Stats: Manchester United players have covered the least distance in the Premier League so far
The 2016/17 Premier League season is now 5 matches old and the table now gives us a better idea of where teams stand at the start of the season. While it is still too early to predict who will finish top come May 2017, the early signs suggest that the traditional big teams will be fighting it out for top honours and a top four finish.
Manchester City have already wrested the initiative and taken the lead at the top with five wins in five games – a perfect message to the rest of the league, especially after they beat Manchester United in the derby. Everton are second with four wins and a draw while Tottenham Hotspur have three wins and a draw. These three are the only clubs still undefeated in a highly competitive Premier League this season.
Manchester United, who started the season so well under Jose Mourinho, suddenly find themselves down in seventh place below the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. Three losses in three games for the Portuguese boss (one in the Europa League) has sent shockwaves through the league and the last loss against Watford has only poured more misery on the fans who simply did not see this coming.
The Red Devils have looked lethargic in their games and that has reflected in the distance covered by the team as a whole. The Old Trafford club are at the bottom of the table when it comes to total distance covered by the entire team.
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Having run only 526.6 km, it looks far from the hardworking teams Mourinho has put out in the past at his previous clubs. It all started to unravel after the defeat in the Manchester derby and rifts have started to appear in the dressing room – partly due to certain players being thrown under the bus by the manager at press conferences and partly due to players simply not getting enough game time.
There is no surprise at the top with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool leading the table having covered 581.6 km – 55 km more than their arch-rivals! The German boss deploys his team with instructions to press their opponents and that has reflected in the numbers.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are also not far behind with 570.7 km covered. But they could be excused after having faced relatively easier opponents compared to Liverpool. The Reds have already faced Arsenal, Spurs, Leicester City and Chelsea in a tough start to the season. Spurs themselves are in third place. Mauricio Pochettino is also another proponent of pressing tactics and the London side have run 565.9 km so far in five games.
| # | Club | Distance (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 581.6 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 570.7 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 565.9 |
| 4 | Burnley | 563.9 |
| 5 | West Bromwich Albion | 562.9 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 556.4 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 554.6 |
| 8 | Bournemouth | 549.4 |
| 9 | Southampton | 545.1 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 544.8 |
| 11 | Swansea City | 543.2 |
| 12 | Everton | 541.2 |
| 13 | West Ham United | 539.5 |
| 14 | Chelsea | 539.4 |
| 15 | Watford | 539.1 |
| 16 | Stoke City | 536.4 |
| 17 | Hull City | 536.3 |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 533.9 |
| 19 | Sunderland | 526.7 |
| 20 | Manchester United | 526.6 |