To win the Premier League, you will often need to do the business against the other teams at the top of the table.
It’s not always the case, of course – Manchester City took just three points from Liverpool and Chelsea when they won the title in 2014 – but victory in those big six-pointers can often make the difference.
Two such games occurred at the weekend, with Arsenal and Tottenham completing doubles over Leicester City and Manchester City respectively.
But neither side finds itself at the top of the mini-league between the Premier League’s top eight – that honour goes to seventh-placed West Ham.
6 – Manchester City have taken just six points against the other teams in the top 8. Weakness. pic.twitter.com/SEDZM2t0UH
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 15, 2016
Slaven Bilic’s team have recorded victories over Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool (twice) and Southampton so far this season, and when added to draws against the two Manchester sides that brings them 17 points from 10 games against those around them.
That’s a whole 10 points more than Manuel Pellegrini’s team, who have picked up 40 of their 47 points against teams placed 9th or lower in the table (their only win against a top-eight side was at home to Southampton in November).
Now, if only West Ham hadn’t lost against Bournemouth, Watford and Newcastle, they might be in with a shot at the title.
