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Man City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal the only Premier League sides with plus goal difference

Every side outside top six conceded more than they scored — and it's first time it's happened in top flight for 123 years

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EVERY single Premier League team outside the top six finished the season with a negative goal difference — emphasising the incredible gulf in class.

From seventh-place Burnley down, no one managed to score more than they conceded.

Burnley finished seventh in Premier League but with a minus goal difference
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Burnley finished seventh in Premier League but with a minus goal differenceCredit: PA:Press Association
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To make matters even worse, only three — Sean Dyche's men, Leicester and Newcastle — managed to keep it to single digits.

Stoke, the first team relegated, went down on -33, which was the worst record in the division, while Swansea (-28) and Huddersfield (-30) were the joint-lowest scorers in the league with 28 apiece.

Everton finished in eighth place, but conceded 14 more goals than they scored in an extremely disappointing campaign.

To put the gulf in perspective, champions Manchester City ended the campaign on +79, which is just two fewer than second place Manchester United's entire points total.

Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring Manchester City's 106th goal of campaign
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Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring Manchester City's 106th goal of campaignCredit: AFP
Everton eventually finished campaign in eighth place on -14 goal difference
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Everton eventually finished campaign in eighth place on -14 goal differenceCredit: AFP or licensors

Pep Guardiola's men finished as the leading scorers (106) and conceded the fewest (27). Liverpool had the next best goal difference, finishing on +46.

However, the Reds conceded 38 goals, which is only one fewer than Burnley.

It is the first time in 123 years that only the top six finished the campaign on a positive goal difference.

And, back in 1894-95, it was commonplace to see formations such as 1-1-8 and 2-2-6.

1894-95 league table: Only top finish season with positive goal difference
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1894-95 league table: Only top finish season with positive goal difference
Brazil legend Ronaldo hands Neymar Ligue 1 player of the year as he wins ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani
Not since 1894-95 have the bottom six sides finished on minus goal difference
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Not since 1894-95 have the bottom six sides finished on minus goal differenceCredit: PA:Empics Sport

In that campaign, Sunderland were champions with a goal difference of +43, while Liverpool were relegated after finishing bottom in the 16-team league.

Everton were runners-up, with Aston Villa, Preston, Blackburn and Sheffield United the other teams scoring more than they conceded.

Meanwhile, "The Wednesday" finished the campaign in eighth place and Small Heath (now Birmingham City) were 12th.

United — who were known as Newton Heath back then — finished third in the old Second Division, with Woolwich Arsenal six places behind.

Chelsea would not formed for another ten years, while Tottenham first competed in the Football League in 1908.

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