Premier League ‘BIG 6’ head-to-head table: Arsenal & Spurs flying, Utd bottom

There's some debate over whether the concept of the 'big six' is relevant in the Premier League in 2023, with Newcastle United in the Champions League and Aston Villa and Brighton punching well above their weight to bloody the noses of the established elite.

Still, the fact remains that the same six clubs – Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea – tend to be the only clubs that finish in the top four (Newcastle bucked that trend last term and it will be interesting to see if they can keep it up), while being responsible for six of the top seven wage bills and comfortably the most-expensively assembled squads in terms of transfer fees.

And it's often the much-hyped meetings between these top clubs that can make or break their seasons. We're now seven games into the 2023-24 campaign and have enjoyed a few of these blockbuster clashes, most of which have actually lived up to the expectation.

Here's how the 'big six' head-to-head table stacks up in 2023-24 so far. We've ordered them in terms of points per game, with goal difference used if they're level.

=1. Arsenal

Played: 3

Won: 2

Drawn: 1

Lost: 0

Goals for: 6

Goals against: 3

Goal difference: +3

Points per game: 2.3

Late drama saw Mikel Arteta's Gunners come out on top against Manchester United in their first 'big six' clash of the season and they went on to draw 2-2, twice losing the lead, in their home North London derby. They then went on to beat Manchester City in the league for the first time in Mikel Arteta's reign.

=1. Tottenham

Played: 3

Won: 2

Drawn: 1

Lost: 0

Goals for: 6

Goals against: 3

Goal difference: +3

Points per game: 2.3

Ange Postecoglou has made an excellent start to life as Spurs boss, with a statement-making 2-0 victory over Manchester United followed by their spirited draw at the Emirates. They maintained their form with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over nine-man Liverpool, and have now just taken one point fewer from 'big six' matches than they mustered in the entirety of last season.

3. Chelsea

Played: 1

Won: 0

Drawn: 1

Lost: 0

Goals for: 1

Goals against: 1

Goal difference: 0

Points per game: 1.0

Chelsea's disastrous form has continued under new boss Mauricio Pochettino and they don't even have the excuse of particularly tricky fixtures. The Blues kicked off the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool, but that remains their only 'big six' clash to date under the Argentinian coach.

4. Liverpool

Played: 2

Won: 0

Drawn: 1

Lost: 1

Goals for: 2

Goals against: 3

Goal difference: -1

Points per game: 0.5

Liverpool actually had a half-decent record in these showpiece occasions in their otherwise desperately disappointing 2022-23 campaign. They won four and lost just three of their 10 'big six' outings last season. Things have flipped somewhat this season, though, with just one point taken from Chelsea and Tottenham while they've consistently won the rest of their matches.

5. Manchester City

Played: 1

Won: 0

Drawn: 0

Lost: 1

Goals for: 0

Goals against: 1

Goal difference: -1

Points per game: 0.0

Last season Manchester City had the best record in 'big six' clashes last season. They did the double over runners-up Arsenal, which proved pivotal in ending the season five points clear at the top of the table. But they've lost their first 'big six' clash of 2023-24 with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Arsenal – their first league defeat to them since 2015.

6. Manchester United

Played: 2

Won: 0

Drawn: 0

Lost: 2

Goals for: 1

Goals against: 5

Goal difference: -4

Points per game: 0.0

There was a lot for Erik ten Hag to be encouraged about in his first season in charge of Manchester United, but their record on the road against top-half opposition left a lot to be desired – they only beat Fulham and lost the rest. That trend has continued amid their slow start to 2023-24 with defeats at Arsenal and Tottenham – as well as at home to Brighton.