Divock Origi of Liverpool Photo: Xinhua

Only six clubs have won the English Premier League since its inception in the 1992-93 season: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City.

Now, as we stand halfway through the 27th Premier League season, the expectation is that a team who has not yet won the top flight since its rebranding is in pole position to win.

Whatever happens this weekend Liverpool find themselves top of the table at the festive season, a place where they have been before. The deja vu is fresh as they were top of the table under Juergen Klopp this time last year.

In fact, Liverpool have been top of the league on four separate occasions at Christmas since the 1992-93 season and still not finished winners that season - a feat that has happened in 12 of the 26 seasons.

The history books have it more often than not that if a team is top when the turkey dinners are handed out, then they will celebrate again with the title come the end of the season. Not always.

It happened to Liverpool in 1996-97 under Roy Evans, then again under Rafael Benitez in 2008-09 and most recently under Brendan Rodgers in 2013-14 and then again last season. The consensus is that it will not happen again this season.

Assuming that Klopp can get his side over the line this campaign to end their run, what of the other teams who have been top at Christmas and failed? Going further than that - and paying a nod to success now given to the top-four UEFA Champions League places - what has happened to the sides, Liverpool aside, who have been in the top four during these last 26 seasons but are also yet to win the league? 

Who are the teams with the real Christmas curse?

Norwich City

Top at Christmas in inaugural 1992-93 season, the Canaries have been through the ringer since. This season they are back in the top flight after winning the Championship but involved in a relegation battle.

Newcastle United

The side had a great run after promotion to the Premier League that saw them fourth at Christmas of the 1993-94 season, third at the same point in 1994-95. They were even top when at the height of the festive season in 1995-96 and in 2001-02 but hat did not carry on to the end of either season. They have also been back to the second tier and fears are they may be again under Steve Bruce after losing Benitez.

Tottenham Hotspur

Fourth at Christmas in 1995-96 and then again a decade later in the 2005-06 season, Spurs have come within touching distance of the Premier League and the Champions League, where they lost to Liverpool in the final this May. Pochettino, who took them so close to the sun, has since departed to be replaced by serial winner Jose Mourinho. Aside from Liverpool, they are most likely to end their trophy drought.

Aston Villa

People forget that Villa were top of the Premier League at Christmas in the season when Manchester United won the treble in 1998-99, Villa were also second in 1992-93 and fourth in both 1996-97 and 2009-10. Still they were relegated and only came back up this season, which is hard for fans of the former European Cup winners to take.

Leeds United

Another side who have been top at Christmas, in the 1999-2000 season, Leeds have also been second at the same point in 1993-94 and fourth in both in 1997-98 and 2001-02. Financial mismanagement saw them drop to the second tier and the side who reached the semifinals of the Champions League in 2000-01 are still in the Championship. They are favorites to come up under the charismatic Marcelo Bielsa, though.

Nottingham Forest

The side who won the European Cup twice in a row under Brian Clough impressed with a fourth-place Christmas finish in 1994-95, but they have been some distance from the top of the tree ever since. Now the club finds themselves in the middle of the Championship where they have been for much of the last decade.

Wimbledon

From being third at Christmas during the 1996-97 Premier League season, the Dons have disappeared completely after they were moved to Milton Keynes. This meant a phoenix club was formed, starting deep in the belly of the non-league system, and they have risen to League One.

Sunderland

A similar story to Leeds in flying too close to the sun. The Black Cats were third in 1999-2000 when ­Santa called but they have been anything but lucky since. Their travails have been best summed up by the Netflix documentary Sunderland Till I Die. Currently in League One.

West Ham United

The Hammers found themselves fourth on Christmas Day of the 2014-15 season but they have not kicked on, acting closer to the yoy-yo side of years past. The team has been in the Premier League since and took over the London 2012 Olympic Stadium in 2016.

Southampton

Another side who were fourth on Christmas Day, it was 2003-04 for Saints, but they have been down since. Formed into a solid Premier League side who developed then sold academy players under Pohcettino, they are flirting with relegation this season.

Everton

The one team who want Liverpool's record to carry on more than any other, the Toffees were fourth at Christmas in both 2002-03 and 2004-05 under David Moyes. The Scotsman left to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 and Everton have struggled since. Having just sacked Marco Silva despite a summer of investment, ex- striker Duncan Ferguson is caretaker boss as they look for a new manager.

Middlesbrough 

The Boro were fourth back on Christmas Day of the 1998-99 season, but that seeems a long way back for their long-suffering fans. They were relegated in 2017 despite reaching the UEFA Cup Final of 2006. Currently near the top of the Championship under former defender Jonathan Woodgate.
Newspaper headline: The real Christmas curse