Premier League Shirts

Here are a series of unique and meticulously crafted shirt designs that are profoundly inspired by the rich history and vibrant culture of the Premier League, which has captivated and engaged passionate fans for over 30 years since its inception in the year 1992. These exceptional artistic representations celebrate the enduring legacy of all the teams that have competed in every single season of England’s prestigious top division, including well-known and beloved clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Everton, West Ham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and many more beloved teams. Each design is thoughtfully based on the shirt from that particular year and creatively incorporates significant local landmarks, iconic stadiums, and both past and current legendary figures who have played vital roles in shaping the respective histories of these esteemed football clubs up to the present day.

1991/1992 - First Division : The final season of the original First Division before the F.A. Premier League

This section focuses on the final ever season of the original Football League, prior to the significant restructure that marked the inception of the new F.A. Premier League, which took effect in the second half of 1992. The final winners of this historic competition were Leeds United, under the strategic guidance of their manager, Howard Wilkinson, while Manchester United ended the season in the runner-up position and Sheffield Wednesday secured a commendable place in the top tier, finishing third.

At the conclusion of this highly competitive campaign, all of the First Division football clubs, along with those promoted from the Second Division made the monumental decision to resign en masse from the Football League, leading to the official formation of the new top-flight competition on May 27th, a pivotal moment that would revolutionise a new era for English top-flight football.

1993/1994 - F.A. Carling Premiership [Newcastle, West Ham, Swindon join the top flight; Andy Cole finishes top scorer; Spurs, Everton remain; Swindon, Oldham, Sheffield Utd relegated.; start of Carling's sponsorship 1993-2001.]

Manchester United who became the first winners of the newly founded F.A. Premier League entered the second season of the new look competition on a mission to retain the title they won in May 1993. With previous runners up and third placed finishers Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers desperate to challenge Alex Ferguson and his team once again. On Saturday, August 14th, 1993, three new teams—Newcastle (champions), West Ham (runners-up), and Swindon (playoff winners)—joined the 19 existing clubs in the top league., but there was also a new sponsor for the competition as the F.A. Premier League took on title sponsorship, with Carling Breweries becoming the first of two companies to sponsor the top flight. the competition was rebranded the F.A. Carling Premiership, in a deal that would last until the summer of June 2001. 

Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane joined the newly-crowned champions directly from Forest, to succeed club-captain Bryan Robson who would retire at the end of the season after 13 years. Nottingham-born Andrew “Andy” Cole debuted in the Premier League with Newcastle, joining from Bristol City, and finished as top-scorer with 34 goals, three more than Alan Shearer. Glenn Hoddle who guided Swindon into the top-flight via the playoffs, left the Westcountry club to take up the reigns at Chelsea, assuming the dual role of player-manager, leaving his assistant John Gorman to manage the club. Howard Kendall resigned at Goodison Park in early December, with Mike Walker replacing him at Everton, John Deehan became manager at Carrow Road, while Graeme Souness resigned from Anfield after Liverpool’s surprising FA Cup loss to Bristol City. Roy Evans took over as interim manager and then became the full-time manager the next season.

On the first day, Arsenal suffered a shock first home defeat of the new campaign at Highbury at the hands of Coventry City, with Micky Quinn scoring three times. Everton briefly topped the table in August after beating Sheffield United 4-2 at home. In the North East, Sheffield Wednesday under Trevor Francis faced Newcastle at St James' Park, in match that finished 4-2 to the newly promoted side. Cole scored twice for Newcastle, while Andy Sinton who joined the Owls from QPR netted two himself, showcasing his skills.

Gavin Peacock was on target during two significant matches on September 11th and March 5th, as his two impressive goals played a critical role in enabling Chelsea to inflict a league double over Manchester United, both at Stamford Bridge and at Old Trafford. On October 3rd, Tottenham came from behind to beat Everton 3-2 at White Hart Lane, with Darren Caskey grabbing the winner. December 18th saw both North London sides in action just before Christmas as Liverpool visited White Hart Lane and drew 3-3 with Spurs while Arsenal travelled north to the Pennines to take on Leeds United, however Leeds’ captain Gary McAllister’s first half goal and an own goal by Arsenal skipper Tony Adams, sandwiched between a Kevin Campbell equaliser saw the Gunners leave West Yorkshire pointless.

