A few of the greatest groups in Premier League historical past don’t truly win a variety of titles, with the energy of rival sides throughout the identical interval blocking them from success.
The present Arsenal aspect are heading in the right direction to win the Premier League this season, however they’ve been burdened largely by being an amazing crew in the identical period as Pep Guardiola’s dominant Manchester Metropolis.
Metropolis are as soon as once more respiratory down the Gunners’ necks, and if Mikel Arteta’s aspect handle to not win the title, they’ll be one of many best sides ever not to take action.
We have now ranked the ten greatest sides by no means to have received the Premier League.
10. David O’Leary’s Leeds United (1998-2002)
Accruing a few of the lowest factors tallies on this record are why Leeds are to this point down, however it was nonetheless a very good aspect who solely as soon as completed exterior the Premier League’s prime 4 beneath O’Leary.
Their greatest end was third, on 69 factors, in 1999-2000. That squad included Nigel Martyn, Jonathan Woodgate, Alf-Inge Haaland, David Batty, Alan Smith and Harry Kewell to call a number of.
Leeds had been 4 factors off second-placed Arsenal however nowhere near runaway champions Manchester United.
They had been nearer by way of factors within the seasons both aspect of that one, however additional away by way of league place. No less than they loved kicking the sh*t out of the Gunners.
9. Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United (2016-18)
One of many best managers to grace the Premier League, Mourinho named ending second in it with United in 2017-18 as his “greatest ever achievement.”
United had not completed within the prime 4 for both of the final two seasons, however managed to be runners-up beneath Mourinho.
Sadly, whereas they had been higher than everybody bar rivals Metropolis, Pep Guardiola’s aspect had been so good – 100 factors good – that it mattered little or no however for Mourinho’s pleasure.
8. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United (2018-21)
After two 66-point campaigns in a row, United pushed on and scooped 74 factors in Solskjaer’s third season on the helm, as he guided the Pink Devils to second within the league, in 2020-21.
Ending runners-up to the Manchester Metropolis juggernaut is nothing to smell at, with United additionally going 28 video games unbeaten away from residence beneath Solskjaer, highlighting the defensive rigidity that the membership have been crying out for in seasons since then.
7. Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea (2021-22)
Tuchel solely truly acquired to the tip of two seasons at Chelsea, however the membership completed inside the Premier League prime 4 in each and received the Champions League, proving how good a aspect they had been.
Their greatest factors whole beneath the German was 74 in 2021-22, in what was largely a scrap for the title between Liverpool and Metropolis.
However being third to 2 of one of the best sides in historical past is a feat in itself, and Tuchel’s Chelsea overcoming Actual Madrid and Metropolis in dominant eras for each golf equipment to scoop the Champions League confirmed how good the Blues could possibly be.
6. Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool (2012-15)
An exceptional second-placed end was sandwiched between two very common campaigns exterior the Premier League prime 4 for Rodgers, and he largely had Luis Suarez to thank for the way shut he got here to a title in 2013-14.
Suarez’s greatest season within the Premier League by a ways noticed him bag 31 targets alongside 13 assists, as Manchester Metropolis beat Liverpool to the title by simply two factors, by advantage of successful only one additional recreation when Liverpool drew.
Had the height been longer, Rodgers’ aspect would have been greater on this record, however as single seasons go, his crew was proper up there.
5. Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool (2004-10)
How lucky was Benitez to have Steven Gerrard in his pomp and a Fernando Torres who completed third in Ballon d’Or voting in his first season on Merseyside – the pair combining for one of many deadliest mixtures in Premier League historical past.
In three seasons beneath Benitez, Torres scored 56 league targets, and aided his compatriot in having essentially the most profitable of his six seasons on the helm at Anfield.
In 2008-09, Liverpool received 25 video games and amassed 86 factors, however Manchester United pipped them to the title by 4 factors, shedding extra video games but additionally successful extra.
4. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal (Submit-Invincibles)
Wenger’s final title as Arsenal boss got here in 2003-04, earlier than he had 12 seasons in a row not ending exterior the Premier League prime 4.
The sheer size of that sustained excellence was one thing to behold, as he constantly led his membership into Europe.
The likes of Robin van Persie had been unable to elevate a league trophy at Arsenal, however had been by no means very distant from doing so, with Arsenal coming inside seven factors of the title in 2013-14.
That they completed fourth that season proves how aggressive the league was throughout that interval.
Additionally, isn’t it humorous (however not deliberate) we’ve acquired them fourth on this record given the quantity of occasions they completed there! (Six beneath Wenger).
3. Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool (1998-2004)
In six seasons in cost at Liverpool, Houllier solely twice noticed his aspect end exterior the Premier League’s prime 4.
He had a few nice seasons back-to-back (2000-01 and 2001-02). Within the first of these, Liverpool got here third within the Premier League however received a treble of trophies – the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. That was additionally the yr by which Michael Owen received the Ballon d’Or.
The next season, Liverpool amassed 80 factors as they completed second to Arsenal by seven factors.
Houllier’s sustained interval of manufacturing high quality outcomes throughout competitions places him greater on this record than his successor Rafa Benitez, who had a greater Premier League run in a single season, however was much less constant.
2. Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham (2014-19)
Pochettino had Tottenham taking part in a few of the greatest soccer we’ve got ever seen within the Premier League, centered by way of their two predominant attackers – Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
The pair are essentially the most profitable strike partnership within the historical past of the league, so the boss clearly knew the way to get one of the best out of them.
The 2015-16 season was essentially the most notorious of Pochettino’s reign, following a fifth-placed season by primarily coming third in a two-horse race.
Spurs had been in and round prime spot for your complete marketing campaign, earlier than they let it slip proper on the finish of the season, and Leicester needed it extra, successful the title, earlier than Arsenal pipped their north London rivals to second.
Spurs completed on 86 factors the next season, coming second to an electrical Chelsea aspect who reached 93 factors. A few years later – with third and fourth-placed finishes beneath their belt within the league – Tottenham reached the Champions League closing, highlighting their struggle on the most important stage.
1. Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle (1993-97)
David Batty, Rob Lee, Lee Clark, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand, Tino Asprilla. Newcastle had a squad filled with stars who had a number of distinctive seasons collectively within the North East.
They got here third, sixth after which second within the Premier League, and the latter of these seasons (1995-96) noticed them come closest to the title.
“I’ll adore it if we beat them, adore it” had been the everlasting phrases of Keegan in response to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson throughout that marketing campaign.
Beat them they didn’t, sadly, with the Manchester-based powerhouse successful the league by 4 factors – however Newcastle gave it an amazing go, racking up 78 factors that marketing campaign.
We nonetheless love them to today.
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