There has been plenty of change in Premier League teams' fortunes in 2026 already with some sides turning the corner and others seeing themselves sink even further.
With well over a month of the new year already gone we thought it would be a good time to look at how the Premier League table stands purely for games played in 2026 and what it can tell us about the final season run in.
Teams have so far played between six and eight games since 2026 representing just under a quarter of a season although some of these runs go much further back and potentially may only just be starting.
Let's start at the top of the table though with Manchester United the most-inform team in the top flight for 2026 with 15 points from seven games (four wins, three draws). Chelsea and Bournemouth who really did show how to turn a rotten run around, are just behind on 14 points from seven games each respectively – a number Arsenal could match should they beat Brentford this evening.
However, if the Bees spring a surprise win tonight then they would be the team with the most Premier League points in 2026 with 16, albeit coming from eight games over the seven of the teams currently near the top.
The highest points tally currently for a team who have played eight is Manchester City with 13 points in that time.
Aston Villa had been tipped as potential title chasers but their new year form sees them seventh in the mini table of this year having won just three of their seven games. Liverpool are right behind them despite winning only two of eight.
West Ham United and Leeds United are two teams who looked like they could well go down and although they still could, their current form is thoroughly midtable and should they keep it going then safety should be assured.
That leaves us with teams in relegation form at the start of 2026. The most obvious of these is Tottenham Hotspur who are winless in their eight league games so far this year (four draws, four defeats) which is why Thomas Frank is no longer in charge.
While Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers are right down there already there are two teams who could 'sleepwalk' into the drop zone: rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace. The game between those two at the weekend showed that these are two sides with low confidence.
The Eagles won that game, their only win of 2026, while the Seagulls also have only one won league game since January 1st.
In fact both of those teams have only picked up six points this year – the same number as both Burnley and Wolves. With West Ham, Leeds, and even managerless Nottingham Forest all faring better this year they could soon be in real danger if things don't turn around.