Day 4 of 1994 - January 4th saw Sky Sports’ cameras travel to Merseyside, where two footballing powerhouses faced off in a riveting match at Anfield. In this exciting encounter, Liverpool welcomed their long-standing rivals, Manchester United, for an electric showdown that promised high stakes and intense competition in the heart of North-West England. United dominated early in the game, with three first-half goals. Captain Steve Bruce scored with help from Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs added another, and Denis Irwin finished with a precise free kick that beat Bruce Grobbelar. However, Nigel Clough played a pivotal role in facilitating a Liverpool comeback, netting two goals - both coming before first half injury time, complemented by a injury time leveller from new signing Neil Ruddock, who had just joined the squad from Tottenham Hotspur. Efan Ekoku made history as the first player in the Premiership to score 4 goals in one match, achieving this against Everton. Glenn Hoddle faced his former club Spurs, as Chelsea beat them 4-3 at Stamford Bridge, extending their unbeaten run over their capital city rivals.

Another team who were also involved heavily in the 93-94 campaign were Blackburn Rovers, a squad known for their determination and grit. They fought hard against United, with the first meeting ending in a thrilling 1-1 draw, courtesy of Paul Ince’s late equaliser that kept their hopes alive. However, when the two sides met again at Ewood Park, Shearer was on target twice, and his impressive double proved to be more than enough to secure a memorable victory over the defending champions.In the second-to-last week of the season, Blackburn then went to the West Midlands and needed to beat Coventry to keep the title race alive. Winning at Highfield Road would have kept the Premiership title undecided until the last weekend. The Sky Blues’ 2-0 win over the East Lancashire side on Ford Monday Night Footballconfirmed the Carling Premiership trophy would remain at Old Trafford for another year. The Red Devils avenged Chelsea, crushing them 4-0 at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

Swindon were the first team to be relegated and also made unwanted history as the first Premiership team to concede 100 goals, this record would be surpassed three decades later, Oldham Athletic, who narrowly avoided relegation by beating Aston Villa 1-0 in the inaugural season, drew 1-1 at Norwich, confirming their drop to First Division. This came after a 2-0 home loss to Tottenham on May 5, which ensured Tottenham’s survival.The intense battle to avoid the third and final relegation spot in the league went down to the wire between the footballing regions of both Merseyside and South Yorkshire, as Everton and Sheffield United emerged as the final two teams desperately seeking to avoid the dreaded drop into the lower division. Both teams fought hard, showcasing their determination to maintain their status among the elite., Everton fought back to beat Wimbledon 3-2 at Goodison Park on May 7th, confirming their safety, Ipswich Town, who found themselves winless in their last 11 matches leading up to the final weekend of the season, drew 0-0 at Blackburn's Ewood Park.

Despite this result, Ipswich would have faced relegation if Sheffield United managed to avoid defeat in their crucial away match. A win or even a draw for the Blades would have virtually guaranteed their safety in the Premier League while condemning the Suffolk side to the drop. On May 7th, Sheffield United was four places clear of relegation. and started their game at Stamford Bridge energetically, Jostein Flo scored early to give them the lead in the first half.. The second half saw four more goals. Jakob Kjeldbjerg equalized for Chelsea at 1-1, but Glyn Hodges scored again for the Blades in the 59th minute.The advantage lasted for 17 minutes as Mark Stein levelled the score to make it 2-2. With a minute of injury time left, Sheffield United seemed moments from safety, sending Ipswich down. However right at the death, Chelsea wielded a final blow with the game’s fifth and final goal, ultimately sealing a 3-2 victory, ensuring that Ipswich stayed up, and dumping the South Yorkshire side into the First Division, thus ending their four-year stay at the highest level of English football.

