How the PL table would look if it began when Newcastle hired Howe

Eddie Howe was brought in as Newcastle United manager to replace the outgoing Steve Bruce in November 2021 and has made a huge impact on the club. The Premier League table since he took over shows just how huge.

When Howe was appointed as Newcastle’s new boss, they were 19th in the table and Premier League survival looked a tall order.

Fast forward six months and Howe’s Magpies finished the 2021-22 season in 11th place after picking up 49 points. The last time Newcastle had a better points tally in the Premier League was the iconic 2011-12 season.

This would have been unthinkable back when newly-appointed Howe watched from the stands as Newcastle played out a 1-1 draw to Brighton in early November.

The Tyneside outfit had failed to win their opening 11 matches under Bruce and Howe failed to win any of his first three. No Premier League side in history had previously managed to stay up after failing to win any of their first 14 matches.

In fact, the 44-year-old former Bournemouth coach took some time to deliver results. A narrow 1-0 victory at home to relegation rivals Burnley was Newcastle’s only win of his first nine matches in charge.

At the turn of the year, Newcastle sat 19th – only one point better off than bottom-placed Norwich – with just 11 points taken from 19 games.

But Newcastle’s form in 2022 has been nothing short of remarkable. Only Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham have taken more points this calendar year than Howe’s men.

But how would the table look if it began when Howe took over? Even including his slow start to life in the dugout at St. James’ Park, Newcastle have been up there with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, who will all be playing European football next season.

We’ve taken a look