Man Utd lead Premier League form table before Sheffield Utd clash

At the equivalent stage last season in terms of games played, Liverpool were eight points clear in pole position. Manchester City and Chelsea have also built up substantial early leads during recent title-winning campaigns.

In a term that is more reminiscent of 2015/16, when Leicester defied the odds to become champions, nobody has yet bettered United’s tally of four consecutive wins. At the weekend, none of the traditional ‘Big Six’ managed to take home all three points from their various fixtures – the first time in over a decade that has happened.

If you look at form over the last five games, United lead the way on 13 points from a possible 15, followed by West Ham with 12. The resurgent Hammers have only failed to win once in that spell, when they were beaten by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men 10 days ago.

Tottenham (11 points from 15) and Liverpool (nine) are the only sides other than the Reds not to have lost in this period, while Thursday’s opponents Sheffield United haven’t claimed a single point. In fact, the Blades have lost their last seven in the league.