In the Endsleigh First Division, a year after both clubs exited the prestigious first season of the F.A. Premier League, Crystal Palace returned triumphantly, promoted as champions.. This remarkable achievement was led by Alan Smith - the assistant to the legendary Steve Coppell, who took over at the start of the season and skillfully guided the south London side back to the top flight at the very first attempt. During this season, defensive midfielder Gareth Southgate became captain after central defender Andy Thorn left., and notably, Chris Armstrong scored an impressive total of 24 goals, 22 of which were notched in the First Division alone. Nottingham Forest, who had faced relegation alongside Palace in 1993, also made a successful return, securing promotion in second place under the direction of their new manager and former player Frank Clark, who was appointed to lead the team after the retirement of the iconic Brian Clough. In addition, there were to be two representatives from the same region for the following season, as Leicester City ended their lengthy 7-year absence from top-flight football by winning the crucial First Division Playoff final against fellow East Midlands rivals Derby County 2-1.

1994/1995 - F.A. Carling Premiership [Klinsmann joins Spurs; Forest, Palace return; Foxes debut; Shearer and Sutton lead Blackburn to the title; Everton win the FA Cup.]

The third season of the F.A. Carling Premiership was notable for many teams. Crystal Palace returned as champions of the Endsleigh First Division, with Nottingham Forest in second place. Leicester City under Brian Little also made a comeback to the top-flight after a 7-year absence.

Tottenham Hotspur, who narrowly survived relegation last time out, started the new season with German star Jurgen Klinsmann. He made his debut with a memorable diving celebration as Spurs won a thrilling 4-3 match at Hillsborough on opening day. They would go on to finish in 7th place, and finish above their North London neighbours for the second time in the Premier League history.

Liverpool who had been in disarray out of sorts in the first two seasons of the top-flight, finally started to click into gear , this time under the managerialship of Roy Evans, the Merseysiders made a better start, with an opening day crushing of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park with Ian Rush and Steve McManaman netting twice, On the August 28th Ford Escort Super Sunday edition , as the new Kop stand at Anfield was nearing completion, a homegrown academy product who introduced himself the previous season, started 1994-95 with a bang as Toxteth-born Robbie Fowler struck what was then the fastest ever Premier League hat trick against Arsenal, with two of his three goals coming off his trademark left foot.

Arsenal, just two seasons after achieving a remarkable FA and League Cup double in 1993, endured what would become their worst ever season in club history. They made a dismal start to their league campaign, registering their poorest performance since they won the First Division title back in 1953 - 41 years earlier. Losing four of their opening five matches, the Gunners faced challenging outings, including defeats away in the North of England at Elland Road and Hillsborough. In the capital city, they suffered significant misery at their home ground, Highbury, where three of London’s six clubs - Crystal Palace, QPR, and West Ham all won leaving fans disheartened. They also lost away at White Hart Lane in the North London derby on January 2nd and again on the last day of the season this time to Chelsea, marking their second loss at Stamford Bridge since March 1, 1993 when Graham Stuart scored the winner. Ultimately, the Gunners would finish in a disappointing 12th place, their worst top-flight finish in 19 years, since 1976.

To compound their struggles significantly, the Gunners suffered a notorious giant-killing in the FA Cup at the hands of Millwall, with the Lions winning 2-0 at Highbury, having beaten the south-east London side in the previous season’s meeting. They also lost the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, where former Tottenham player Nayim scored a memorable goal over their goalkeeper, David Seaman, making a tough season even worse. George Graham, Arsenal’s most successful manager from 1986 for 8 and a half years, was banned for 12 months after being found guilty of accepting money related to the signings of John Jensen and Pal Lydersen. He had to wait until September 1996 to manage in the top league again.

Nottingham Forest had a memorable season back in the Premier League, as they avoided relegation to book a second season among the elite, their best moments also included a 5 goal thriller at home to QPR in early October, with Stan Collymore scoring a memorable goal and what was then the Premiership’s biggest away victory was recorded on April 1, 1995 as the Tricky Trees massacred Sheffield Wednesday 7-1, inflicting a very heavy defeat on the South Yorkshire side. 

Blackburn who narrowly missed out on the top prize a year earlier following defeat at Coventry on the penultimate week of last season, would finally come out on top as they made an excellent start to the season, with a couple of new faces joining the team, after Kevin Moran's retirement as captain, Tim Sherwood took over the role. Chris Sutton moved to East Lancashire from Norwich to join Kenny Dalglish’s team forming the deadly SAS duo alongside Alan Shearer with both of them netting respective goal contributions, Shearer smashed 34 with Sutton scoring 15.

