Is the Premier League's 'Bermuda Triangle' theory really true?

Recent Premier League results have reignited talk of the so-called 'Bermuda Triangle' — a tongue-in-cheek theory naming Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford as clubs that consistently take points off the traditional 'big six': Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.

Last weekend, Brentford beat Chelsea 3-0, and the following day Brighton beat champions Arsenal by the same scoreline, though goalkeeper David Raya made several key saves to prevent an even heavier defeat. Bournemouth, meanwhile, suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Liverpool, with Alisson forced into a brilliant save to deny an early opener.

The data tells a different story

Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Brighton have been the best-performing non-big-six side against the traditional big six, taking 42 points from 26 matches — an average of 1.62 points per game. Bournemouth are close behind with 35 points from 26 games (1.35 per match). Brentford, however, have managed only 22 points from 26 matches (0.85 per game) — worse than Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, all of which have matched or outperformed the Bees against elite opposition over the same period.

Opta data shows that since Fabian Hurzeler took charge at Brighton, only Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn have posted a better points-per-game record against the traditional big six among managers of non-big-six clubs with at least 10 matches.

Analysts suggest the theory's popularity partly reflects perception: these clubs cannot outspend the Premier League's giants, making their victories more memorable. Overall, the evidence points less to a genuine three-club phenomenon and more to one standout club — Brighton — with Bournemouth offering strong support and Brentford contributing eye-catching but less consistent results.