Blackburn Rovers were top at Christmas in 1994 – but did they go on and win the title? (Image: Getty)
From Norwich City through to Newcastle United, history shows there are no presents for being top of the tree at Christmas. Not the Premier League tree anyway, with the majority of sides still having 21 games to go this season by the time the stockings go out for Santa.
Just ask Arsenal, who last season congregated on Boxing Day morning full of festive hope, leading the way in the title race and strongly positioned to conquer the top flight for the first time since children could track Rudolph on the internet. By New Year’s Day however, Mikel Arteta’s side had been beaten by West Ham and Fulham, as festive cheer disintegrated into early January blues.
This year, it is Arne Slot’s Liverpool who lead the way in what is our 32nd Premier League campaign. The Dutchman is too hard nosed and pragmatic to scroll through examples of yesteryear, but if he was to look at the 31 sides who preceded the Reds in this position, he’d see a mixture of outcomes.
Express Sport takes you through the fate of all those who were able to enjoy their mistletoe and wine at the summit of English football….
1992/93: Norwich City (eventually finished 2nd)
Mike Walker orchestrating potential glory. Efan Ekoku tearing it up. That hideous green and gold design on the kit. You remember the era of the Canaries being on course for Premier League euphoria, right?
Ok, me neither really. In fact, their early season title burst had already begun to fizzle out by the big day with pre-Christmas defeats to Manchester United and Ipswich. That was followed by a run of four more games without a win, and just one goal scored, and eventually Walker and co were third – a full 12 points off United.
It did mean however, a UEFA Cup spot and the fabled Jeremy Goss goal against Bayern Munich. But those outside of Carrow Road are unlikely to recall the half-season wonders in too much detail.
John Gregory once had Aston Villa top during the festive period. (Image: Getty)
1993/94: Man Utd (champions)
If Norwich proved that being top of Christmas guaranteed nothing, then the following campaign United at least showed nor was it a poison chalice. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side weren’t to lose again until March 5, and despite a spirited late fight from Blackburn Rovers, ended up champions with eight points in hand.
They also landed the FA Cup and seemingly, we were in the dawn of an unprecedented era of success. Or were we…..
1994/95: Blackburn Rovers (champions)
Before the likes of Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour, there was Jack Walker’s millions. Like lists to Santa, finances in football have inflated a bit since then, with Walker seemingly spending his way into the big time with the signings of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton for, wait for it, a combined £7.6million fortune.
But when his Rovers side topped the tree for Christmas in 1994, few expected them to realistically hold off Fergie’s fledglings. Hold off they did though, despite losing at Anfield on the final day, courtesy of Andy Cole’s failure to hit a barn door at Upton Park as United drew with West Ham.
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1995/96: Newcastle United (2nd)
The mere mention of Newcastle being 10 points clear at this stage in 1995 is enough to melt even the hardest of Toon Army hearts. A £16million summer spending spree, scintillating football, and United not being able ‘to win anything with kids’ meant Christmas cheer was sure to transform into unconfined joy in May.
Instead, came a capitulation that should still keep Kevin Keegan awake at night. Despite losing 1-0 to United on December 27, Newcastle’s lead extended to 12 in January before their sleigh came crashing down, with Stan Collymore playing Grinch in the famous 4-3 Liverpool loss. United took the title by four, and second place was of little consolation for ‘King Kev’.
1996/97: Liverpool (4th)
Long before Jurgen Klopp arrived to turn dreamers into believers, Liverpool fans were teased into believing it was ‘our year’ again. Under the less fashionable Roy Evans, the goals of Robbie Fowler – supplemented by an abundance of homegrown talent – seemingly had them threatening United’s superiority when they topped the festive table.
It wasn’t to last though. An indifferent second half of the season allowed the Red Devils to saunter home by seven points, with Liverpool frustratingly finishing fourth after losing out to Newcastle and Arsenal on goal difference. To compound matters, they were beaten 1-0 by United in a rank awful FA Cup final.
Alex Ferguson celebrated Manchester United’s 1999 title win. (Image: Getty)
1997/98: Manchester United (2nd)
When Ferguson’s side again led the way at the mid-point, the majority assumed that three in a row was incoming. Some little-known philosophical French manager had other ideas though.
After a 1-0 win at Old Trafford late in the season, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal kept their momentum going and eventually took the title by a single point. Their fightback was to spark off one of the most intense club rivalries in English top-flight history.
