Antonio Conte's first 20 Premier League games ranked

By Adam Smith

After 20 Premier League games, has Chelsea boss Antonio Conte produced better results than previous title-winning managers? We check the stats...

Chelsea's 13-game win streak came to an end on Wednesday night after his side lost 2-0 to Tottenham at White Hart Lane, but the Blues remain five points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table.

Eight managers have won the Premier League since 1992/93, but how did their first 20 games in England's top flight compare to Conte's start at Stamford Bridge?

Sir Alex Ferguson oversaw a remarkable 13 title-winning campaigns at Manchester United, while Arsenal's Arsene Wenger has won three and Jose Mourinho has also claimed three with Chelsea.

Five other managers have won single campaigns: Kenny Dalglish with Blackburn (1994/95), Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea (2009/10), along with Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini with Manchester City (2011/12 and 2013/14, respectively).

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We have looked at each manager's first 20 top-flight games in England and ranked their results against Conte's start in the Premier League...

No 9: Alex Ferguson

Won: 8

Drawn: 7

Lost: 5

Points: 31

Goal difference: +9

Despite going on to win 13 Premier League crowns, Sir Alex Ferguson had the worst start to managerial life in England out of all nine managers - but United were among the relegation places upon his appointment.

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The Scot replaced Ron Atkinson at Old Trafford in November 1986 and suffered a 2-0 defeat to Oxford United in his first game at the helm.

However, Ferguson proceeded to lift United from 20th in the league to finish the season in 11th. But it wasn't until the inaugural Premier League season of 1992/93 that he would claim the first of his 13 league titles.

No 8: Arsene Wenger

Won: 8

Drawn: 7

Lost: 5

Points: 31

Goal difference: +10

Wenger's surprise appointment at Highbury in October 1996 did not start particularly well and the Frenchman's record from his first 20 games only betters Ferguson's by one goal.

The Gunners boss won his first game in charge 2-0 against Blackburn, but only recorded one more victory from his next four games.

Arsenal hit form in late November, defeating north London rivals Tottenham 3-1 before back-to-back victories over Newcastle and Southampton.

But the purple patch ended with a 2-2 draw against Derby, followed by a run of just one win from five games.

No 7: Claudio Ranieri

Won: 9

Drawn: 5

Lost: 6

Points: 32

Goal difference: +17

Claudio Ranieri replaced Gianluca Vialli as Chelsea boss in September 2000 but struggled during his first games in charge.

The Italian only managed to win three of his first nine games at Stamford Bridge, but results improved following defeats to Charlton and Everton, winning six of his next 11 fixtures.

It was during this season Ranieri earned his nickname as the Tinkerman, having been widely accused of over-rotating his squad.

Fifteen years later, the Italian would become the eighth and most recent manager to win the Premier League with 5000-1 underdogs Leicester City.

No 6: Roberto Mancini

Won: 11

Drawn: 4

Lost: 5

Points: 37

Goal difference: +22

Manchester City had drawn eight out of nine games by mid-December in 2009, which saw Roberto Mancini replace Mark Hughes - but the former Inter Milan manager recorded inconsistent results during his first 20 Premier League games. 

After winning his first three fixtures against Stoke, Wolves and Blackburn, City only won four of their next 10 games and suffered three defeats. 

The Citizens ended up finishing fifth in the league before becoming champions in 2011/12 - their first title since 1967/68.

No 5: Kenny Dalglish

Won: 13

Drawn: 5

Lost: 2

Points: 44

Goal difference: +27

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish first took the reigns at Anfield as player-manager in 1985/86 aged just 34.

Despite only having the fifth-best record in our list for his first 20 games, the Scot overcame a sluggish start to win the league and FA Cup that term.

However, Dalglish went on to become a Premier League champion with Blackburn Rovers in 1994/95 before stints at Newcastle and Celtic.

Dalglish was reinstated as Liverpool manager at Anfield in 2011/12 but, despite winning the League Cup, he was sacked after finishing eighth in the league.

No 4: Carlo Ancelotti

Won: 14

Drawn: 3

Lost: 4

Points: 45

Goal difference: +29

Carlo Ancelotti succeeded interim manager Guus Hiddink as Chelsea boss for 2009/10 after a disappointing previous season saw the Blues finish third in the league when Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked mid-season.

The Italian won his first six games at Stamford Bridge and went on to win the league, with his side scoring a remarkable 103 goals.

No 3: Manuel Pellegrini

Won: 14

Drawn: 3

Lost: 4

Points: 45

Goal difference: +34

Manuel Pellegrini replaced Roberto Mancini as Manchester City boss for the 2013/14 season. 

Despite losing four of his first 11 league matches, the Argentine went on to win the league, beating runners-up Liverpool by two points.

Pellegrini left City after winning the League Cup and reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2015/16, with current boss Pep Guardiola announced as his replacement.

No 2: Antonio Conte

Image: Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte on the touchline

Won: 16

Drawn: 1

Lost: 3

Points: 49

Goal difference: +27

Antonio Conte would have recorded the best return from his first 20 games in England out of all nine managers, but Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham means he slips to No 2 on goal difference.

The Italian was on course to beat the longest single-season run of consecutive wins with 14, but a Dele Alli double consigned the Blues to their third defeat of the season.

No 1: Jose Mourinho

Won: 15

Drawn: 4

Lost: 1

Points: 49

Goal difference: +32

Jose Mourinho enjoyed a sensational first season with Chelsea in 2004/05, winning 15 of his first 20 games and only losing one game all season, a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.

The former Porto boss won a second successive league title at Stamford Bridge the following season, before leaving the club in September 2007 by mutual consent.

However, Mourinho returned to the Bridge in 2013 and won his third Premier League crown in 2014/15 but was sacked in December 2015 before replacing Louis van Gaal at Manchester United five months later. 

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