the Champions League last season. They’re now 10th in the league and made a quick exit from Europe after being gripped by injuries and inconsistency. That’s reflected in the handicap table to put them in 18th.
Chelsea, however, have been dealt a worse fate after yet another stumbling season, this time under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Blues – who got back to winning ways with a 3-2 win over the Magpies on Monday night – slotted in at 19th with a handicap of 19 and 0.5 PPG – taking their total to 52.5.
