RANKING. Top 15 best champions in Premier League history
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
The 2024/25 Premier League season has come to an end, and we have a new name etched into English football history—Liverpool have claimed their 20th title.
All in all, this marks the 33rd champion of the English Premier League, which has been running since February 1992. Over these 33 years, we've witnessed seven different teams lift the trophy, but every season has its own unique story, unlike any that came before.
Our editorial team decided to take these 33 champions and put together a top 15 of the greatest Premier League winners. Of course, there are no “bad” champions, but we’ve highlighted the 15 sides that, in Dailysports’ opinion, were the most convincing and dominant in Premier League history.
15. Manchester United 1998/99
The previous season, Arsenal had ended United’s Premier League dominance, prompting the Red Devils’ management to make sweeping changes. The club parted ways with several veteran players, bringing in fresh faces in their place. A total of £28 million was spent on striker Dwight Yorke, central defender Jaap Stam, and Swedish midfielder Jesper Blomqvist.
These reinforcements paid off, and United were crowned champions in the 1998/99 season. Over 38 rounds, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side lost just three times. However, the title race went right down to the wire. Manchester United narrowly beat Tottenham 1-0 on the final day, reached 78 points, and secured their fifth Premier League title, finishing just one point ahead of Arsenal.
14. Blackburn Rovers 1994/95
The third-ever Premier League campaign—and the last to feature 22 teams before the competition was trimmed to the 20 we know today—delivered a nail-biting finish. Blackburn Rovers emerged as champions, claiming their third top-flight title in the club’s history. The season was fiercely contested and only decided in the final round, not without a “gift” from Manchester United.
Heading into the final fixtures, the gap between the Red Devils and Rovers was just two points. Blackburn actually lost 2-1 to Liverpool, but United dropped points as well, drawing 1-1 with West Ham. After 42 matches, Rovers finished with 89 points, United with 88.
Undoubtedly, this triumph was driven by the sensational strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, who combined for 49 of the team’s 80 league goals. United also suffered from Eric Cantona’s infamous 10-match suspension for kicking a fan in the stands.
13. Manchester City 2023/24
In many ways, this was a historic title for Manchester City. No team in Premier League history had ever won four consecutive championships—until now. Pep Guardiola’s side made it happen, but not without drama. Three teams were in the hunt: Arsenal, Liverpool, and City. Liverpool dropped out of the race in the spring, leaving the Gunners and the Cityzens to duel it out.
The pivotal moment was the rescheduled matchday 34 fixture. City were trailing Arsenal by a point but had a game in hand against Tottenham. In a tense encounter, Guardiola’s men beat Spurs, leapfrogged Arsenal, and saw out the final round to claim their fourth straight crown. City finished on 91 points, Arsenal on 89.
12. Manchester United 2012/13
Before the season began, Manchester United pulled off a blockbuster signing, bringing in Robin van Persie. The Dutchman was the league’s top scorer with 26 goals and nine assists. But the season was memorable for another reason: legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson announced he would retire at the end of the campaign. Determined to go out on top, he did just that, winning his 13th league title.
This trophy is unique for another reason—United have not won the Premier League since. They have finished as runners-up only twice. During this era, United lifted six trophies, but none of them were Premier League titles.
11. Arsenal 2001/02
The second non-Manchester side in our ranking. The Gunners won the Premier League’s 10th anniversary season. For much of the campaign, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Manchester United were all in the hunt, but it came down to the Gunners and the Red Devils in the end.
The decisive match was a rescheduled round 35 clash at Old Trafford, where Arsenal edged United 1-0 thanks to a championship-winning goal from Sylvain Wiltord. Despite all the pre-match intrigue, Arsenal’s title felt deserved: Arsène Wenger’s men dropped just six points from mid-December 2001 onwards.
10. Manchester United 1992/93
This season marked the birth of Manchester United’s Premier League dynasty under Sir Alex Ferguson. Despite a shaky start—United sat 10th in November—the turning point came with the signing of Eric Cantona from Leeds.
United clawed back the deficit, took the lead in the table, and cruised to the title with a 10-point cushion over Aston Villa. This was a watershed moment for the Red Devils, their first league title in 26 years.