1998/99: Aston Villa (6th)
In a season remembered for United’s historic treble, and a title race that went down to the final day, it’s rarely recalled that John Gregory’s Aston Villa were the team on course for glory at Christmas. Villa, inspired bu Julian Joachim, topped the table on December 25 although few expected them to last the pace.
And the majority were correct. Villa ran out of gas soon after their turkey and trimmings, and after losing their final three league fixtures, didn’t even qualify for an Intertoto Cup place.
1999/2000: Leeds United (3rd)
David O’Leary’s side backed up their December 25 position by beating Leicester on Boxing Day, but then things went wrong. As Ferguson took his side off to Brazil for the controversial Club World Cup, Leeds failed to capitalise with consecutive defeats to Arsenal and Aston Villa.
United duly returned from their glorified holiday to win the title from Arsenal, with O’Leary’s men third and a full 22 points off the champions. A hazy Champions League run did follow but then, so did financial oblivion soon after.
2000/2001: Man Utd (champions)
There seemed little chance of stopping United’s march to a third straight title by the time Christmas came along, and indeed there wasn’t. Ferguson’s team finished 10 points clear of Arsenal in what was more of a procession than a race.
2001/2002: Newcastle United (4th)
Again Newcastle failed to turn a mid-season lead into title silverware, but under Bobby Robson, this was nothing like the Keegan capitulation. While Arsenal eventually came through to be champions, the Geordie side were eventually fourth and made their way into the Champions League, with fans hailing the campaign a success.
Liverpool finally converted a Christmas lead into glory in 2019/20. (Image: Getty)
2002/2003: Arsenal (2nd)
Before the ‘Invincibles’, came the ‘very fallible’ group. The Gunners were in charge for much of the season before losing their nerve over the final weeks as United got back on their perch – with Wenger’s men losing a 2-0 lead over Bolton before a home loss to a relegation threatened Leeds sealed their fate.
2003/2004: Man Utd (3rd)
Even after the penalty miss of Ruud van Nistelrooy and the antics of Martin Keown, it was still the Red Devils in charge as we ticked into 2004. This time however, Arsenal finished anything but erratically, with Wenger’s team going all 38 games unbeaten in a feat not matched to this day.
United couldn’t even secure a top two place, with Chelsea sneaking above them on the final day. That wasn’t enough to save Claudio Ranieri’s job though….
2004/2005: Chelsea (champions)
Jose Mourinho arrived, hailed himself as the ‘Special One’, was top on December 25, and then took aim at Wenger for not sending him a Christmas Card. Oh, and then his Chelsea side went on to take the title by 12 points. Talk the talk, walk the walk I guess.
2005/06: Chelsea (champions)
Much of the above can be copied and pasted. Except this time the Blues were a mere eight points clear when Mourinho hauled his title medal into the crowd at Stamford Bridge.
2006/07: Man Utd (champions)
For the third season in a row, the team top at Christmas went on to become champions. Except this time, it was Sir Alex back on top as Mourinho, whose Chelsea side ended six points off the pace, was forced to settle for the mediocrity of a League and FA Cup double.
2007/08: Arsenal (3rd)
Just ahead of Christmas, and five clear by February, but despite Wenger’s return to title relevance his side could not last the pace as United and Chelsea again took over. The Gunners ended third and four points behind champions United, although their tally of 83 points remains a record for a team in that position in the 38-game format.
2008/09: Liverpool (2nd)
This time, it really should have been ‘our year’ as far as Liverpool fans were concerned. Top at Christmas, Steven Gerrard in peak form and Fernando Torres on fire, there was genuine hope on Merseyside that the days of being goaded by rival United fans would soon be over.
Carlo Ancelotti won the double in his first season at Chelsea. (Image: Getty)
Cue, that infamous Rafa Benitez ‘facts’ rant. Cue, three successive draws at the turn of the year. And despite the famous 4-1 win at Old Trafford later on the season, cue second place to the club they despise by four points.
2009/10: Chelsea (champions)
If anyone could break United’s stranglehold, it was Carlo Ancelotti. He took his Chelsea side top by Christmas and unlike Benitez, there was little sign of a head’s gone moment in front of the media.
The Blues just about held off Fergie’s men by hammering Wigan 8-0 on the final day. It left them a point clear, and they added the FA Cup to boot.
2010/11: Man Utd (champions)
United’s response was emphatic, establishing a December lead that eventually yielded another title by nine points. Chelsea were second, but as far as Ferguson as the Red Devils were concerned, in third place some ’noisy neighbours’ were emerging.
