Southampton has the most improved points total in the Premier League so far this season: Improved defense has been the key

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Twelve games into the season, Southampton FC has the most improved points total in the Premier League compared to the same time period last season
• The Saints have accumulated 22 points thus far vs. 8 points last year (+14 points or 175% increase in points total) taking them up to 5th in the table (tied on points with Man City in 4th) vs. 19th in the table at the same time last year
• Interestingly, while three attacking players (Lambert, Rodriguez and Lallana) have recently been rewarded with England Call-ups, it's in fact the Saints' defensive record that's been key to their success 
• Mauricio Pochettino's men have conceded a significant 23 less goals compared to last year (7 this year vs. 30 last year). In fact, the Saints have actually scored 3 less goals (15 this year vs. 18 last year), so their overall improvement is entirely down to the work they've done on the defensive side of the ball. Southampton's GSGC (goals scored to conceded) ratio has improved from 0.6 last year to 2.14 this year
• Defensive signings such as Victor Wanyama (22 year old Kenyan International) and Dejan Lovren (24 year old Croatian International) have been key to Southampton's turnaround this season
• Arsenal and Liverpool come second in terms of points improvement vs. last year with 9 more points each
• Both Manchester clubs have 6 less points than they did at the same time last year
• West Ham has the worst record in this category with 9 less points than last year

EPL Points Difference vs. last year ranked from highest to lowest as of 11/27/2013 (not including 3 newly promoted sides):