9. Manchester United 2008/09
A phenomenal squad boasting a rock-solid defense anchored by Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand, the brilliant Edwin van der Sar in goal, and a fearsome attack led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Carlos Tevez. The title race was a fierce battle between United and Chelsea. Heading into the final round, Chelsea led the standings by one point.
But Chelsea failed to beat Bolton at home—a 90th-minute goal meant a 1-1 draw. United did what they had to, beating Wigan 2-0. In the end, Ferguson’s team edged Chelsea by two points and retained the title.
8. Chelsea 2009/10
Long before Manchester City became the first club to win four titles in a row, their city rivals United were on the brink of a similar feat. But Chelsea stood in their way. As in 2007/08, the Londoners went into the final day just one point ahead of United. This time, though, they left no doubt about their dominance, thrashing Wigan 8-0 in round 38, with Didier Drogba netting a hat-trick and Nicolas Anelka bagging a brace.
On top of the rout, Carlo Ancelotti’s side set a Premier League record for most goals scored in a season—103. That mark stood for eight years. Ancelotti became a champion in his debut Chelsea campaign, but was sacked just weeks later. This was Chelsea’s third top-flight title.
7. Manchester City 2018/19
One of the most dramatic title races in Premier League history. Two giants—Liverpool and Manchester City—went toe-to-toe, with the outcome undecided until the final day. Liverpool finished with 97 points—a tally that would win the league nine times out of ten. But not when Manchester City are your rivals.
Pep Guardiola’s side won their last 14 matches and finished one point clear of Liverpool. On the decisive day, City fell behind early but responded with four goals to clinch the title. Liverpool fans’ joy was short-lived, though their time would come soon enough.
6. Liverpool 2019/20
An incredibly challenging season, interrupted for months by the COVID-19 pandemic. But nothing could stop Liverpool from ending their 30-year wait for a league title. Jürgen Klopp’s side were sensational: just three defeats and three draws all season, and only two points dropped in their first 27 games.
The stars aligned for Liverpool that year: Alisson and Van Dijk were rock-solid at the back, while the attacking trio of Mané, Firmino, and Salah were in unstoppable form. The Reds scored 85 goals and conceded just 33. This was Liverpool’s 19th English title and their first of the Premier League era.
5. Manchester City 2011/12
We’ve already covered the thrilling 2018/19 title race, but Manchester City’s 2011/12 triumph was even more dramatic. It was the club’s first Premier League title, secured in unforgettable fashion. Heading into the final day, both Manchester clubs were deadlocked on 86 points.
City hosted QPR, while United visited Sunderland. City held the tiebreaker advantage, but things looked bleak as United won 1-0 and City trailed 2-1. Then, in the dying moments, everything changed: Edin Džeko equalized in the 92nd minute, and moments later, the world heard the legendary "Aguerooooo!" as the Argentine struck the winner to clinch the title for City.
4. Leicester 2015/16
The most sensational season in Premier League history—a campaign everyone remembers. Leicester had finished 14th the previous year, surviving only in the final rounds. But a year later, the Foxes pulled off a footballing miracle. Yes, the traditional giants had off seasons, but that doesn’t diminish Leicester’s incredible achievement.
They racked up 81 points over 38 matches, finishing ten clear of Arsenal. Given the financial muscle of the top clubs, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see anything like this again. That’s why Leicester rank so highly in our list.
3. Chelsea 2004/05
José Mourinho’s first season in English football—and what a debut. He led Chelsea to their first Premier League title, amassing 95 points and finishing 12 clear of the nearest challengers over 38 rounds.
But that wasn’t the only thing that set this campaign apart. Chelsea lost just once and, even more remarkably, conceded only 15 goals—a record unmatched in league history. Given how the game has evolved, it’s hard to see anyone repeating that feat.
2. Manchester City 2017/18
Pep Guardiola’s second season in charge was utterly dominant. City lost only twice and drew four times, but the real story was their attacking firepower. In 38 games, they scored 106 goals—an average of 2.7 per match.
The team finished with 100 points—a Premier League record. There may not have been much suspense, but City’s exceptional form rightfully earns them second place in our ranking.
1. Arsenal 2003/04
And, of course, the top spot goes to the only side to go unbeaten through an entire Premier League season. In 38 matches, Arsenal drew 12 and won the rest. They may not have been as dazzling or prolific as in 2001/02, but no team before or since has matched this achievement.
