What makes a memorable team? Great players? An inspirational manager? Or a different playing style?
Well for us, it is when all these come together over the course of a season leading to success and silverware.
After all, it is not easy to remain constant over the course of a 38 game season. So it is important to celebrate the teams that achieved that and more.
Stay tuned as we look at the Top 10 Premier League Points Records and what was special about the teams that managed such incredible numbers.
10. Arsenal – 90 points (2003/04)
Matches – W26 D12 L0
There is no way that the ‘Invincible’ Arsenal side gets left behind when we talk about Premier League records, does it?
Arsenal in 2003/04 truly were not to be messed with. The Gunners became the first Premier League side to go the entire season unbeaten
Arsenal won 26 games and drew 12 in the 2003/04 Premier League season. Theirry Henry was the star man for the Gunners that season as he scored 30 Premier League goals.
The Frenchman scored goals for fun in the first half of the season and looked unstoppable at times. There is a reason they have a statue of him outside the Emirates Stadium.
The biggest highlight of that season for Arsenal was the game they didn’t win. At Old Trafford, we saw one of the most dramatic Premier League games of all time as Ruud Van Nistelrooy missed a penalty for Manchester United.
After that, we saw Martin Keown and Lauren giving it to the Dutch striker at full time as there was a lot of pushing and shoving going on after the final whistle.
Regardless of the scenes that people may not seem to like, it showed that Arsenal had a group of men within their side.
Arsenal fans would hope that this isn’t the last Premier League title that they win any time soon.
Till then though they can always ask other fans “Is Yours Golden?”
9. Manchester United – 90 points (2008/09)
Matches – W28 D6 L4
In 2008/09, Manchester United had a lot of problems in the start and the middle of the season. Firstly, they had Cristiano Ronaldo out for the first two months because of a knee operation.
Secondly, they had problems with discipline. In October, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were battling out with Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa for the top 4 race. However, they kicked into another gear from December onwards.
In January, Manchester United set a new record of securing 11 consecutive Premier League clean sheets. That run was broken against Blackburn in a 2-1 win. However, problems came after their shocking 4-1 loss against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
In the build-up to a crucial game against Aston Villa, Manchester United had seen their 8 point lead at the top extinguished to a 2 point deficit by Liverpool. Moreover, they had Vidic, Scholes and Rooney suspended. This is where Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up.
A similar event happened against Tottenham as United came back from 2-0 down to secure a 5-2 win. These wins were critical to ensure that Manchester United matched their feat of 2001 of winning three consecutive Premier League titles.
8. Chelsea – 91 points (2005/06)
Matches – W29 D4 L5
Chelsea became only the second Premier League side after Manchester United to defend the Premier League title in 2006.
Jose Mourinho had completely taken over the Premier League as his tactical awareness and brilliant in-game management made the players feel comfortable during games.
In both of their Premier League-winning campaigns, Chelsea did not lose a Premier League game at home. That alone is enough to show how big of a superpower they were in the biggest league in the world.
In the first half of the 2005/06 season, they only lost 1 Premier League game, which came at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
Even though they lost their last two Premier League games against Blackburn and Newcastle, it didn’t change Chelsea’s position in the Premier League as they had the title in the bag.
Frank Lampard scored 16 Premier League goals in the season, the most out of any Chelsea player. Crespo and Drogba were the other two players to reach double figures for Chelsea in that Premier League season.
7. Manchester United – 91 points (1999/00)
Matches – W28 D7 L3
If the treble season wasn’t enough, Manchester United continued to fill their trophy cabinet in the following season.
In the season after the treble win, they secured their best points tally in a Premier League season with 91 points.
Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole were huge reasons for their Premier League defense as both of the United strikers piled up 20 and 19 Premier League goals in that season respectively.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men enjoyed a great start to their Premier League campaign as they went undefeated for the first nine games. However, they had a very poor October as they lost 5-0 to Chelsea and 3-1 to Tottenham.
Despite their defensive frailties, they were able to cope well with their problems at the back and let their attack do the talking. United did not lose another game until February when they lost 3-0 to Newcastle.
The defeat against Newcastle was their last defeat of the Premier League season as they had another gear to blow everyone else out of the title race.
