Some of the greatest teams in the Premier League have been formed, gone on lengthy winning streaks, and even achieved greatness in the process. Preston North End finished the 1888–1889 Football League season undefeated, setting a record that no other team in the highest division of England would match for the following 115 years.
Before the arrival of Arsenal’s Invincibles, many believed it would never happen again. The Gunners are still the only team in Premier League history to finish the entire season undefeated. The north London team is not alone, though, in the division’s recent past in forgetting what it’s like to lose.
Here’s a closer look at the Premier League’s greatest unbeaten streaks, which include some surprising vintages in addition to the well-known roster of renowned clubs.
12Manchester United – 25
October 2016–April 2017
Jose Mourinho, the self-described “special one,” made the first of two entries. With 12 draws in their last 25 games without a loss, Manchester United’s unbeaten streak wasn’t particularly noteworthy. Their streak started with a 4-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge, a stadium that Mourinho is well-acquainted with. Draws with teams like Everton, Burnley, and West Ham United weren’t very convincing. Amazing victories over Tottenham Hotspur were part of the run, though, and Mourinho exacted revenge on Chelsea at Old Trafford by defeating his old team 2-0.
With consecutive losses to Arsenal and Spurs, Manchester United’s run came to a screaming halt in north London. Mourinho’s team had a successful season, winning the League Cup, Europa League, and Community Shield despite finishing in sixth place.
The Unbeaten Run of Manchester United in 2016–17
Unbeaten Games
25
The Greatest Victory
Manchester United 0–3 Leicester City
Final Run By
The Arsenal
11Nottingham Forest – 25
February 1995–November 1995
The younger generation will be surprised by this entry. Stan Collymore, who scored 22 goals in 1995 and was in excellent form, was a major factor in Nottingham Forest’s return to dominance. It would seem more improbable in the present day that Forest would have taken points away from teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur.
After retiring in 1993, the departure of one of the greatest English managers in history, Brian Clough, was still very much in the news. The team was promoted to the Premier League in 1994 under Frank Clark, who also managed an undefeated streak from February 1995 to the end of the 1994–95 season. The Tricky Trees broke Blackburn Rovers’ two-year-old record for the Premier League’s best-performing newly promoted team by finishing third that season. At Ewood Park, the run ended spectacularly as Blackburn dominated Forest, defeating them 7-0.
The 1995 Unbeaten Run by Nottingham Forest
Unbeaten Games
25
The Greatest Victory
Nottingham Forest 1–7 Sheffield Wednesday
Final Run By
Rovers of Blackburn
10Liverpool – 26
September 2024 – April 2025
It couldn’t have gone better for Arne Slot’s first season as manager of Anfield. It was never going to be simple to replace Jurgen Klopp, but the Dutchman immediately became a fixture and led the Reds to the Premier League title. They’ve also hardly ever given up the position, and as the season draws to a close, they’ve only lost twice in the league. His team proceeded on a 26-match winning streak, securing their position at the top of the table after suffering their first loss, quite early, against Nottingham Forest.
Their run to the gold took a slight knock when they were unexpectedly upset by Fulham at Craven Cottage in April, but they now appear almost certain to take the trophy for just the second time ever. The team went 26 games without a loss, one of the longest streaks in Premier League history, despite the unexpected turn of events.
Liverpool’s 2024–25 Unbeaten Run
Unbeaten Games
26
The Greatest Victory
West Ham United 5-0 Liverpool
Final Run By
Fulham
9Manchester United – 29
April 2010–February 2011
At the completion of the 2009–10 season, Manchester United had gone five games without a loss. They continued their strong play in the 2010–11 season, going another twenty-four games without a loss. Dimitar Berbatov scored five goals during the 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers during the victorious sequence.
During this run, Sir Alex Ferguson’s team also had impressive wins over Liverpool and Arsenal. However, they were brought back to earth with a bang by Wolverhampton Wanderers in a shocking 2-1 loss at Molineux. Despite this, the team easily won the Premier League, nine points ahead of Manchester City and Chelsea. A 3-1 loss to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley was one of the season’s disappointments.
