So, there’s this theory. I stole it (I think) from Times journalist Daniel Finkelstein. It’s a pretty good theory and allows you to see the final Premier League table months before the season ends. Sceptical? Then, let me explain.

Order the Premier League teams after they’ve played 12 games (this process is harder than it sounds, because most sites don’t allow you to look at tables retrospectively – which means you have to keep the League tables for a couple of weeks).

Once you’ve worked out the maths – and every team in the table has played 12 games – you’re left with an ordered list. And this table, give or take a place or two, is likely to be the final Premier League table. Still sceptical?

Well, I heard about the theory a couple of years ago and – give or take a bit of movement – the theory was sound. There’s normally a couple of big changes (Hull dropping like a stone last year, Spurs zooming up the League). And as I said before, you have to have an accepted error of one or two places around most teams.

Which – if you look at the table below – is either Champions League or nothing (if you’re an Aston Villa fan, like me). And it’s time to get excited if you’re a Chelsea or Spurs supporter, and time to look away if you’re a West Ham, Pompey or Wolves fan. Anyway, here’s the [predicted] final table for 2009/10 (goal difference after 12 games in brackets, followed by points):

1. Chelsea (21, 30)
2. Arsenal (21, 25)
3. Man Utd (11, 25)
4. Tottenham (6, 22)
5. Aston Villa (8, 21)
6. Man City (7, 21)
7. Liverpool (9, 19)
8. Sunderland (1, 17)
9. Stoke (-3, 16)
10. Blackburn (-9, 16)
11. Burnley (-10, 16)
12. Fulham (-1, 15)
13. Everton (-5, 15)
14. Wigan (-9, 14)
15. Birmingham (-4, 12)
16. Bolton (-11, 11)
17. Hull (-15, 11)
18. West Ham (-4, 10)
19. Wolverhampton (-10, 10)
20. Portsmouth (-8, 7)