The English Premier League is full of history and tradition, but some clubs have been a cut above the rest when it comes to lifting the trophy at the end of the season.
By just about any metric, the English Premier League is the biggest soccer league in the world. Its clubs are the richest, its transfer spending is the most exorbitant and its global reach is unmatched.
Manchester United fans in California wake up before the sun rises to catch a league match, while Tottenham fans in South Korea hoping to catch a glimpse of national hero Son Heung-min often stay up well into the night. But for all supporters, it’s worth it. Football is life.
Amid all of that pageantry and history, which Premier League teams have been the most successful? Whether you’re a new fan looking to bone up on your history or a fantasy soccer manager looking for insight into the best teams and players who have historically performed well, read on for a complete guide to the champions of England’s decorated top flight.
Which Team Has the Most Trophies in the Premier League?
It’s important to remember that top-flight English football didn’t begin with the Premier League. While the Premier League as we know it was formed in the 1992–93 season, English first-division competition dates all the way back to the 1888–89 season. So when discussing “titles,” context matters — are we talking Premier League-era only, or the full history?
As of the 2024–25 season, both Manchester United and Liverpool now hold 20 top-flight English championships apiece, tied for the most all-time. However, Manchester United still leads in the Premier League era specifically, with 13 titles since 1992 — more than any other club in that span.
Manchester United
The Red Devils have fallen into a pattern of mediocrity ever since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Over the last decade, forget England — United hasn’t even been the dominant force in its own city. Manchester City has surged past its rival, winning six Premier League titles in the last eight seasons and redefining modern success in English football.
But the Sir Alex era at Old Trafford was an absolute wagon. Those Red Devils teams were stacked with Premier League greats who built a reputation for coming through in the clutch. From David Beckham and Eric Cantona to Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, the talent pipeline was relentless.
United’s 20 top-flight titles have come in spurts. The first two came under manager Ernest Mangnall in 1907–08 and 1910–11. After a four-decade drought, Matt Busby’s teams re-emerged in the 1950s with championships in 1951–52, 1955–56 and 1956–57, adding two more in 1964–65 and 1966–67. Then came the Premier League era, where United dominated early — winning eight of the first 11 titles under Ferguson — and grabbing five more between 2006–07 and 2012–13.
Liverpool
Meanwhile, the Reds built a powerful legacy long before the Premier League was born. While their recent resurgence has brought a new generation of glory, it was the 1970s and 1980s where Liverpool truly established itself as a powerhouse football club.
With dominant squads led by the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Ian Rush, Liverpool racked up title after title, laying the foundation for a club that now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with United at 20 top-flight championships. Their more recent stars have included legends such as Mo Salah, Luis Suarez, Virgil van Dijk and Steven Gerrard.
Most Premier League Titles By Club
It’ll be a while, if ever, before another club catches Manchester United and Liverpool. But here’s a closer look at the clubs with the most English first-division titles in history:
Who Won the First Premier League Title?
Once again, it comes down to semantics. If we’re talking about the first English title ever, then that’s Preston North End’s 1888-89 team. If we’re referring to the Premier League as we know it, and the top flight that coalesced in 1992-93, then that would be Manchester United.
In that season, Cantona arrived from Leeds United to provide a jolt in the attack next to league-leading scorer Mark Hughes (15 goals), while the homegrown likes of Beckham, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt started their integration into the first team. Giggs continued his emergence as a midfield force, while all-time great Peter Schmeichel backstopped the club in goal.
That season established Man United as the preeminent power in the Premier League, and it took about 20 years for the club’s stranglehold over the league to loosen. It’s now desperately trying to reclaim a place among the English and European elite while pining for the glory days.
The Impact of Premier League Titles on Fantasy Soccer Strategies
Success in Fantasy Premier League games is predicated on plucking the best and most productive players from around the league for your squad. While those players don’t need to come from the top clubs in the table — there are plenty of diamonds in the rough to be found a few rungs lower down. It doesn’t take a math whiz to figure out that the clubs who produce the most and score the most will feature the players who rack up the most fantasy-friendly stats.
So if you’re entering a new Fantasy PL season, take a look at the reigning champion and the clubs expected to contend in the campaign ahead. It’s not a foolproof method, but it should at the very least raise your floor as you assess the talent across the league.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team has won the most Premier League titles in a row?
Manchester City’s run of four in a row from 2020-21 through 2023-24 is the standard for consecutive titles.
A number of clubs have three-peated. Huddersfield Town was the first to do so, winning all three of its titles from 1923-24 to 1925-26. Arsenal did the three-peat a decade later, winning from 1932-33 to 1934-35.
The next three-peat didn’t come until the 1980s, when Liverpool padded its all-time tally from 1981-82 to 1983-84.
Prior to Man City’s run, Man United was the only club to three-peat in the Premier League era, doing it twice (1998-99 to 2000-01 and 2006-07 to 2008-09).
Has there ever been an undefeated champion?
Arsenal’s “Invincibles” of 2003-04 are a historical juggernaut as the only team in English top-flight history to go a 38-game season without losing.
That club went 26-0-12, collecting 90 points and winning the league by 11 points over second-place Chelsea.
Arsene Wenger’s legendary Arsenal team did not set the record for most points in a season, though. That mark belongs to Man City of 2017-18, who hit the 100-point barrier (32-2-4) and are known as “The Centurions.”
England’s first champion, 1888-89 Preston North End, also went undefeated, albeit through 27 league and cup matches (PNE went 18-0-4 in league play).
How many clubs have won titles in the Premier League era?
Only seven clubs to date have won titles in the current iteration of the English top flight. They are: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City and Liverpool.
Hit Your Fantasy Goals With Sleeper
You should be a bit more familiar with the Premier League’s history of champions, which puts you in position to become a champion in your own right. Draft your own season-long Fantasy Premier League squad on Sleeper, which you can do by signing up on the website or downloading the app.
Sleeper also offers Pick’em games for the Premier League, La Liga (Spain) and the UEFA Champions League along with news updates on all of the world’s top stars – something for every fan of the beautiful game.
