Break Kings & Slump Victims: City, Liverpool Soar As Everton Flounder Post-Internationals

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- As the Premier League snaps back into gear, a new Squawka study reveals which clubs hit the ground running and which stumble after international breaks.

“Post-international fixtures are a litmus test for squad depth and coaching preparation. Our ranking validates what fans sense—but with five seasons of data to back it,” said Squawka Head of Content, Tom Dutton in a statement.

Covering data from October 2020 to the present, the findings underline how top sides like Manchester City and Liverpool excel in these restart fixtures, while others, notably Everton and Crystal Palace, consistently falter.

Manchester City have turned post-break consistency into an art form, losing just once in 17 such matches over five seasons.

Not far behind, Liverpool boast the league’s longest active winning run after international duty—four straight wins—and will aim to extend that when Manchester United visit Anfield on Oct 20.

Arsenal, too, are trending upward, with three consecutive post-break victories since a blip at Bournemouth in October 2024. Aston Villa remain quietly impressive, unbeaten in their last 10 restart fixtures since the 2022 World Cup.

On the flip side, Everton are languishing. With just one win in their last 11 post-international matches, they now face the daunting task of a trip to the Etihad. Crystal Palace's nine-match winless streak after breaks marks the league’s worst, highlighting persistent struggles with squad reintegration.

Squawka’s ranking evaluates the 2025/26 Premier League cohort and includes relevant EFL (League One/Championship) results for promoted clubs. Metrics tracked include win/loss records, goals scored/conceded, and points accrued—shedding light on which teams best manage the transition from international to domestic action.

-- BERNAMA