The race for the Premier League title is intensifying as several teams vie to lead the table on Christmas Day.
There's often a focus on the team at the top during Christmas, yet history reminds us that being there during the festivities doesn't ensure winning the title. Let's look back at the last 20 years and how the top teams on Christmas ended up at the conclusion of the season.
2003/04 – Top at Christmas: Man Utd, Champions: Arsenal
In 2003/04, Manchester United led the table at Christmas but Arsenal emerged as champions. This season is renowned for Arsenal's unprecedented unbeaten run, but despite their flawless campaign, it was Manchester United who held the top spot during the festive period.
United surged in December with six consecutive wins. However, Arsenal's remarkable consistency secured the title for them by the season's close.
Ultimately, United settled for third place, trailing Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles' by 15 points, having suffered nine Premier League losses.
From 2005 to 2007 season, teams finishing at top on the Christmas, claimed the title.
2005: Chelsea finished 1st
2006: Chelsea finished 1st
2007: Manchester United finished 1st
2007/08 – Top at Christmas: Arsenal, Champions: Man Utd
Arsenal appeared to be adjusting well to life after Thierry Henry as they took an early lead in the 2007/08 title race. They only lost once in their first 30 games of the season, placing them at the top by Christmas and maintaining that lead into late February.
However, their momentum was disrupted by a terrible injury to forward Eduardo during a match at Birmingham. This setback triggered a streak of five games without a win, allowing Chelsea and Manchester United to re-enter the title race.
Ultimately, it was Manchester United who claimed the championship. Despite Arsenal's impressive record of only three losses, they finished third as just four points separated the top three teams by the end of the season.
2008/09 – Top at Christmas: Liverpool, Champions: Man Utd
Moving on to the 2008/09 season, Liverpool held the top spot at Christmas but ended up falling short. Manchester United, renowned for their comeback prowess in Premier League races, secured their victory for the eighth time without leading at Christmas.
Under Rafael Benitez, Liverpool had a strong start in 2008, winning eight of their first 10 matches and leading the title race into the New Year. Despite only suffering two defeats all season, their numerous drawn matches, including goalless ones against teams like Fulham, West Ham, and Stoke, proved costly. This resulted in them finishing four points behind their rivals, with another Premier League title going to Old Trafford.
From the 2010 to 2013 season, teams finishing at top on the Christmas claimed the title.
2010: Chelsea finished 1st
2011: Manchester United finished 1st
2012: Manchester City finished 1st
2013: Manchester United finished 1st
2013/14 – Top at Christmas: Liverpool, Champions: Man City
For four successive seasons, the Christmas leaders were crowned champions every time, until Liverpool broke the pattern. They were caught by a Manchester City team that had solidified its place among the elite.
An intriguing battle for the title unfolded as Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool appeared to gain an unstoppable momentum, with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge forming an electrifying duo, scoring goals aplenty.
However, Steven Gerrard's memorable slip against Chelsea and a disastrous collapse at Crystal Palace led to City roaring back and seizing their second Premier League title on the season's last day.
From the 2015 to 2018 season, teams finishing at top on the Christmas claimed the title.
2015: Chelsea finished 1st
2016: Leicester City finished 1st
2017: Chelsea finished 1st
2018: Manchester City finished 1st
2018/19 – Top at Christmas: Liverpool, Champions: Man City
Five years later, it was the same two sides competing for the crown, with City once again coming from behind to overhaul Liverpool and win the Premier League.
Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Wolves in December meant that Jurgen Klopp’s side were top at Christmas, having gone the entire season unbeaten until defeat to title rivals City on January 3.
It proved a momentous moment in a title race that saw the two sides separated by just a single point, Liverpool falling agonisingly short despite finishing the season with a club-record 97 points.
City ended the season with a perfect 14-game winning run, Pep Guardiola’s side securing a second successive league title brilliantly.
In the 2019/20 season, Liverpool managed to retain their Christmas spot till the end of the season
2020/21 – Top at Christmas: Liverpool. Champions: Man City
Another tale of not being able to convert their Christmas lead into a title as Liverpool crumbled after the festive season while Man City went from strength to strength.
The Christmas Day table would see Liverpool four points clear while City were down in eighth after a sluggish start, albeit with a game in hand.
Liverpool’s imperious form would, however, evaporate, with the club picking up just three points from their first five games after Christmas before astonishingly losing six of their seven league games in February and March to leave them outside the top four.
As for City, they won 21 of their remaining 25 league games to romp to the title, a third in four years under Pep Guardiola, finishing 12 points clear of second-placed Manchester United and 17 in front of Liverpool, who recovered some form at the end of the campaign to secure Champions League qualification.
In the 2021/22 season, Manchester City managed to retain their Christmas spot till the end of the season, winning their second consecutive Premier League.
2022/23 – Top at Christmas: Arsenal. Champions: Man City
Arsenal topped the table on Christmas Day last year, as the Gunners mounted a surprise title challenge under Mikel Arteta.
The North Londoners are approaching two decades without a Premier League crown, but looked set to end that wait after leading the league for much of the 2022/23 campaign.
Arsenal led the league at Christmas after losing just once in their opening 16 games, while the Gunners topped the Premier League for a staggering 93% of the season.