Longest Unbeaten Runs in Premier League History

Manchester City ended the 2016/17 Premier League campaign in strong form winning six of the final eight games, including two draws. This set the tone for the proceeding season where a pulsating City side went on a 22-game unbeaten start in which they dropped just four points.

Liverpool were the side to finally end this seemingly unstoppable surge, in a phenomenal 4-3 win at Anfield. This would be only one of two defeats City suffered during the season as Pep Guardiola’s side became the first side in Premier League history to secure 100 points in a single season.

During the 30-match unbeaten run, the Cityzens won 26 matches, scoring an impressive 87 goals whilst also being tight at the back, being scored on 18 times. It would be no surprise to see City duplicate this form whilst under the management of Guardiola, but with increasing competition at the top of the table it may get harder.

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal set the tone for these long unbeaten runs in the top flight of English football. Setting an initial club record of 30 games without defeat spanning across two separate seasons.

Christmas came early for the Gunners, with the unbeaten run beginning with a 2-1 away win at Anfield against Liverpool, Wenger’s men went on to secure 25 wins and five draws over the 30-match unbeaten streak. 21 games were unbeaten until the end of the season which helped them pip Liverpool to securing the Premier League title with a seven-point cushion.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, the run ended at Goodison Park in a 2-1 defeat against Everton in October 2002. This was followed up with another 2-1 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers in what would be deemed a humbling experience after so long without defeat – this was only one of two home defeats in league competition across three years.

Chelsea started the third-longest unbeaten run in Premier League history in October 2004 under the management of hot Portuguese prospect Jose Mourinho.

The Stamford Bridge outfit went unbeaten for the final 29 games of the 2004-05 season and then the first 11 of the proceeding campaign. The start of the 2005/06 season saw Chelsea win nine out of 11 matches, which at the time was the best start to a Premier League season by any side.

Chelsea’s unbeaten run fell at the hand of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Red Devils enjoyed a 1-0 win on Ferguson’s 19th anniversary at the club.

During the unbeaten run, Mourinho’s men won 33 of the 40 matches scoring 93 goals and being stubborn at the back, only letting 19 goals in during this time. This remains Chelsea’s best unbeaten run as the Portuguese manager made an instant impact in English football.

Liverpool have had a resurgence under German Jurgen Klopp as they’ve broken voodoo curses by winning the Premier League during this current Manchester City dynasty. The Reds managed a staggering 44-match unbeaten run lasting 13 months.

Klopp’s side were left shell-shocked when the run ended, they went to Vicarage Road to face Nigel Pearson’s Watford on the back of 18 successive victories but were left humbled as Watford dismantled this well-oiled machine to also end the 44-match unbeaten run.

What’s most impressive about this run is Liverpool dropped just 10 points out of 132 up for grabs, with an average of 2.77 points per game. Crazy stuff! Liverpool managed 99 points as they secured the Premier League title, and during the unbeaten run, they won 39 matches scoring 104 goals, whilst conceding 29.

A note on how successful Liverpool were during this period is they won the title with seven games remaining, which is the earliest title win to date.

The longest unbeaten run in English top-flight history is held by Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger’s Gunners going a ridiculous 49 matches without a Premier League defeat. This is the second time they’ve appeared in the top five, just a couple of seasons on from a previous club and league record.

Known as ‘the Invincibles’, 38 of the 49 games unbeaten came in a single season which is absolutely incredible. They remain the only Premier League team to ever do so, with 26 wins and 12 draws.

Across the 49 matches unbeaten, Arsenal won 121 of 147 possible points which was 19 more than any other side. They scored 35 goals more than the nearest competitor which provided entertainment for the Arsenal faithful.

Arsenal’s run came to an end in a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford to Manchester United which saw a huge brawl at the end of the match as tempers flared. This started a poor run of form as they finished 12 points behind eventual champions Chelsea.

Manchester United: 29 matches - 1998/99

Chelsea: 29 matches - 2007/08

Manchester United: 29 matches - 2010/11

Nottingham Forest: 25 matches - 1995

Manchester United: 25 matches - 2016/17

At present, Manchester City are on a 22-game unbeaten run where they have managed to pick-up 58 points since their 1-0 loss away at Aston Villa on 6th December. Typically, Guardiola's side tends to go from strength to strength past the turn of the year. City will become the first-ever side in Premier League history to win four league titles in a row should they beat West Ham United on Sunday.

Time will tell to see if City can carry their unbeaten run deep into the 2024/25 campaign.

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