Andy Cole, who netted 34 goals last season, impressed Alex Ferguson and was signed by Manchester United on January 14th, with support from Newcastle's Kevin Keegan, However, the move upset and angered Newcastle fans, who were unhappy to see their star player leave. A week later on January 25th, United’s title defence would face a very serious setback and one which would ultimately cost them in the following weeks as their influential figurehead at the heart of United’s goals - Eric Cantona who was sent off during the 1-1 draw against Palace at Selhurst Park, was found guilty of attacking a Crystal Palace fan - [the fan who himself was later found guilty of racism and provocation towards the France international], this lead to an 8-month suspension that would conclude on September 30th. Despite the setback, United pushed Blackburn in the title race, with Andy Cole scoring 5 goals in a 9-0 rout of Ipswich, the biggest win in the Premiership. This score would be matched 20 years later. The two North West teams were only one point apart before the final week on May 14.

Alan Shearer put Blackburn ahead at Anfield, but John Barnes quickly equalised for Liverpool. Meanwhile, Michael Hughes scored for West Ham, with Brian McClair equalizing soon after. With both matches remaining deadlocked at 1-1, it wasn’t until deep into injury time that Jamie Redknapp expertly struck a free-kick past Tim Flowers. This stunning goal clinched a 2-1 victory for Liverpool, despite Blackburn losing on Merseyside. United's failure to secure a win in East London ultimately ensured that Blackburn unseated the defending champions, allowing them to claim their first top division title since the year 1914. 81 years earlier.

After successfully avoiding relegation once again, Everton also added further distress and pain to the Red Devils as Paul Rideout’s decisive goal secured the prestigious FA Cup for the Toffees. In a significant shift, the English top-flight division was to be reduced from 22 teams to just 20 in order to comply with the stringent FIFA regulations, which would come into effect for the following season. The four clubs that faced relegation and were ultimately demoted were newly-promoted Leicester with the East Anglia pair also going down. First Division champions Crystal Palace also fell back into the Football League.

1995/1996 - F.A. Carling Premiership [Dennis Bergkamp arrives at Arsenal. Cantona leads United to Premiership and FA Cup double. Liverpool and Newcastle’s 4-3 epic, Man City, QPR, and Bolton relegated to First Division]

1996/1997 - F.A. Carling Premiership / Nationwide Division 1 [Cantona’s Last Season, United’s 4th Title, Sunderland join the PL]

1997/1998 - F.A. Carling Premiership / Nationwide Division 1 - [Wright’s last season at Arsenal, Gunners at the Double in 1998, Charlton Athletic moves up].

In season six, Manchester United, after winning their 4th title, aimed to defend it and win three years in a row. but for the second time, faced strong competition from Arsenal, who this time overhauled the champions to win the Premiership title under manager Arsene Wenger. This was Wenger’s first full season proper with Arsenal since his appointment on September 30th 1996, it was also Arsenal's first league title since the 1990-1991 First Division season, a championship they secured and which was further highlighted by an impressive FA Cup final victory against Newcastle United. This achievement marked a significant milestone in the club's history, ending a long wait for major silverware.

The 1997-1998 season was also Ian Wright’s final campaign with Arsenal before he made a move to east London to join West Ham in the summer of 1998. The highly talented forward hailing from Brockley, a vibrant area in south east London, joined the Gunners from south London outfit Crystal Palace in September 1991, Wright broke a long-standing club scoring record set by Cliff Bastin decades ago by scoring a hat-trick against Bolton Wanderers on September 13, 1997. Bastin’s goal record stood at 178 goals, but Wright went on to surpass it, ultimately finishing with an impressive 185 goals during his seven-year tenure in north London.

Howard Kendall returned once again to Goodison Park to take charge of Everton as manager - 5 years after leaving in December 1993. Once again, the Merseysiders were struggling to stay in the top level of English football. Everton, who had last been relegated in 1951, had been a consistent presence in the top flight since 1954. During this particular season, the club found themselves enduring a very challenging and testing period. They narrowly escaped relegation on May 10th by securing a vital 1-1 draw against Coventry City. Dion Dublin scored for the West Midlands team just before injury time in the second half, cancelling out Gareth Farrelly’s important first-half opener for Everton. Had Coventry scored, Everton’s long-standing presence in the top division would have effectively ended, closing the chapter on an impressive 34-year streak of uninterrupted top-flight football.

