Premier League: Same old story or a big change? SunSport reveals the difference between last year’s and this season’s table

‘WHAT a difference a year makes’ – try telling that to the Premier League!

The new season is well and truly underway, and it looks set to be the closest title race ever.

Manchester City 2015/16 season

P: 9 | W: 7 | D: 0 | L: 2 | GF: 24 | GA: 8 | GD: 16 | Points: 21 | Position: 1^st 

Manchester City 2016/17 season

P: 9 | W: 6 | D: 2 | L: 1 | GF: 20 | GA: 9 | GD: 11 | Points: 20 | Position: 1^st

However, some things never change – Manchester City are at the top of the table after nine games, and held the exact same position at this stage of the season last year.

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It gets better – Arsenal have held on to second place for the second year in a row.

And if that wasn’t enough – Sunderland are still dead last!

But for those thinking time has frozen, all three clubs are either one point below or above their tally at the same stage in 2015.

Arsenal 2015/16 season

P: 9 | W: 6 | D: 1 | L: 2 | GF: 16 | GA: 7 | GD: 9 | Points: 19 | Position: 2^nd

Arsenal 2016/17 season

P: 9 | W: 6 | D: 2 | L: 1 | GF: 19 | GA: 9 | GD: 10 | Points: 20 | Position: 2^nd

In fact, every other club in the league has a different amount of points and a new position – with one exception.

Incredibly, Southampton have once again taken 13 points in the same manner – and again occupy 8^th in the table.

The Saints might have scored less under Claude Puel than Ronald Koeman, but they’ve also conceded fewer – and wind up with exactly the same goal difference too.

Chelsea 2015/16 season

P: 9 | W: 3 | D: 2 | L: 4 | GF: 14 | GA: 17 | GD: -3 | Points: 11 | Position: 12^th

Chelsea 2016/17 season

P: 9 | W: 6 | D: 1 | L: 2 | GF: 19 | GA: 9 | GD: 10 | Points: 19 | Position: 4^th

There’s been plenty of movement near the top, with Chelsea a whole eight points better off at this stage of the season than the last.

Title hopefuls Liverpool have gained an extra seven points, while Tottenham have five more points in the bag.

But while some have shone, others have faded with dramatic effect.

Manchester United 2015/16 season

P: 9 | W: 6 | D: 1 | L: 2 | GF: 15 | GA: 8 | GD: 7 | Points: 19 | Position: 3^rd

Manchester United 2016/17 season

P: 9 | W: 4 | D: 2 | L: 3 | GF: 13 | GA: 12 | GD: 1 | Points: 14 | Position: 7^th

Jose Mourinho was hired to take Manchester United back to the top, but the Red Devils are five points worse off than when they were under the watchful eye of Louis van Gaal.

Leicester are struggling too, with the champions also five points behind last year’s tally after losing more matches than they’ve won.

But West Ham have had the biggest fall from grace, with the Irons seven points off their 2015 haul following an arguably disastrous move to the London Stadium.