Chelsea may be running away with the Premier League title race, but a key stat has shown that fans from all of the current top six teamsin England (yes, including Arsenal)should actually be revelling in their side's current standings.
This season has mostly seen life at the top of the league return to normality, compared tolast year's bizarre and almostunbelievabletitle race that saw Leicester City crowned champions.
The Foxes' fall from grace continues to gather pace at an all-too alarming rate for Claudio Ranieri and his men, but whilst they are struggling to replicate their previous heroics,all of the league's top six teams are actually better off after 24 games this season, compared to 12 months ago.
Chelsea have 30 more pts this ssn after 24 PL games than last ssn (59 v 29); Liverpool +12; Spurs & MUFC +5; M City & Arsenal +2; LCFC -29.
Unsurprisingly, the biggest winners are the current leaders, and some may now start saying champions-elect,Chelsea, who are 30 points better off. Their goal difference is also drastically better, with the Blues standing on +34 after 24 games this season, compared to -2 this time last year.
Liverpool have seen the second biggest improvement amongst the top six sidesas they are 12 points ahead of where they were last February, although that gap has shortened considerably in recent weeks as they are yet to win a league game since the New Year began.
Here is how the Premier League table stands after tonight's games. pic.twitter.com/5IGoRWExZ0
Tottenham and Manchester City are both five points up on last season and yet they may rightfullyfeel slightly underwhelmed asthe gap between themselves and the league leaders is significantly larger this time around in comparison to last year, which underlines just how dominant Chelsea have been.
One group of fans who are certainly feel demoralised right now is theArsenal faithful who are still seething at Wenger and his team following their crushing 3-1 defeat to Antonio Conte's men last weekend.
Despite the 'Wenger' Out' brigade sharpening their pitchforks once again,the Gunners have actuallyimproved compared to this time last season and have collected two points more.
Manchester United meanwhile may find themselves one place worse off this time around, but they too have improved by two points this year, although theywould perhaps have wanted to see a bigger upturn in fortunes after spending over £150m last summer.
The top 6 of the #PL after a goal-filled weekend pic.twitter.com/rNMesbGlI2
So, as Chelsea seemingly sail off into the distance and close in on their fifth Premier League title, it may be worth noting that the rest of the chasing pack have at least improved on last season.
And if nothing else, those who fail to take comfort from that stat should spare a thought for the current reigning champions, Leicester, who are staggeringly 29 points worse off this year andcould yet become only the second team ever in English top-flight history to be relegated the season after winning the title.
Now that really is something to get upset about.