Is the Premier League’s “Big Six” still intact? BBC raises doubts

For years the Premier League’s identity has been tied to the “Big Six” of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. But BBC Sport is asking whether the on-pitch era of that group is starting to fade as the table looks less predictable.

The report highlights Tottenham’s slide: they finished one place above the relegation zone in each of the past two campaigns, and are currently second bottom on three points after failing to win any of their first six games. It also points to a tough start for two of the traditional heavyweights, with Manchester United 13th and Liverpool ninth.

More challengers at the top

As dominance weakens, the argument is that more clubs have broken into the top. In the past three seasons, five of the six highest spots have gone to teams outside the traditional group—matching the number from the previous eight years combined.

The shift is also financial. Newcastle are cited after a £305m takeover led by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in 2021, moving from 11th in 2021-22 to fourth the next season and fifth two seasons later. Brighton’s recruitment model is another example, and sporting director Mike Cave explained on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast that the data-led approach is “just a component of a bigger process”. He added it helps the club identify talent worldwide “in quite an efficient way” so they can act quickly in a market he calls “really competitive”.