Top 10 Best Premier League Teams of All Time

Arsenal's 2003–04 'Invincibles' remain the only Premier League team to complete an entire 38-match season unbeaten — 26 wins, 12 draws, 0 losses — a feat unmatched since Preston North End in 1889. Thierry Henry’s 30 goals powered a +47 goal difference, while Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell anchored a defense that conceded just 26 goals. No other team on this list, including #3 Manchester United’s treble winners, has replicated a full unbeaten season, cementing their place in history.

Manchester United’s 1998–99 treble-winning side captured the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League — a feat achieved by only three European teams ever. Roy Keane’s midfield dominance and the strike pairing of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole produced 53 goals across all competitions, while the team’s legendary comeback in the Champions League final (scoring in the 93rd minute) showcased their resilience. With a final-day title win and an FA Cup run without conceding, they remain one of only two English sides to win the treble, outpacing #4 Chelsea’s 2004–05 defensive record in sheer historical scope.

José Mourinho’s 2004–05 Chelsea set a then-record 95 points and conceded just 15 goals — still the best defensive record in Premier League history, a full 20 fewer than the league average that season. John Terry’s leadership, Claude Makélélé’s shield, and Didier Drogba’s 10 league goals anchored a side that lost only once, while Frank Lampard’s 13 strikes from midfield added crucial output. This defensive dominance outpaces #1 Manchester City’s 2023–24 squad, which conceded 34 goals, proving Chelsea’s era-defining stinginess remains unmatched.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side of 2017–18 remains the only Premier League team to reach 100 points in a single season. They finished 19 points ahead of second-placed Manchester United, a margin that outperforms #6 Manchester United 2007–08's two-point edge. Setting league records with 32 wins, 106 goals, and a +79 goal difference, their attack scored in every game. Sergio Agüero netted 21 goals while Kevin De Bruyne delivered 16 assists. This squad's relentless dominance earned comparisons to the greatest English sides, but their 100-point total stands alone as the highest ever achieved.

Cristiano Ronaldo's 31 Premier League goals powered Manchester United to a two-point title win over Chelsea in 2007–08, earning him the Ballon d'Or—faster than the average winning tally for a Golden Boot winner. The squad, featuring Wayne Rooney's 12 league goals and Rio Ferdinand's defensive leadership, clinched the Champions League by defeating Chelsea on penalties, with Edwin van der Sar saving Nicolas Anelka's kick. Ronaldo's 42 goals across all competitions remain a United record. Their 87-point finish, combined with the European double, positions this team as a benchmark for excellence, though #5 Manchester City's 2017–18 side amassed 13 more points.

Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool ended a 30-year title drought with 99 points in 2019–20, the second-highest tally in Premier League history and just one point shy of #5 Manchester City 2017–18's record 100-point season. Mohamed Salah scored 19 goals, while Sadio Mané added 18, as the team led the table by 25 points at one stage—a margin 15% larger than the typical champion's lead. Despite the COVID-19 shutdown, they finished with 32 wins, tying #6 Manchester United 2007–08's win total. Virgil van Dijk anchored a defense that conceded only 33 goals, proving this side's all-round strength.

Leicester City's 2015–16 title win, at pre-season odds of 5,000–1, is statistically the greatest sporting upset in football history—outperforming #8's rivals by any measure of improbability. Jamie Vardy scored 24 goals and set a record with 11 consecutive Premier League games scoring, while Riyad Mahrez's 17 goals earned PFA Player of the Year honors. N'Golo Kanté's 151 tackles anchored a side that won 23 of 38 games, finishing 10 points clear of second place. Their 81-point total is 19 points fewer than #5 Manchester City 2017–18, but the context of their survival from relegation the prior season makes this achievement unmatched.

Blackburn Rovers' 1994–95 title run remains the last non-elite club triumph until Leicester in 2016, proving money alone cannot buy sustained success. Alan Shearer led the league with 34 goals, the fifth highest single-season total in Premier League history, and the team edged Manchester United by just one point on the final day. Their 89-point tally was 10 points higher than the typical champion's average in the 1990s, and they outperformed #2 Manchester United in head-to-head results, winning 2–0 at Ewood Park. The squad, funded by Jack Walker's fortune, also included Chris Sutton (15 goals), Tim Sherwood, and Colin Hendry. Manager Kenny Dalglish built a side that was 30% more expensive than the average Premier League team that season, yet their resilience under pressure defined the campaign.

Manchester United's 1993–94 double winners were Ferguson's first Premier League dynasty, securing the league and FA Cup—only the fourth club to achieve that feat then. Eric Cantona netted 18 league goals and the team finished eight points clear of Blackburn Rovers (#9 on this list). Their final tally of 92 points was 15 points higher than the league average for champions in the early 1990s. The squad also featured Roy Keane, signed for £3.75 million that summer, Mark Hughes, Brian McClair, and Peter Schmeichel, with youth products Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt emerging. They scored 80 goals, 20% more than the typical title winner's average. This side outperformed #3 Newcastle's 1995–96 team by winning the double, a level Newcastle never reached, and laid the foundation for two decades of dominance.