There are some teams that make playing in the Premier League seem effortless. Several teams, like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, have the longest streaks of staying in the top flight and are unlikely to be demoted to the Championship, the second division, anytime soon. Their dominance of English football goes well beyond 1992, the year the Premier League was established.
Since the Premier League’s rebranding, six of its 22 original members—Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton—have remained in the league. Others haven’t been as fortunate, but the aforementioned sextet can proudly claim to be among the most powerful clubs in the nation.
Many teams have found England’s brutal top flight to be a merciless environment, from impoverished clubs doomed since promotion to those that were permitted to slip into the pits of relegation. Even though the 2024–2025 season is far from over, Southampton’s current performance hasn’t exactly encouraged their supporters. In fact, they are still on track to create unwelcome history as of March 2025. However, where would they stand in relation to the worst we’ve ever witnessed? Here is a list of the top 15 worst Premier League teams ever.
Factors that rank
Total points
Players’ calibre
Periods of poor performance that are obvious
Notable defeats
Expectations before to the season
Managerial dismissals
Goals scored/goals conceded 15
Norwich City for the 2019–20 campaign
Total points: 21
As of this writing, Daniel Farke is in his second season as Leeds United’s manager, with the goal of leading the Whites back to the Premier League. But before moving to West Yorkshire, the German established himself as a prominent figure in English football with Norwich City, where he was hired as manager in 2017.
Farke led Norwich to promotion in 2019 following a season in which he built his team. But even after making it to the Premier League, the German had little money to make renovations, and no big names were coming to Carrow Road. In retrospect, this was a clear error, but as the season went on, Norwich’s quality—or lack thereof—would become brutally apparent.
The Canaries became the first team in Premier League history to be relegated five times, finishing at the bottom of the league with just 21 points. Even though City would recover right away, their 2019–20 campaign was still quite bad.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
5.
Draws
6.
Losses
27
Scored goals
26
Goals given up
75
Difference in goal
-49
14 Watford for the 2021–2022 campaign
Total points: 23
Prior to the 2021–2022 season, Watford made a number of acquisitions that are still with the team as of this writing. These include Mattie Pollock, Imran Louza, Kwadwo Baah, and Moussa Sissoko, who rejoined the team before the current campaign after a two-year hiatus.
Watford defeated Aston Villa to start the season under the leadership of Xisco Munoz, who had led the team to promotion. However, Xisco would be fired after just seven games. Claudio Ranieri, the Premier League winner and former manager of Leicester City, took his spot.
Between his appointment and his eventual dismissal in January, Ranieri only managed to win two games: a 5-2 victory over Everton and a 4-1 victory over Manchester United. Watford concluded the season with 23 points, their lowest-ever Premier League record, after Roy Hodgson was brought in to try to partly correct the situation.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
19th
Gains
6.
Draws
5.
Losses
27
Scored goals
34
Goals given up
77
Difference in goal
-43
13 Queens Park Rangers, season 2012–13
Total points: 25
Prior to the 2012–13 season, which ended with their historic match at the Etihad where Manchester City won their first-ever Premier League title, Queens Park Rangers had threatened to be relegated. Under Mark Hughes’ leadership, QPR sought to strengthen their roster the next season by bringing in players like Rob Green, Esteban Granero, Jose Bosingwa, and Julio Cesar.
Hughes was fired in November after failing to win a Premier League game. Harry Redknapp, a seasoned manager who had spent heavily in January on players like Chris Samba and Loic Remy, took Hughes’ place but was unable to get his team to play. With only 25 points earned this season, QPR was relegated, and by the end of April, they had been informed of their destiny.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
4.
Draws
13.
Losses
21
Scored goals
30
Goals given up
60
Difference in goal
-30
12 Portsmouth for the 2009–10 campaign
Total points: 19.
Before the 2009–10 season officially began, Portsmouth had been in trouble for a while. They had to sell a number of important players, including Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson, Niko Kranjcar, and Sylvain Distin, who weren’t sufficiently replaced after going over budget in the previous few seasons. Avram Grant took over as manager of the South Coast team in November after they lost their first seven Premier League games due to a poor start to the season.
Throughout the campaign, there were also a lot of ownership changes, and Pompey’s fate was all but sealed when they were fined nine points for going into administration. The FA Cup final at the new Wembley, where they lost 1-0 to Chelsea, was their only hope for supporters after they completed the league with 19 points (with the deduction).
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
7.
Draws
7.
