LONDON (REUTERS) - History is on the side of leaders Liverpool as they chase a first English league title since 1990 but their four-point lead over Manchester City after 21 games is the smallest margin between the top two in over a century.
The last 11 teams with the equivalent of 52 or more points at the same stage since 1905-06 went on to lift the title, but the strength of this year's top four means Liverpool on 54 points face an especially daunting task.
Sports data company Gracenote have recalculated seasons before the English top flight moved from two to three points for a win in 1981 and say the data reveals that the current top four is the most dominant ever.
Liverpool, City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are separated by 10 points, and are on course to break the record cumulative tally of 333 points set by the top four in each of the last two seasons.
Of the 11 teams that won the league after leading at this stage since 1905-06, when 20 teams competed for the first time, many had sizeable leads unlike Liverpool's slender advantage this time round.
City, for instance, held a 14-point advantage over Chelsea at the same stage last year and are the first top-flight team to reach the 50-point mark after 21 games and not lead the table.
While wealthy teams at the top of the pile have improved, the evidence suggests those at the other end of the table have got comparatively worse.
Basement side Huddersfield Town's 10 points after 21 games is the lowest by any Premier League team since Derby County managed seven points 11 seasons ago, while Fulham's tally of 14 points is the lowest for a team in 19th place for six years.
Fulham are one of only four teams in the Premier League era to record 14 points or less at this stage and not be bottom of the league. The others Watford (1999-2000), Southampton (2004-2005) and Reading (2012-2013) were all relegated.
Football. Home football Kylian Mbappe reaches half century as PSG brush Nimes aside goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Nimes at the Parc de Princes in
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footballnations.net/france/ligue-1/mbappe-reaches-ligue-1-half-century-as-psg-brush-nimes-aside/
Kylian Mbappe celebrates with fellow goal-scorer Christopher Nkunku. FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) Kylian Mbappe became the youngest player in 45 years to reach 50 Ligue 1 goals as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nimes 3-0 at home on Saturday to stretch their lead at the top to 17 points.
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale came off the bench and coolly converted a penalty to secure a 2-1 win at Levante in LaLiga on Sunday as the European champions rode their luck to stay within nine points of leaders Barcelona.
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Your lender wants to ensure that there's always enough money in your account to pay the bills when they're due. Lenders usually require you to keep a little extra money in your escrow account at all times in case your taxes or premiums go up or you're late with a payment in the month a bill comes due.
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'The first choice is the gentleman by my side': Benfica appoint interim coach Bruno Lage after Jose Mourinho ruled himself out of the job. The 42-year-old was initially appointed as a stop-gap
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Jun 08, 2019 · Giulia Gwinn gets Germany over against China at Women's World Cup. By The Associated Press. Sat., June 8, 2019. An own goal made it 3-0 and wrapped up scoring before the break.
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