The Unbeaten Run of Manchester United in 2010–11
Unbeaten Games
29
The Greatest Victory
Blackburn Rovers 7-1 Manchester United
Final Run By
Wolves
8Chelsea – 29
December 2007–October 2008
It’s likely that Chelsea fans will wish to forget about the 2007–08 season. In addition to losing in the Champions League and League Cup finals, the Blues finished second in the Premier League. They also lost in the Community Shield at the beginning of the season, which was regrettably a harbinger of things to come for the team.
Avram Grant led the team to an undefeated streak of 29 games in spite of their terrible luck. With thumpings over West Ham United (4-0) and Derby County (6-1), as well as two 4-4 draws against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, it was an absolutely entertaining one. Chelsea lost 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield, ending their winning streak.
Chelsea’s 2007–08 Unbeaten Run
Unbeaten Games
29
The Greatest Victory
Derby County 6-1 Chelsea
Final Run By
Liverpool
7Manchester United – 29
December 1998–September 1999
Manchester United made history in the 1998–1999 season by winning the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup, making them the first English team to achieve the European treble. This season included a number of memorable moments, chief among them Ryan Giggs’ lone goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinal and their valiant performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. However, many people forget about their impressive league form because of those high-profile incidents.
This season, Manchester United only suffered three Premier League losses over the entire campaign. Perhaps more unexpectedly, they defeated Arsenal by just one point to win the league. With a 6-2 victory over Leicester City and an 8-1 thumping of Nottingham Forest among the highlights, United’s winning streak continued into the 1999–00 campaign. After losing to Chelsea 5-0 at Stamford Bridge in October 1999, the run finally came to an end.
Manchester United’s 1998–1999 Unbeaten Run
Unbeaten Games
29
The Greatest Victory
Manchester United 1–8 Nottingham Forest
Final Run By
Chelsea
6Manchester City – 30
April 2017–January 2018
The inclusion of another Pep Guardiola team on this list is hardly shocking. Manchester City broke a number of Premier League records throughout this season, making it one to remember. In a Premier League season, City amassed the highest number of points (100), away points (50), wins (32) and victories (18).
A 5-0 triumph over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, a 6-0 success away at Watford, and a 7-2 thrashing of Stoke City were among the amazing outcomes of City’s undefeated run. In January 2018, their dazzling run came to an end in a thrilling 4-3 loss at Anfield, one of only two Premier League losses during the unforgettable season.
The Unbeaten Run of Manchester City in 2017–18
Unbeaten Games
30
The Greatest Victory
Watford, Manchester City, 0-6
Final Run By
Liverpool
5Arsenal – 30
December 2001–October 2002
The groundwork for Arsenal’s ‘Invincible’ campaign was laid throughout this season. Journalists at the time ridiculed Arsene Wenger’s 2002 declaration that it was his goal to go an entire season without losing, a move they would later come to regret. Arsenal’s 13-game winning streak ended with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, which secured them the Premier League title. They completed another double by winning the FA Cup, which further improved their season.
With victories over Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle United, as well as their triumph at Old Trafford that solidified their title as Premier League champions, Arsenal’s undefeated streak produced several noteworthy outcomes. In the 90th minute at Goodison Park, Wayne Rooney scored his first Premier League goal, ending their run in October 2002.
Arsenal’s 2001–02 Unbeaten Run
Unbeaten Games
30
The Greatest Victory
Arsenal 1-4 Leeds United
Final Run By
Everton
4Manchester City – 32
December 2023–November 2024
Pep Guardiola is constantly coming up with fresh ways to win eight years after he moved to England and ten and a half years after he won every trophy imaginable in his debut season as Barcelona’s manager. The legendary head coach of Manchester City led his team to a 23-game winning streak to end the 2023–24 season and just defeat Arsenal, who were headed by his former assistant Mikel Arteta, for the top flight title.
As a result, City became the first team in the history of the English Premier League to win the division four times in a row. From the foundation of midfield in Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona “Dream Team,” Guardiola accomplished the same thing, winning all of La Liga’s titles from 1991 to 1994. As the always changing manager clarified: “I know from my experience as a player that you have to adjust after winning. Not touching anything would be the simplest course of action. They continued their winning streak into the 2024–2025 season as the development appeared to be continuing.
