The Best 5 Football Teams in the History of the Premier League
There’s been many elite-level football teams to grace the hallowed turf of English Premier League stadia through the years. In the last three decades, the EPL has comfortably evolved into the world’s biggest and best domestic football league. Aided by the rise of SKY TV broadcast deals, the EPL has been able to attract the finest talent from all four corners of the world.
It’s not just as simple as putting 11 fantastic players together on the same pitch and expecting results. If it was that easy, Chelsea would be flying high at the top of the EPL in 2023/24. Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues are already priced as long as 10/1 with bet365 to even finish in the top four this term. The Stoke-on-Trent operator remains one of the market leaders for EPL betting coverage, with its welcome bonus also rated as one of the top three in the UK market by Oddschecker.com at present. As Chelsea’s 2023/24 inconsistencies show, there’s so much more that goes into moulding a winning machine in the Premier League. The team chemistry needs to be right, with a healthy balance of grit, determination, leadership, flair and technique.
This article shines a spotlight on the five teams which have left the biggest impression on EPL folklore since its inception in 1992. Whether it’s supreme talent or jaw-dropping overachievement, these five teams fully deserve to be celebrated as the finest examples of well-oiled EPL machines.
Manchester City (2017/18)
This Manchester City side may not have won the most trophies, but it redefined the standards of footballing excellence in the EPL. City’s title-winning side were a breath of fresh air, with manager Pep Guardiola only at the helm for the best part of a year. The former Barcelona head coach oversaw an exhilarating brand of football which harassed and outplayed opponents into submission week in, week out.
Guardiola’s tactical genius was City’s tiki-taka possession-based style, with fast transitions and relentless pressing. The team’s defensive solidity, anchored by goalkeeper Ederson and centre backs Vincent Kompany and John Stones, ensured a balance rarely seen at the top level of the EPL.
At the heart of their success was a meticulously crafted squad with depth and versatility, undoubtedly aided by a seemingly blank cheque book. Key players like Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, and Leroy Sane formed a harmonious blend of youthful exuberance and creative experience. Meanwhile, Argentine goalscoring machine Sergio Aguero proved to be City’s match-winning hero on countless occasions.
Their title-winning 2017/18 campaign saw City amass a stunning 100 points, setting numerous records along the way, including the most points, wins, and goals in a single EPL season.
Arsenal (2003/04)
Ever since Arsenal’s unprecedented campaign, the 2003/04 EPL title-winners have been known as the “Invincibles”. The Gunners, managed by Arsene Wenger, went the entire 2003/04 EPL season unbeaten en-route to winning their second league title in three years.
The success of Wenger’s Invincibles can be attributed to an unbeatable blend of talent, teamwork, and tactical brilliance. The midfield duo of Patrick Vieira and Brazilian Gilberto Silva provided dynamism and physicality in abundance, acting as a formidable shield for the backline. Meanwhile the attacking prowess of clinical wide forward Thierry Henry, along with the evergreen Dennis Bergkamp, ensured a constant goal threat.
Defensively, the team was anchored by the indomitable partnership of Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, with Ashley Cole and Lauren providing the width from full back areas. Experienced German goal-stopper Jens Lehmann also proved to be a rock between the posts in big-game moments.
Wenger was a master tactician for the Gunners, combining free-flowing attacking football with defensive solidity for a stylish, winning formula. Their unparalleled team chemistry resulted in the Gunners racking up 26 wins and 12 draws over the season.
Manchester United (1998/99)
The 1998/99 United team was arguably Sir Alex Ferguson’s finest hour at the Old Trafford helm. The Red Devils etched their name in English football history by securing an unprecedented treble – winning the EPL title, along with the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
The beauty of this team was the blend of experienced stalwarts and emerging, homegrown talents, which created a formidable force on domestic and continental fronts.
The attacking trident of Dwight York, Andy Cole, and the “Baby-Faced Assassin” Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer, delivered a prolific goalscoring threat. Meanwhile, midfield maestros Roy Keane and Paul Scholes anchored the team with their tenacity and vision. At the back, powerful central defenders Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen brought immense steel and composure in front of long-serving goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
In the 1998/99 EPL campaign, United won the title with 79 points, finishing ten points clear of second-placed rivals Arsenal. Their ability to successfully battle on multiple fronts, including their first European Cup since 1968, makes this United team one of the finest the EPL has ever seen.
Liverpool (2019/20)
Liverpool’s 2019/20 EPL title-winning team also gets a nod in this list. Enigmatic German head coach Jurgen Klopp had cultivated a winning machine at Anfield, culminating in their first Premier League title in 30 years. It was an extraordinary season in which Liverpool showcased their relentless front-foot style, unwavering team spirit, and defensive solidity.
The Reds’ squad was fully on board with Klopp’s now-iconic “Gegenpress” style of play – a high-pressing, fast-paced system, designed to outrun and overwhelm all who came before them.
Klopp cleverly recruited a frontline who could consistently pin the opposition back in their own half. Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino were unrelenting in their physical approach, while still able to provide a sense of guile and flair. Meanwhile, the midfield pair of Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum provided a firm foundation to build from.
Full backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold redefined their on-field positions by becoming some of the Reds’ most creative outlets. They both contributed crucial assists from dead ball, as well as in-play situations.
The Reds showed tremendous mental resilience to bounce back after narrowly missing out on the 2018/19 EPL title. This time around, Klopp’s men would secure the championship with seven EPL games to spare.
Leicester City (2015/16)
The 2015/16 Premier League champions were one of the most unlikely title-winners in English football history, let alone EPL history. Leicester City only narrowly avoided relegation in 2014/15 and were rated as 5,000/1 rank outsiders for the 2015/16 title. Managed by nomadic Italian manager Claudio Ranieri, the Foxes scripted one of the most improbable triumphs ever seen in the EPL.
City’s success was founded upon a blend of team spirit, tactical brilliance, and the indomitable spirit of the underdog. Talismanic striker Jamie Vardy epitomized the rags-to-riches narrative, his electrifying pace and clinical finishing making it easy for Leicester to play effective counter-attacking football.
Playmaker Riyad Mahrez was named PFA Player of the Year, and rightly so. The Algerian dazzled with his skill and creativity, forming a dynamic partnership with Vardy. Meanwhile, midfield dynamo N’Golo Kante covered every blade of grass on the pitch as the Foxes’ anchorman.
What set Leicester apart was their collective belief, camaraderie, and a team of players at the peak of their respective powers. In a league traditionally dominated by financial giants, Leicester defied the odds, finishing the season with 81 points, ten points clear at the summit. Leicester went on to reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League the following season and, although the Foxes now find themselves in the EFL Championship, this was an achievement that their fans will never, ever forget
