liverpool are flat track bullies, so they are in their rightful position

IMHO a better trend is between points and GD.
On this basis, the PL table is also generally correct.
But Spurs are punching well above the stats, and the Poool are under-performing.

At the start of next season I'd love AVB to come out and say "our aim is to win the title".
I'm sick of managers saying at the start "aim is top 4 and we will be lucky to get that", surely every team should aim to win the title until its mathematically impossible to do so? Or am I being stupid?
Just seems defeatist to say 4th before a ball has been kicked

AVB has been 100% "on message" with his PL interviews.
CL place is the target. Take advantage of rivals' results.
Increased the gaps to our rivals.

I'm a little concerned about our goal difference - only a little but it could come down to level on points with Chelsea come the end of the season. Could be worth an extra point.

Sir, I think it just takes too much to overcome Man Utd for any manager to ever be able to say they are going to win the title. Its just ridiculous. Look what mega resources it has taken City to overhaul them for just one season and then not even sustain the challenge the next year. But in the group just below I think its fairly equal now.

GD is about where it was 12 months ago.
Although Spurs were going into free-fall by then.

GD very rarely settles anything...last season's title race was an anomaly.

If Spurs had drawn just one more game last season, GD would have meant 3rd place.

We didn't though, that's the point. It's a very rare occurrence and shouldn't be fretted over

Not fretting, but it is a consideration.

Last season, the top 2 finished on the same points, and success was decided on GD. 3rd/4th finished with the same GD, and were separated by 1 pt.

I would not be so dismissive of GD as some ...

Last season was an anomaly RBDB - that hasn't happened in a title race since Liverpool and Arsenal in 89.

Can you remember any other things being settled by GD in Prem history (nice round 20yrs)? Relegation? European qualification?

1-in-20 for the title.

I wonder how many pairs of sides finish with identical points every season?

My guess is only one pair on average

"My guess is only one pair on average"

Don't guess, go forth and gather the data.

On the move....will do it later at the PC.

Can you think of any other instances (where it has mattered)?