When Arsenal visited the Etihad Stadium in September 2024, City was just seconds away from losing their first league match in nearly a year. The Gunners held their hosts at bay until John Stones’ equaliser in the 98th minute sealed a thrilling 2-2 draw, despite playing the entire second half with 10 men. However, after 32 games, they finally experienced defeat at the hands of Bournemouth in November 2024, ending their streak.
Manchester City’s 2023–24 Unbeaten Run
Unbeaten Games
32
The Greatest Victory
City of Manchester 5-1 Luton Town
Final Run By
The Bournemouth
3Chelsea – 40
October 2004–October 2005
One run came to an end and another started. Chelsea began a lengthy run without a loss the day after Arsenal’s 49-game winning streak ended at Old Trafford. With just 19 goals allowed in those 40 games, Jose Mourinho’s team had an incredible defensive record and an incredible 24 clean sheets.
Chelsea finished the 2004–05 Premier League season undefeated at Stamford Bridge, finishing with 95 points, 12 points ahead of Arsenal. In England’s top division, the team only suffered one loss this season, a shocking 1-0 loss on the road to an eighth-place Manchester City team. During their winning streak, Chelsea achieved numerous noteworthy outcomes, such as a 4-0 triumph against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge and a 4-1 victory over Liverpool away at Anfield. Their incredible run continued into the 2005–06 season until coming to an end at Old Trafford, the same location as Arsenal’s.
Chelsea’s 2004–05 Unbeaten Run
Unbeaten Games
40
The Greatest Victory
Newcastle United 4-0 Chelsea
Final Run By
United Manchester
2Liverpool – 44
January 2019–February 2020
During the 2019–20 season, Liverpool came the closest to emulating Arsenal’s undefeated record. With 12 games remaining, the Reds faced a faltering Watford team in an attempt to secure the Premier League title early. At Vicarage Road, Nigel Pearson’s squad astonished everyone by winning 3-0. Few people had anticipated anything other than a Liverpool victory and the Reds continuing their winning streak. In the 2019–20 season, that was the first of three losses.
During their winning streak, Liverpool defeated Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Everton, among other notable outcomes. With 99 points, Jurgen Klopp’s team finished 18 points ahead of second-place Manchester City, which would be consoling.
Liverpool’s 2019–20 Unbeaten Run
Unbeaten Games
44
The Greatest Victory
Southampton 4-0 Liverpool
Final Run By
Watford
1Arsenal – 49
May 2003–October 2004
It appeared as though Arsenal was collapsing in April 2004. They lost 2-1 to Liverpool at halftime, their then-33-game winning streak in jeopardy, and were eliminated from both the FA Cup and the Champions League. By putting things right with a hat-trick to help Arsenal win 4-2, Thierry Henry solidified his reputation as the team’s star.
Arsenal finished with 26 wins and 12 draws throughout the 38-game league season. On their journey to glory, the Gunners achieved several amazing feats, including a 5-0 thrashing of Leeds United and a 2-1 triumph over Chelsea. Arsenal missed the opportunity to release T-shirts that prematurely read “50 Not Out” when Manchester United interrupted their undefeated streak at Old Trafford the following season.
Arsenal’s 2003–04 Unbeaten Run
Unbeaten Games
49
The Greatest Victory
Leeds United 5-0 Arsenal
Final Run By
United Manchester
The Premier League’s longest streaks without a loss
Rank
Group
Supervisor
Time frame
Unbeaten Games
One
The Arsenal
Wenger, Arsene
2003–2004
49
2.
Liverpool
Klopp, Jurgen
2019–2020
44
3.
Chelsea
Mourinho, Jose
2004–2005
40
4.
City of Manchester
Guardiola, Pep
2023–2024
32
5 =
The Arsenal
Wenger, Arsene
2001–2002
30
5 =
City of Manchester
Guardiola, Pep
From 2017 to 2018
30
7 =
United Manchester
Alex Ferguson, sir
From 1998 to 1999
29
7 =
Chelsea
Grant, Avram
2007–2008
29
7 =
United Manchester
Alex Ferguson, sir
2010–2011
29
10.
Liverpool
Sloth Arne
2024–2025
26
12 =
Forest of Nottingham
Clark, Frank
1995
25
12 =
United Manchester
Mourinho, Jose
2016–2017
25
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