Losses
24
Scored goals
34
Goals given up
66
Difference in goal
-32
11 The season of 2021/22 in Norwich City
Total points: 22
After finishing the previous season with little more than a whimper, Norwich City quickly returned to the Premier League in 2021. You would think that the team’s poor 2019–20 season would have taught them a lesson about life in the top flight, but apparently not. The Canaries returned to the Premier League with a squad that was arguably weaker than before they let go of key players like Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia.
With a total of 22 points, Norwich was demoted once more, and manager Daniel Farke lost his job as a result. Dean Smith took his place, however he was unable to stabilise the team. The fact that the Yellows struggled far harder in the Championship the next season and ended up in 13th place is telling.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
5.
Draws
7.
Losses
26
Scored goals
23
Goals given up
84
Difference in goal
-61
10 Ipswich Town, 1994–95 season Total points: 27
The 1994–95 season proved too much for Ipswich Town, who had been a constant struggler throughout the first two Premier League seasons. After more than four years in charge, manager John Lyall was fired in early December after the team had a terrible start to the season, losing 11 of their first 15 games.
George Burley, his successor, was unable to keep the Tractor Boys from finishing at the bottom of the table with 27 points, despite being a major success throughout his eight-year tenure at Portman Road and winning Premier League Manager of the Season in 2001. They have given up 93 goals, which is the third-highest total in Premier League history. Their most notorious loss was to Manchester United, 9-0.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
22nd
Gains
7.
Draws
6.
Losses
29
Scored goals
36
Goals given up
93
Difference in goal
-57
https://youtu.be/KgsydTBeVqohttps://youtu.be/KgsydTBeVqo
9Bradford City – 2000/01 season
Points tally: 26
With three victories in their final four games of the 1999–00 season, including a historic 1-0 victory over Liverpool, Bradford City had overcome all odds to make it through their first season in the top division in 77 years. However, manager Paul Jewell’s resignation during the offseason delivered the Bantams a severe setback.
His assistant Chris Hutchings took his place, however he lost his job in November after failing to pull off the same prank the next season. Benito Carbone and Stan Collymore, two seasoned, elite strikers, were added, but the West Yorkshire team was the lowest-scoring team in the division and finished last with just 26 points.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
5.
Draws
11.
Losses
22
Scored goals
30
Goals given up
70
Difference in goal
-40
8 Swindon Town during the 1993–94 campaign
Total points: 30
Swindon Town’s 1993 promotion to the Premier League meant they would be playing top-flight football for the first time in their history, but they had to wait until the final week of November for their first Premier League victory. Bradford’s 1999–00 season was their first in the top division in almost 80 years.
They finished with 30 points, ten points below Oldham Athletic in 21st place, and were easily relegated to the second division. Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the Robins’ time in the top league is the 100 goals they allowed. In the 90th minute of the final match of the season, Chris Fairclough of Leeds United completed Swindon’s undesired century.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
22nd
Gains
5.
Draws
15.
Losses
22
Scored goals
47
Goals given up
One hundred
Difference in goal
-53
7 Sunderland, season 2002–03
Total points: 19.
During the 2002–03 season, Sunderland’s predicament was a prime illustration of a club firing a manager in a hurry without considering a suitable replacement. After a 3-1 away loss to Arsenal, the wildly popular Peter Reid, who had led the Black Cats for the previous seven years, was fired nine games into the new season. Howard Wilkinson, who had not managed a team for six years, was mysteriously brought in to take his place.
During one of the longest losing streaks in the history of the sport, the Mackems would only win two games after that and lose all but one of their games after Christmas. Ironically, Sunderland’s worst Premier League performance was still to come. In March, Mick McCarthy was brought in to replace Wilkinson, but it was too little, too late, and they were demoted with a then-record low number of points (19) and goals scored (21).
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
4.
Draws
7.
Losses
27
Scored goals
21
Goals given up
65
Difference in goal
-44
6 Aston Villa for the 2015–16 campaign
Total points: 17.
Following the Northern Irishman’s departure in 2010, Aston Villa began a slow decline that eventually caught up to them during the 2015–16 season, having constantly finishing in the top four during the late 2000s under Martin O’Neill. Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph, two important players, were sold in the summer, and the team found it especially difficult to replace the Belgian’s goals. Jordan Ayew led Villa in scoring with seven goals this season.
Remi Garde, who had been successful as Lyon’s manager, took Tim Sherwood’s place in October, but he was unable to arrest the rot and was unpopular with the fans, especially after momentarily benching the team’s brilliant, up-and-coming young player Jack Grealish. With Villa’s destiny virtually certain, first-team coach Eric Black was left to finish the season after the Frenchman was fired in late March. With just three victories and 17 points at the end of the season, they finished last in the league and were no longer one of the seven Premier League teams that were always present.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
3.