The highlight of their Premier League season was the 7-1 humiliation they caused to West Ham at Old Trafford.
6. Chelsea – 93 points (2016/17)
Matches – W30 D3 L5
Antonio Conte did more than just win the Premier League title. His concept of playing 3 at the back was something that was copied by numerous footballing sides across Europe.
However, Chelsea started that season with 4 at the back. Even though they secured three consecutive wins, losses against Liverpool and Arsenal put a huge dent in their title race. This is where Conte went back to the drawing board and decided to integrate 3 at the back formation.
From that defeat at the Emirates, they did not lose a game in over three months. Even though they lost consecutive Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Manchester United, they got over the line in the end after beating West Brom.
5. Chelsea – 95 points (2004/05)
Matches – W29 D8 L1
In his first Chelsea press conference in 2004, Jose Mourinho claimed himself to be ‘The Special One’. And what he did in the following season was indeed very special.
Chelsea created several Premier League records in 2004/05. Firstly, they secured the highest points in Premier League history (until Manchester City broke it in 2018). Alongside that, they conceded the least goals in a Premier League campaign (15).
Moreover, Chelsea secured 25 Premier League clean sheets, conceding more than once only twice in the entire Premier League season.
This truly was a testament to the inspiring role a phenomenal manager can play at a club.
4. Liverpool – 97 points (2018/19)
Matches – W30 D7 L1
You just cannot secure 97 points in a Premier League campaign and not win the Premier League title. Liverpool truly would have won the Premier League in 99% of the other Premier League campaigns.
Liverpool didn’t lose a Premier League match at home all season. They only lost one Premier League game all season, which came against Manchester City at the Etihad. However, they would be disappointed with the number of draws they had in the season.
With all the praise going out to Liverpool’s forwards, it was Virgil Van Dijk who had completely revolutionized the team. The Dutch defender changed Liverpool’s defensive fortunes completely.
Even though they didn’t win the Premier League that season, Liverpool flexed their European muscles and won their 6th Champions League title.
And of course, the next season finally proved to be the one when Liverpool won their first ever Premier League title.
3. Manchester City – 98 points (2018/19)
Matches – W31 D2 L4
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City became only the third Premier League club after Chelsea and Manchester United to defend the Premier League title. In the two Premier League winning campaigns, City secured an unprecedented 198 points, which is a record itself.
However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that we witnessed arguably the best Premier League title race in a long time, with only one point deciding the winner.
City looked dead and buried in the race after their losses against Crystal Palace and Newcastle in December. However, things changed after they beat Liverpool at the Etihad.
From then on, Liverpool crumbled as City managed to secure win after win.
2. Liverpool – 99 points (2019/20)
Matches – W32 D3 L3
Usually, when you lose a Premier League title by a point, your heads drop and you lose motivation in the following season. However, we didn’t see any of that in Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Just like in the previous season, Liverpool didn’t lose a single match at Anfield. In December, they became the front-runners for the Premier League title after winning against Manchester City at home.
The Merseyside team was undefeated until March when they lost 3-0 to Watford away from home. Even though the pandemic came after that and players were told to remain away from the football grounds, it didn’t hamper Liverpool’s momentum whatsoever. The Premier League restarted in June and so did Liverpool.
They secured their first Premier League title in 30 years after they saw Manchester City lose to Chelsea in June.
1. Manchester City – 100 Points (2017/18)
Matches – W32 D4 L2
In the 2017/18 season, Manchester City became the first team to secure triple figures in the Premier League points table.
Even though their campaign didn’t start well with a draw against Everton in their first Premier League home game, they became an unstoppable force later on in the season. City went on an unbelievable 18 match winning streak in the Premier League.
In those 18 matches, they secured emphatic wins against Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham. In arguably the title-decider in December, they ran out winners against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Blues’ first Premier League defeat came against Liverpool at Anfield. Even though they lost to Manchester United at the Etihad, they wrapped up the title the following week as their neighbors lost to West Brom.
It truly was a dominating campaign from Pep Guardiola’s men.
Final Word
It is not easy to assemble a super squad. It takes many years and requires several pieces to come together.
So as we see managers like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola building their squads player by player, it proves to be a decent reminder that managers should be given enough time to create their own squad to succeed.
