There's no place quite like home.
The significance of home advantage in almost every sport is distinct, and such a disparity between home and away form becomes clear at the elite level.
This distinction manifested further during the Covid-19 pandemic when Premier League games were played without supporters during the end of the 2019/20 season and for much of 2020/21. The advantage of playing at home dissipated in the absence of fans before normality resumed at the start of the 2021/22 campaign.
The foundation for any successful side is an imperious home record. Antonio Conte must've mentioned the need to evolve the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into a "fortress" at least 81,910 times during his ill-fated tenure. Conte's time at Spurs might not have garnered much success, but the Italian was well aware of the significance of an intimidating home atmosphere.
The very best sides, from Mourinho's Chelsea, Fergie's United, and Pep's City, have all been seemingly impossible to beat on home soil. However, they also made the challenging art of winning away look unerringly simple, too. The best-performing team on their travels typically ends the season as champions, while such triumphs go a long way to a side beating the drop when it's all said and done.
Here's what the home and away tables look like for the 2022/23 Premier League season.
2022/23 Premier League home table
The Etihad has long been thrust into fortress territory. City's first Premier League title in 2011/12 was built off their majestic home record which saw them attain 55 points from a possible 57. They secured 52 during their successful 2013/14 season before the arrival of Guardiola coincided with relentless consistency.
The Citizens look poised to top the home charts again. They've been beaten just once on home soil in all competitions this season, with Brentford beating them 2-1 just before the World Cup break. City were also held to a draw by Everton on New Year's Eve, but those are the only blemishes on their record. The likes of Man Utd, Liverpool, and Arsenal have been battered by Guardiola's side at the Etihad this season.
Despite enduring a campaign that didn't really get going until very recently, Liverpool's record Anfield has remained supreme. Only City have picked up more home points than the Reds (43) this season, with Leeds (!) being the only away side to win at Anfield this term.
At the other end of the table, it's no surprise that the four poorest performing home teams are right in the middle of the relegation dogfight - Leeds, Everton, Leicester and Southampton.
The other team involved in the scrap at the foot of the table, Nottingham Forest, have been kept afloat by their form at the City Ground. Steve Cooper's side, on average, currently have the 12th best home record.
2022/23 Premier League away table
The team that picked up the most points away from home in the last eight Premier League seasons has gone on to win the Premier League title. Arsenal currently top the away standings having accrued 39 points from 18 games, but Man City will usurp them should they win their remaining three games on the road.
City have amassed 33 points from 16 away games thus far, and they've been the best-performing away side in each of their title-winning campaigns under Guardiola.
This season, only Southampton boast a superior points-per-game record away from home than they do at St. Mary's. The Saints sit bottom of the Premier League, which depicts the importance of home form in the fight against relegation.
Forest are on course for a historically poor season on their travels, but they've already topped Derby County's record of amassing just three away points. Cooper's side have picked up six.
Only the four top performing away sides; Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle and Brighton, have a positive away goal difference, with the numbers numbers showing just how hard it is to win games away from a familiar environment in the Premier League.
Current Premier League table, top scorers & upcoming fixtures
This article was originally published on 90min as Premier League home & away tables - 2022/23.
