Liverpool are English football’s top side, according to the Ultimate League table compiled by Sky Sports.
Everton v Manchester Utd
Only teams that have appeared in the top four English leagues for at least 15 seasons since 1964/65 have been included – although any ventures into non-league are also reflected.
Liverpool emerged top of the 90-team pile after recording a remarkable average finishing position of 3.3 over the past half-century. Rivals Manchester United and Arsenal complete the top three.
However, the Ultimate League also highlights which clubs are currently overachieving compared with their historical average position.
Swansea are the biggest overachievers – their current position of eighth in the Premier League is 47 places above where they are ranked using the 50-year average.
Championship title-chasers Bournemouth are the second-biggest overachievers, currently sitting 40 places above their average, but Portsmouth (-50) and Stockport County (-49) are well below their typical level.
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The top 20
Liverpool secured their status as champions of the 50-year Ultimate League by winning 12 league titles and finishing runner-up on 11 occasions since 1964/65. Top-spot regulars Manchester United and Arsenal finish second and third respectively in the average table, while Everton secure fourth.
Meanwhile, Tottenham come in fifth, with current Premier League leadersChelsea sixth.
Coventry City may be in League One but rank 15th in the Ultimate League. They enjoyed sustained top-flight status between 1967/68 to 2000/01 but are now the biggest underachievers among the top 20, sitting 17th in League One, 46 places below their Ultimate League ranking.
Five current Championship teams also appear in the top 20: Leeds United(25 places below their 50-year average), Nottingham Forest (-18), Ipswich Town (-12), Norwich City (-5) and Derby County (-5).
Teams ranked 21-44
Current promotion chasers Middlesbrough would be crowned Championship winners if the Ultimate League was divided into the current four divisions. QPR, Blackburn, Stoke, Birmingham and Wolves are also among the leading sides just outside of the top 20.
According to the average positions, Steve Cotterill’s Bristol City, who sealed promotion to the Championship last week, belong in England’s second tier league as they are 37th in the Ultimate League, while Sheffield Wednesdayjust get the bragging rights over local rivals Sheffield United.
Blackpool’s current place at the foot of the Championship is a fair reflection of their average position over the past 50 years, but current Premier League side Burnley are punching above their weight right now – typically they are ranked 36th in England.
Teams ranked 45-68
Bristol Rovers (-41) and Grimsby (-34) are two teams enduring tough times at the moment – both are currently playing at a level significantly below their 50-year average. According to the Ultimate League, the pair should be plying their trade in League One, instead, they are in the Conference Premier.
The Ultimate League also highlights how impressive Bournemouth andBrentford’s current runs at the top end of the Championship are, given their average positions over the past 50 years would see them in the bottom half of League One. They are currently 40 and 37 places better off than their Ultimate League position, respectively.
Teams ranked 69-90
Cheltenham Town are bottom of the Ultimate League, which puts their current League Two struggles into perspective.
Barnet, Bristol Rovers, Grimsby, Lincoln City, Macclesfield, Torquay Unitedand Wrexham all appear in the theoretical League Two, but currently play in the Conference Premier, while Stockport – ranked 79th in the Ultimate League – are in the Conference North.
The clubs that got away...
Clubs that have appeared in England’s top four tiers for 15 seasons or more since 1964/65 but were not included in the average league due to diminished status or dissolution include Chester City, Darlington, Hereford United, Newport County, Aldershot, Scarborough and Halifax Town.
The Ultimate League
1 Liverpool (avg position: 3.3)
2 Manchester United (4.9)
3 Arsenal (5.4)
4 Everton (8.8)
5 Tottenham Hotspur (9)
6 Chelsea (11)
7 Aston Villa (14.5)
8 Manchester City (14.6)
9 Newcastle United (14.6)
10 West Ham United (15.2)
11 Leeds United (16.4)
12 Southampton (17.9)
13 Nottingham Forest (20)
14 Ipswich Town (21.2)
15 Coventry City (22.2)
16 West Bromwich Albion (22.4)
17 Sunderland (22.5)
18 Leicester City (22.5)
19 Norwich City (22.9)
20 Derby County (23.3)
21 Middlesbrough (23.6)
22 Queens Park Rangers (25)
23 Blackburn Rovers (25.1)
24 Stoke (25.4)
25 Birmingham (26.1)
26 Wolverhampton Wanderers (26.5)
27 Crystal Palace (28.2)
28 Sheffield Wednesday (29)
29 Sheffield United (30)
30 Bolton Wanderers (32.1)
31 Charlton Athletic (32.2)
32 Fulham (35.7)
33 Watford (36.8)
34 Portsmouth (37.3)
35 Millwall (39.7)
36 Burnley (39.9)
37 Bristol City (41.7)
38 Luton Town (45.3)
39 Oldham Athletic (46.5)
40 Huddersfield Town (47.1)
41 Cardiff City (47.5)
42 Hull City (47.7)
43 Blackpool (47.7)
44 Reading (47.9)
45 Barnsley (47.9)
46 Brighton & Hove Albion (48)
47 Preston North End (48.1)
48 Swindon Town (49.9)
49 Notts County (53.3)
50 Plymouth Argyle (53.4)
51 MK Dons (Wimbledon) (53.5)
52 Oxford United (54.8)
53 Bristol Rovers (56.4)
54 Rotherham United (57.3)
55 Swansea Town (57.4)
56 Walsall (57.8)
57 Tranmere Rovers (58.4)
58 Carlisle United (58.7)
59 Leyton Orient (59.3)
60 Bradford City (59.5)
61 Grimsby (59.62)
62 Bournemouth (59.8)
63 Gillingham (60.4)
64 Brentford (61.3)
65 Port Vale (61.4)
66 Wigan Athletic (61.7)
67 Shrewsbury Town (61.8)
68 Bury (64.2)
69 Southend United (64.9)
70 Peterborough United (65.2)
71 Chesterfield Town (67.2)
72 Colchester United (67.5)
73 Crewe Alexandra (69.4)
74 Wrexham (69.9)
75 Doncaster Rovers (72.3)
76 Northampton Town (72.3)
77 Scunthorpe United (72.5)
78 Mansfield Town (73)
79 Stockport County (73.1)
80 Cambridge United (75.6)
81 Exeter City (77)
82 Hartlepool United (77.1)
84 Lincoln City (78.5)
85 Torquay United (78.9)
86 Rochdale (79.5)
87 Wycombe Wanderers (87.7)
88 Macclesfield Town (94.7)
89 Barnet (95.9)
90 Cheltenham Town (101.4)
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