Draws
8.
Losses
27
Scored goals
27
Goals given up
76
Difference in goal
-49
5Huddersfield Town – 2018/19 season
Points tally: 16
The previous season, Huddersfield Town shocked many by finishing 16th and avoiding the drop in their debut Premier League season. But because they didn’t bolster their team enough, the Terriers couldn’t pull off the same ruse the next season. With only 16 points at the end of the season, they finished at the bottom of the table and only managed three victories.
Midway through the season, their mysterious coach, David Wagner, who had guided the South Yorkshire team on an improbable run to the first division, was possibly fired by mistake. Since then, Huddersfield has not even approached re-entering the Premier League.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
3.
Draws
7.
Losses
28
Scored goals
22
Goals given up
76
Difference in goal
-54
4 Sheffield United: Season 2023–2024 Point total: 16
During the 2023–24 season, Sheffield United broke the previous record for the most goals given up in a season of English top-flight football played across 38 games, which predates the Premier League era. The Blades scored an incredible 104 goals, but their goal differential was a pathetic minus 69.
Following crushing losses to Brighton and Aston Villa in the Premier League and Brighton once again in the FA Cup, they were thrashed by Arsenal 6-0, making them the only team in English football history to give up five goals in four straight home games across all competitions. To make matters worse, they have also suffered an 8-0 thumping at Bramall Lane to Newcastle earlier in the season, so the 6-0 loss against the Gunners isn’t the worst they have experienced.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
3.
Draws
7.
Losses
28
Scored goals
35
Goals given up
104
Difference in goal
-69
3 Sunderland, season 2005–06
Total points: 15
Sunderland returned to the top level just two seasons after they had set the record for the fewest points in a Premier League season, but they were just as unprepared. Under McCarthy’s leadership, who assumed control during that turbulent 2002–03 season, the Black Cats won just three games in 2005 and barely avoided defeat in nine games.
The 64-year-old’s results did not improve in the new year, and he was fired in February. Kevin Ball, a former Sunderland player, took his place. Although he was unable to turn things around, he did give the team its only home victory of the year (2-1 against Fulham) in the penultimate game of the season. Even though they finished with a record-low 15 points, the Black Cats managed to score five more goals than they had the previous two seasons.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
3.
Draws
6.
Losses
29
Scored goals
26
Goals given up
69
Difference in goal
-43
2Southampton – 2024/25 season
Points tally: 10
With seven games remaining in the 2024–25 season, Southampton could win a few more games and history will view them more favourably than they most likely deserve. After being promoted from the Championship at the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, the Saints have had a difficult time adjusting to life in the top division.
Players like Aaron Ramsdale and Cameron Archer have not performed up to par, and their team has been far from adequate. Their loss to Tottenham Hotspur on April 6th consigned them to relegation, as they have only accumulated 10 points out of a possible 93. Furthermore, it was the earliest Premier League relegation ever experienced by a team. Simply cruel.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
2.
Draws
4.
Losses
25
Scored goals
23
Goals given up
74
Difference in goal
-51
1 Derby County for the 2007–08 campaign
Total points: 11.
The transition from the Championship to the Premier League has never overwhelmed a squad more than Derby County in 2007. They were instantly predicted to drop back down, with one bookmaker giving payments for Derby to be demoted as early as September. They were managed by Billy Davies until Paul Jewell took them in November. During that month, the Rams defeated Newcastle United 2-1 at home, their sole victory of the season.
Experienced Premier League players like Alan Stubbs, Roy Carroll, Robbie Savage, and Danny Mills were added in the winter, but to no avail. Derby finished the season with a record-low 11 points and earned an unwanted place in Premier League history.
Statistics for the Premier League
Place
20th
Gains
One
Draws
8.
Losses
29
Scored goals
20
Goals given up
89
Difference in goal
-69
The Premier League’s 15 Worst Teams in History
Rank
Group
Time of year
Points
One
County of Derby
2007–2008
11.
2.
Southampton
2024–2025
10*
3.
Sunderland
2005–2006
15.
4.
United of Sheffield
2023–2024
16
5.
Town of Huddersfield
2018–19
16
6.
Villa Aston
2015–16
17
7.
Sunderland
2002–2003
19.
8.
Town of Swindon
1993–1994
30
9.
City of Bradford
January 2000
26
10.
Town of Ipswich
1994–1995
27
11.
City of Norwich
2021–2022
22
Twelve
Portsmouth
2009–2010
19.
13.
Rangers of Queens Park
2012–2013
25
14
Watford
2021–2022
23
15.
City of Norwich
2019–20
21
xz
