Which Premier League team has the best record after an international break?
We have already reached the second interval during the 2025-26 Premier League season, with attention turning to the international stage.
Those players selected for their nations have the opportunity to stay in rhythm, while those who aren’t have the chance to rest their legs and restore some energy.
Following the break, all 20 teams will be eager to hit the ground running upon their return to Premier League action.
Although, they have all endured contrasting fortunes in their first matches after an international break over the past five years.
Read on to see who are the best and worst, based purely on games immediately following an international break since October 2020.
Premier League Table
| # | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 19 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 16 | 23 | 47 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 19 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 17 | 27 | 45 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 22 | 13 | 36 |
| 4 | Tottenham | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 39 | 25 | 14 | 34 |
| 5 | Sunderland | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 34 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 34 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 31 | 21 | 10 | 33 |
| 8 | Newcastle United | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 37 | 33 | 4 | 32 |
| 9 | Chelsea | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 28 | 3 | 32 |
| 10 | Manchester United | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 34 | 31 | 3 | 30 |
| 11 | Wolves | 19 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 29 |
| 12 | Brighton | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 27 |
| 13 | West Ham | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 25 | 31 | -6 | 27 |
| 14 | Nottingham Forest | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 20 | 28 | -8 | 26 |
| 15 | Fulham | 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 31 | 33 | -2 | 24 |
| 16 | Burnley | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 23 | -3 | 24 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 28 | -5 | 21 |
| 18 | Brentford | 19 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 18 |
| 19 | Crystal Palace | 19 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 24 | 30 | -6 | 18 |
| 20 | Everton | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 28 | -9 | 17 |
Which teams have the best post-international break record?
In keeping with the general form book over the past five years, Manchester City and Liverpool are the teams that lead the way at the top of the table, with a nine-point cushion to third-place Aston Villa.
Pep Guardiola’s side hold a two-point advantage at the summit, having lost only one of their last 17 Premier League games immediately after an international break.
That sole reverse came courtesy of a 4-0 defeat by Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium last November, while their notable such wins include a 6-3 victory over rivals Manchester United in October 2022.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have won each of their last four such matches to take second place, while their tally of 44 goals is the highest by any team during this span.
However, the form side when it comes to post-international break matches is undoubtedly Aston Villa, with Unai Emery’s side boasting a 10-game unbeaten run.
Which teams have the worst post-international break record?
Everton are the team that prop up the table, with just 17 points from 19 such matches since October 2020.
The Toffees have won just one of their last 11, but that came last season against a struggling Ipswich Town side that were eventually relegated from the Premier League.
Although, they have only lost one of their last four following a run of five straight defeats, so there are signs there fortunes could be changing.
Everton are closely followed by Crystal Palace who, despite their impressive form of recent times, are on a nine-game post-international break winless streak.
That is something Oliver Glasner’s side will be eager to address this time around, especially having just seen their club-record overall unbeaten streak ended by Everton last time out.
It is worth noting, however, these two are the only teams in the bottom seven that have been Premier League ever-presents during this time.
Brentford complete the relegation zone, despite boasting a positive goal difference, with no win from their last seven such matches.
Just above them, Leeds have won just one of their last 11 Premier League games following an international break, while Burnley are without a win in nine. Only the positive results achieved during their Championship spells keep them outside the bottom three.
How do other Premier League teams fare following international breaks?
Tottenham complete the top four in this table, albeit only ahead of Sunderland and Arsenal due to a superior goal difference.
The Black Cats’ position is all the more impressive given they have played two games fewer. That is due to two international breaks not occurring during the 2020-21 season, whilst they were still plying their trade in League One.
Although, their elevated placing is largely down to the fact that 16 of those 17 matches were played in either League One or the Championship, when they were frequently competing at the top end of such divisions.
Arsenal have won their last three post-international fixtures, but a run of three defeats in five has prevented seventh-place Bournemouth from occupying a higher position.
Newcastle, in eighth, could also be higher, had they not failed to win any of their first seven games during this timeframe, before winning 10 of their subsequent 12 fixtures.
Just below them, Chelsea and Man Utd boast generally modest post-international records in recent times. Meanwhile, Wolves have lost five of their last seven such matches, which does not bode well for when they return to action with Vitor Pereira’s side desperate for points to lift themselves off the foot of the real-time table.