Everton’s safety was firmly sealed by a scoreline from another match in London where Bolton Wanderers were relegated at Stamford Bridge, thanks to two goals scored by Gianluca Vialli and Jody Morris., the Trotters were the final team to join Barnsley and Crystal Palace who were also relegated straight back to the First Division after finishing as champions, runners up and playoff winners in the previous season [1996-1997] respectively. It was the second time that Bolton faced relegation from the F.A. Carling Premiership since their debut just two years earlier. In that same season, both Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers were also relegated alongside them.Chelsea claimed victory in the League Cup, triumphing over Middlesbrough again. This final marked the second occasion on which these two sides faced each other, having previously met in the FA Cup Final the previous season. During that earlier encounter, Roberto di Matteo notably scored the fastest goal ever recorded in the history of such a match. Building on this strong momentum, the south-west Londoners continued their impressive run by going on to secure both the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in August 1998, further solidifying their status as a formidable force on the European stage

In the Nationwide First Division, Bryan Robson’s Middlesbrough and Dave Bassett’s Nottingham Forest secured immediate promotions back to the Carling Premiership, showcasing strong performances throughout the season. However a new fairytale story took place at Wembley. May 25th, 1998, is a date that will forever be etched in the memories of Charlton Athletic fans. On this day, the south east London club, under the management of Alan Curbishley, triumphed in a thrilling and unforgettable First Division Playoff Final against Sunderland. After an astonishing match that ended 4-4 in regular time, the tension escalated into a nail-biting penalty shootout, where Charlton ultimately emerged victorious. One of the standout moments was the exceptional performance of the record signing, Clive Mendonca, who played a pivotal role by netting an impressive hat-trick, helping to secure this historic win for the club.

1998/1999 - F.A. Carling Premiership / Nationwide Division 1 [Addicks debut in the Premiership, Yorke and Cole team up, Man United achieve the 1999 Treble.]

Season 7 of the Premier League was memorable for the team that had long dominated the league. Led by Alex Ferguson, Manchester United faced a tough challenge from Arsenal, who became strong rivals and stopped United from winning a third straight title in 1998. This season also marked the arrival of three teams joining the previously established 17 for the campaign: returnees Nottingham Forest, who topped the First Division, along with Middlesbrough, who finished as runners-up, both of whom were original founding members of the new top-flight, and Charlton Athletic, crowned through the play-offs, thus becoming the 31st club to join this elite competition. 

Although Charlton started on a high note with a resounding 5-0 victory over Southampton, placing them at the top of the table during the first weeks of the new season in August, their league performances and results took a sharp downturn shortly thereafter in the autumn. After an impressive win against West Ham on October 24, Charlton experienced an alarming stretch of form, enduring 8 consecutive losses over Christmas 1998 and the start of 1999. Although they secured a draw against Newcastle, coupled with home victories over Wimbledon and Liverpool, along with a vital away win against Aston Villa in early May. A 1-0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday saw Charlton fall back in to the First Division after one year. 

Forest made their own mark in this season's narrative by becoming the first original member of the FA Premier League to experience promotion and relegation three times with defeat at Villa Park, adding to their historical significance. Meanwhile, Blackburn, who had been crowned champions just four years earlier in 1995, breaking Manchester United’s stranglehold of the division were ultimately relegated following a disappointing home draw against their North West rivals, this after Leeds beat Arsenal 24 hours earlier, leaving the 1998 champions needing a last day miracle over Aston Villa and hoping their north London rivals Tottenham could stop United from winning on the final day of the season, despite a 1-0 win over Aston Villa, Les Ferdinand’s goal at Old Trafford, which gave Spurs the lead, was cancelled out by David Beckham and later by former Arsenal player - Andy Cole scored the winning goal for his current team, preventing his old one from keeping the title.

