How important is a fast start for teams chasing the Premier League title?

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Manchester City are the only team to have won all five of their matches. Only four of the 14 teams that have won their first five matches of the season have gone on to win the title (29%): Manchester City in 2023-24, Liverpool in 2019-20, and Chelsea in 2009-10 and 2005-06.Perhaps most importantly, all four teams went on to add to their winning streak to start those seasons.

The fact Liverpool won four of their first five games with goals scored after the 83rd minute pointed to their run being unsustainable, and so it proved.Question marks about City’s defensive qualities this season suggest this may be another unsustainable winning run. They won 10 points from their first five games, dropping points by losing at Liverpool and drawing against Manchester City at home.

Mikel Arteta’s side have started this season better this time around, winning 12 points from a possible 15, with their only blemish the shock 3-0 loss at Brighton.The fewest points eventual Premier League champions have won from their first five games was in the inaugural season in 1992-93. Manchester United won only seven points from their first five matches (two wins, one draw and two defeats), but Alex Ferguson’s side recovered and finished 10 points clear of runners up Aston Villa after the 42-game season.No team has won a Premier League title in a 38-game season after winning fewer than eight points from their first five matches.