The debate over the greatest Premier League teams has divided football fans for decades. Since the league’s launch in 1992, England’s top flight has produced legendary sides that dominated domestically, broke records, and transformed football. From Arsenal’s unbeaten Invincibles to Manchester City’s record-breaking Centurions and Manchester United’s Treble winners, every era has produced iconic champions. The Premier League itself regularly highlights these teams as benchmarks of greatness.
But which team truly deserves the title of the greatest Premier League team ever?
Let’s rank the top 10.
What Makes One of the Greatest Premier League Teams?
To rank the greatest Premier League teams, several factors should be considered:
- Premier League titles
- Points total
- Goals scored
- Defensive record
- Individual quality
- Consistency
- Domestic trophies
- European success
- Historical influence
A truly great side doesn’t simply win—it changes football.
1. Manchester City (2017–18) – The Centurions
Manager: Pep Guardiola
League Points: 100
Goals Scored: 106
Manchester City’s Centurions set a standard never seen before in English football.
Their achievements included:
- First team to reach 100 Premier League points.
- Most goals in a Premier League season (106).
- 32 league wins.
- Record-breaking attacking football.
Kevin De Bruyne orchestrated midfield while Sergio Agüero, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sané, and David Silva dazzled opponents.
Many consider this statistically the greatest domestic season in Premier League history.
2. Arsenal (2003–04) – The Invincibles
Manager: Arsène Wenger
League Record: 26 Wins, 12 Draws, 0 Defeats
No discussion about the greatest Premier League teams is complete without Arsenal’s Invincibles.
They became:
- The first unbeaten Premier League champions.
- The only team to complete a 38-game season undefeated.
Led by Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pirès, Arsenal combined technical brilliance with remarkable resilience.
More than 20 years later, no club has matched their unbeaten campaign.
3. Manchester United (1998–99)
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United achieved what no English club had previously accomplished.
They won:
- Premier League
- FA Cup
- UEFA Champions League
The famous Treble was powered by David Beckham, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Peter Schmeichel.
Their dramatic Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich cemented this team’s legendary status.
4. Chelsea (2004–05)
Manager: José Mourinho
Mourinho’s first Chelsea side revolutionized English football.
Records included:
- 95 points.
- Only 15 goals conceded.
- 25 clean sheets.
- Just one league defeat.
John Terry, Frank Lampard, Claude Makélélé, Didier Drogba and Petr Čech formed one of football’s strongest defensive units.
Their defensive record still stands among the greatest in Premier League history.
5. Liverpool (2019–20)
Liverpool ended a 30-year wait for a league title in spectacular fashion.
Under Jürgen Klopp they:
- Collected 99 points.
- Won 32 league matches.
- Lost only three games.
- Clinched the title with seven matches remaining.
Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold formed one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever sides.
6. Manchester City (2022–23)
This team completed one of football’s greatest achievements.
They won:
- Premier League
- FA Cup
- UEFA Champions League
Erling Haaland scored 36 Premier League goals in his debut season, while City completed only the second Treble in English football history.
7. Manchester United (2007–08)
Cristiano Ronaldo reached another level during this campaign.
United won:
- Premier League
- UEFA Champions League
Ronaldo scored 31 league goals and won the Ballon d’Or.
Alongside Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tévez, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić, United became one of Europe’s strongest teams.
8. Chelsea (2016–17)
Antonio Conte transformed Chelsea after switching to a back-three formation.
The Blues:
- Won 30 league games.
- Collected 93 points.
N’Golo Kanté dominated midfield while Eden Hazard enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career.
9. Manchester City (2018–19)
Few teams have ever handled pressure better.
After trailing Liverpool during the title race, City won their final 14 league matches.
They finished with:
- 98 points.
- A one-point title victory.
The consistency shown during that run remains extraordinary.
10. Blackburn Rovers (1994–95)
Before billionaire ownership became common, Blackburn assembled an outstanding side.
Alan Shearer scored 34 league goals while Chris Sutton formed the famous SAS partnership.
Blackburn became one of the biggest surprises in Premier League history by winning the title ahead of Manchester United.
Honorable Mentions
Several teams narrowly missed the top ten.
Leicester City (2015–16)
One of football’s greatest underdog stories.
Claudio Ranieri’s side stunned the world to win the Premier League against odds of 5,000-1.
Arsenal (2001–02)
The Gunners won both the Premier League and FA Cup while playing outstanding attacking football.
Manchester United (1993–94)
Sir Alex Ferguson’s first Double-winning side helped establish United’s dominance during the 1990s.
Which Team Was the Greatest?
Choosing the greatest Premier League teams depends on how greatness is measured.
When records matter:
- Manchester City (2017–18)
If unbeaten achievement matters:
- Arsenal (2003–04)
When trophies matter:
- Manchester United (1998–99)
If defensive dominance matters:
- Chelsea (2004–05)
Every one of these legendary teams changed the Premier League forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the greatest Premier League team ever?
Many analysts rank Manchester City’s 2017–18 Centurions as the greatest because they became the first team to reach 100 Premier League points, while others argue Arsenal’s Invincibles deserve the honour for completing an unbeaten season.
Has any Premier League team gone unbeaten?
Yes. Arsenal’s 2003–04 Invincibles completed the entire league season without losing a match, a feat that has not been repeated.
Which Premier League team earned 100 points?
Manchester City became the first club to reach 100 Premier League points during the 2017–18 season under Pep Guardiola.
Which Premier League team won the Treble?
Manchester United won the Treble in 1998–99, while Manchester City repeated the achievement in 2022–23.
Final Thoughts
The list of the greatest Premier League teams reflects the evolution of English football. Arsenal’s Invincibles redefined consistency, Manchester United’s Treble winners mastered winning under pressure, Chelsea’s defensive machine set new standards, Liverpool’s relentless champions ended a historic drought, and Manchester City’s Centurions rewrote the record books.
As the Premier League continues to evolve, new contenders will emerge, but these legendary teams have already secured their place in football history.