2011/12: Man City (champions)
To simply say that Roberto Mancini’s side converted a Christmas lead into a title win is like skipping from the opening scene to the credits of Die Hard. United had seemingly wrestled back control when in the final weeks, a 4-4 draw with Everton and Vincent Kompany’s bullet header at the Etihad shifted momentum again.
Then came an injury time period on the final day that for City fans, not even Christmas morning will ever match. And few have been given a better present than the one delivered by Sergio Aguero.
2012/13: Man Utd (champions)
United’s last Premier League title win seemed in little doubt from their early season 3-2 win over City. Inspired by Robin van Persie, Ferguson reasserted his grip on English football in an underwhelming title race, the gap nine points by the time the Scot waved goodbye at West Brom on the final day.
Replacing Ferguson with David Moyes however, would prove the equivalent of subbing in one of the elves for Santa Claus. The rest, unfortunately for United fans, is history.
In unravelled for Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard back in 2013/14. (Image: Getty)
2013/14: Liverpool (2nd)
For 35 games, Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers defied all expectations to move to the brink of an unlikely title win. In the three that followed, even Keegan’s Newcastle would have watched on blushing.
Post Christmas Day defeats to Chelsea and eventual champions City didn’t derail momentum. But a home loss to a second string Chelsea side, supplemented by Gerrard’s notorious slip, and giving up a 3-0 lead at Crystal Palace most definitely did.
2014/15: Chelsea (1st)
If any fans still questioned the Mourinho 2.0 era at Stamford Bridge, this season was the high point. Top at Christmas, his Chelsea side were three clear of City at Christmas and eight clear by May. The harmony between club and manger of course, didn’t last long afterwards.
2015/16: Leicester City (champions)
Top at Christmas, but a Boxing Day defeat to Liverpool saw the Foxes already second by New Year. The plucky run of Claudio Ranieri’s chancers was now at an end, wasn’t it?
Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle were once 10 points clear on Christmas Day. (Image: Getty)
Cue the most sensational achievement in Premier League history. And after finishing 10 points clear of Arsenal, there isn’t a Leicester fan since who doesn’t believe in miracles, and probably Santa Claus too for that matter.
2016/17: Chelsea (champions)
This campaign would never match the drama of the previous one, and it was Antonio Conte’s Chelsea who sauntered to the title, even if they did make neutral viewers suffer along the way. Six clear at Christmas, seven clear of Spurs by the time the final bell rang, it wasn’t exactly a title race for the ages.
2017/18: Man City (champions)
As Conte’s pragmatism faded, a new era of 4-3-3 formations and relentless possession-based football was born. Pep Guardiola’s City didn’t just lead the Premier League from Christmas through to May, they pretty much kept the ball throughout that period too, finishing a huge 19 points clear of United.
2018/19: Liverpool (2nd)
Would ‘our year’ finally arrive for Liverpool fans? It really would have done, had City not produced a scintillating finish to the season to take the silverware by a solitary point.
The Reds were four clear on Christmas Day, lost just one league game all season, finished on 97 points and also bagged the Champions League. Somehow, someway, Guardiola and co ended on 98, courtesy of a final day win at Brighton.
2019/20: Liverpool (champions)
Way top at Christmas, 25 clear in March, finally, finally, nothing could surely deny Liverpool fans their time. Enter stage right, Covid-19. After weeks of panic that the campaign would be deemed ‘null and void’ though, eventually things did resume behind closed doors.
Jurgen Klopp’s side would later finish 18 points ahead of Guardiola and co, but celebrated their success in front of zero fans. The strangest end to the strangest season, and one that betrayed Liverpool’s brilliant campaign.
2020/21: Man City (champions)
It started in empty stadiums, and finished with smatterings of supporters. A largely forgettable, and soulless, Premier League campaign was summarised by City sauntering clear at Christmas, and finishing top again in May.
Pep Guardiola has won six titles with Manchester City. (Image: Getty)
2021/22: Man City (champions)
Another epic title battle, another agonising outcome for Liverpool as City came from 2-0 down on the final day to beat Aston Villa. It left them on 93 points, just one clear of the Reds, and gave everyone a sense of deja vu,
2022/23: Arsenal (2nd)
Top at Christmas, five points off the pace by May. Mikel Arteta’s squad might not have gone the distance in the Premier League, but they finished it amid a perception that they were well placed for a stronger challenge next time around.
2023/24: Arsenal (2nd)
That perception was so nearly proved right (see intro as to why it wasn’t). But once again, it was City, it was Pep, and for the first time in Premier League history, it was four titles in a row.
