As the English Premier League approaches its final 10 games of the season the league as a competition is all but wrapped up as Liverpool have raced to a 22 point lead which essentially means all elements of a contest are all but gone. Liverpool have thrilled supporters with their excellent electric performances which saw them drop just 5 points all season. They have managed to break many records across last season and this season which will surely stand for years to come. It would take numerous miracles in order for Liverpool to not win the league with just 10 games left which would see them ending a 30 year spell without a Premier League title. Up until the 29th of February Liverpool had actually been unbeaten until Watford and Ismaila Sarr shocked the world and put three past the league leaders without reply ending their bid top become the 2nd invincibles of the Premier League era (Arsenal) and the third unbeaten team in English football history (Arsenal, Preston). This Liverpool team and manager Jurgen Klopp will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest teams in the history of English football. But where exactly would they rank in the hall of fame of the elite teams who have thrilled fans throughout the years. I have ranked the top 5 teams in the history of the Premier League whom I think are the 5 best teams that have graced the Premier League. The only parameters arethat the teams will only be from the Premier League era (1992-2020, sorry Preston!) and it will only include those who actually won the league which will mean the 2018/19 Liverpool team that finished as runners up with a massive 97 points will not be included. So here are the rankings.
5. Arsenal 2003/2004
The first inclusion on this list may come as a shock to some people as this is one of the most iconic and well known sides to have played in the Premier League. Managed by Arsene Wenger, Arsenal managed to go a full 38 games unbeaten making them just the second team ever in the English top flight to finish a season unbeaten. Undefeated runs are normally indicative of resilient defences, but Arsenal were an incredible attacking unit boasting the speed of Thierry Henry, the creativity of Dennis Bergkamp and reliable goalscoring on either flank from Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires. Arsenal in this season had both the best attack and defence. They were one of the hardest teams to play against particularly thanks to physically strong players like Vieira and Gilberto Silva. So why are they not higher up in these rankings? Well, I am going to be a little bit harsh here and point out that despite finishing the season unbeaten with 26 wins, they also however had 12 draws which is quite high especially for a title winning team. For this reason they see themselves in 5th place in the rankings.
4. Chelsea 2004/2005
Fourth in the rankings sees Chelsea’s 2004/2005 campaign which may be better known as José Mourinhos first ever season in English football. This Chelsea team would lay the foundations of Mourinhos career at the top and would act as a showcase for what this man is capable of. Despite being more than competent attack-wise this Chelsea team was build around one of the most rigid defences the league and perhaps Europe has ever seen. Chelsea managed to keep 25 clean sheets and concede just 15 goals. A record that surely no one will come close to for quite a while. This was down to the likes of John Terry, Carvalho, Paulo Ferrieira and William Gallas in defence as well as having the likes of Eiður Guðjohnsen, Lampard, Drogba, Damien Duff and Arjen Robben in attack. Not to mention Claude Makelele playing in his now iconic midfield role. This Chelsea team also lost just one game over the course of the season whilst drawing just 8 and accumulating a then record 95 points. For these reasons they take the fourth spot over Arsenal.
3. Man City 18/19
Manchester City’s first inclusion and by no means their last in these rankings sees one of the hardest fought titles in the history of English football. Never before have we seen such a gulf in class from 2nd downwards. Manchester City were brought to the wire by a Liverpool team that just would never give up and whom lost just one game in the season. Manchester City in comparison lost four games but only drew twice and winning 32 games saw the blues from Manchester finish with 98 points where as Liverpool’s 7 draws meant they accumulated 97 points. Just one less than the eventual winners. One of Pep Guardiolas finest seasons in Manchester was achieved by the attacking brilliance of the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling.
2. Manchester City 17/18
The team that places second in the list is the current holders of the highest points tally in Premier League history and remain to this day the only “centurions” in the competitions history. They maintain the record for wins, goals, points, winning margin, goal difference and more. This was Pep Guardiolas second season at the club and his team came at the league like a storm playing with free flowing attacking freedom and just generally all around aesthetically pleasing football. The team was of course very expensive but they wont care about that when lifting the trophy at the end. This season is kind of overshadowed in the minds of fans due to an anti climactic European campaign but the league records speak for themselves and should live on long in the memory. But they are not in my opinion the team who will go down after this season as the best team in Premier League history.
1. Liverpool 19/20
This last position is actually more of a very well educated predication than a review of a team. The 19/20 campaign has few games left and the currently leaders Liverpool have dropped just 5 points all season. 1 draw, 1 loss. They have shown themselves to be more than worth of the title of Champions. They are an astonishing 25 points ahead of Manchester City. With just 9 games left Liverpool need 3 wins to be Champions and 6 wins to equal the highest points tally record. It is quite safe to say that this season is wrapped up.I believe Liverpool will go on to win and smash the points record as well as the winning points margin. Jurgen Klopp has built a team that is perfectly balanced with youth and experience, attack and defence and freedom and discipline. They have shown they can grind out results when their backs are to the wall and also that they can demolish teams in seemingly effortless ways.The acquisition of Virgil van Dijk, the leadership of Jordan Henderson and the dynamic trio of Salah, Mané and Firmino have all been in scintillating form. Not to forget the flying full backs in Andrew Roberton and Trent Alexander Arnold. There are true personification of modern football and have thrilled fans and neutrals alike with their performances. What makes this league campaign even more impressive is that they are still in the Champions League and despite being 1-0 to Atleticó from the first leg there is still a huge probability that they will inf act progress.
