Manchester United posted a 53-point swing on Liverpool between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Premier League seasons, underlining the two clubs' contrasting fortunes. United secured a return to Champions League football by finishing third in the top flight.
Michael Carrick inspired the upturn during an interim spell in charge after replacing Ruben Amorim, who was sacked in January. United's improvement has since led to Carrick being given the job on a permanent basis, a startling transformation after the club finished 15th last season.
United had the largest positive points swing of the 17 teams who featured in the top flight over the past two seasons. Their tally rose from 42 points in 2024-25, their lowest in the Premier League era, to 71 points this season, an increase of 29.
While United had the biggest positive swing, Liverpool suffered the largest negative swing as Arne Slot's side endured a nightmare title defence.
Slot had led Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season in charge, finishing on 84 points. Their tally dropped by 24 points this season, though the Reds still secured Champions League qualification by finishing fifth.
Champions Arsenal joined United as the only sides with a double-digit points increase, with Mikel Arteta's team improving by 11 points as the Gunners ended a 22-year wait for the title. Manchester City improved by seven points in Pep Guardiola's final season in charge but finished as runners-up.
Tottenham's remarkable rise
Tottenham made the fourth-largest improvement despite avoiding relegation on the final day of the season, rising from 38 to 41 points. The modest gain reflects back-to-back 17th-placed finishes over the two campaigns.
Tottenham had benefited from the bottom three teams being cut adrift last season, allowing Ange Postecoglou to focus on winning the Europa League without relegation risk. Bournemouth, who secured Europa League football, and Everton were the only other sides to add points, each rising by one.
Steep declines across the league
Aston Villa dropped by one point despite clinching Champions League qualification, while Brighton fell by eight points despite reaching the Conference League. Fulham fell by two points, Brentford by three, West Ham by four and Crystal Palace by eight.
Chelsea and Newcastle both dropped by 17 points, going from Champions League qualification last season to finishing 10th and 12th respectively this season.
Nottingham Forest's tally fell by 21 points after qualifying for Europe last season, with the club pulling clear of the relegation fight only in the final weeks. Relegated Wolves, who stayed bottom of the table all season, saw their points fall from 42 to 20.
Promoted clubs outperform relegated sides
Sunderland, who earned Europa League qualification by finishing seventh, along with Leeds and Burnley, earned 123 points between them this season. That is more than double the 59 points mustered last season by Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton.
