Sitting top on Christmas Day makes the festivities that much more enjoyable - but success is far from guaranteed for league leaders. Liverpool will enjoy the pleasure this season following a blistering start under Arne Slot. Their 6-3 win at Tottenham was as big a statement that has been laid down all year, but the Reds know better than most that being top of the pile on December 25 means little come May.
This will be the seventh time they've been at the summit of the Premier League but only once have they converted that into success months later. That was back in 2019/20 when they had all but wrapped up the title by the New Year such was their form. Other clubs have been well clear by the time Santa Claus makes his annual visit - both Manchester clubs previously enjoying huge leads. For others there have been tales to forget as promising positions didn't end up manifesting the trophy in May.
Few are betting against Liverpool this year with Manchester City faltering. Arsenal and Chelsea look to be their closest challengers but there appear to be few chinks in the Anfield armour this term, but history tells us there could still be a host of twist and turns to come yet.
We take a look at every club to be looking pretty come Christmas Day - and where they eventually finished up. In the first year of English football's brave new world it was the Canaries who looked as if they may take the spoils. They ultimately finished 12 points off Ferguson's United side with Norwich losing four of their final eight games with Aston Villa pipping them into second.