Dwight Yorke was enlisted from Aston Villa and teamed up with Cole, as United’s new deadly duo struck 18 and 17 league goals between them [53 overall] to take United to the title. Along with the FA Cup, secured by Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham’s strikes at Wembley and a remarkable 2-1 comeback over FC Bayern Munich masterminded by Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final saw United produce a historic treble.  This season was also the last season that Peter Schmeichel would feature for Manchester United, marking the end of an era that began when he first joined the club back in 1991. The Denmark international had built a huge reputation over the years for producing a remarkable number of high-quality, trademark saves and consistently keeping clean sheets, greatly contributing to the success of the Manchester club. In his final appearance for United, he had the honour of captaining the team during the UEFA Champions League final, a fitting conclusion to his illustrious career at Old Trafford. After leaving the North West, Schmeichel returned to the Premier League in 2001 to play for Aston Villa, then joined Manchester City the next season, before retiring in 2003.

Arsenal secured a strong second-place finish, ensuring their qualification for the Champions League once again. Their London rivals, Chelsea, also earned a spot in the competition by finishing in third place. Throughout the season, Chelsea posed a significant challenge to both Arsenal and Manchester United in the title race, maintaining pressure on the top teams for much of the campaign, even briefly topping the Premiership table for the very first time in 1998. Sunderland won the 1998-1999 First Division, and Bradford City and Watford joined as the 32nd and 33rd teams for the 1999-2000 season.

1999/2000 - F.A. Carling Premiership / Nationwide Division 1 [Leeds compete for PL title - qualify for UCL, United retain Premiership crown again, Bradford, Watford 'Sunderland promoted; The Dons, Wednesday, Watford go down. Charlton, Man City, Ipswich bounce back.]

In Season 8, the top two teams faced off once again, with Leeds United emerging as new and strong contenders. Sky Sports returned to north London on August 22, 1999, at Highbury stadium, where Arsenal and Manchester United locked horns in another thrilling encounter. Freddie Ljungberg put the Gunners ahead at half time with a well-taken goal, but a second-half double from United’s captain, Roy Keane, who also led the Republic of Ireland team, saw Manchester United overturn Arsenal’s lead. This victory marked United’s first win at Highbury since February 19, 1997, bringing an end to Arsenal’s impressive unbeaten home run that had lasted over two years. The return fixture at Old Trafford on January 24th, 2000 saw the second clash conclude honours even. Teddy Sheringham secured a vital point for United after Ljungberg scored again for Arsenal.

Leeds sought their first title since the old Football League’s last season in 1992. Despite a tough competition, Leeds’s title hopes ended at the start of April with losses to Chelsea and Arsenal at Elland Road. The club faced deep grief during the month when two supporters were tragically killed before the Whites played Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup. Tensions between England and Turkey were fueled even further on May 17 as Arsenal and Galatasaray fans clashed before, during, and after the final in Copenhagen, Denmark, which Galatasaray won on penalties. Despite missing out on the title and what followed onwards

The Whites ended the season well by finishing 3rd in the Premiership standing and qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League, a competition they last featured in 8 years earlier. their Pennine rivals Liverpool finished fourth, missing the competition and settling for the UEFA Cup after a 1-0 loss at Valley Parade., David Wetherall, former Leeds centreback, scored the sole goal to secure Bradford City's safety.

Chelsea debuted in the UEFA Champions League, defeating the likes of Feyenoord and Barcelona before elimination followed in March. They ended the season positively by winning the FA Cup, beating Aston Villa 1-0 in the at theold Wembley. In his last season before joining Celtic in Scotland, Martin O’Neill managed Leicester and led the Foxes to win the League Cup against Tranmere, after losing the previous final to George Graham’s Tottenham 12 months earlier. Meanwhile Sunderland who returned as First Division champions were this time successful in staying up under Peter Reid. 

Watford, the 33rd newest club who joined the Premiership, went down after one season. Managed by Graham Taylor, they had a hard time even though they beat Liverpool early in the season. Their top-flight stay came to an end in April after Thierry Henry scored a late winner at Vicarage Road, coupled by a John Dreyer goal for Bradford in an important game which sealed their fate and gave the Bantams hope.

After Danny Wilson was sacked from Hillsborough in March, Sheffield Wednesday were leading 3-0 at Highbury, hoping to secure their survival in the top-flight, but again Henry was on target as his goal for Arsenal to draw the match 3-3 saw the Owls join Watford in the First Division, ending 14-years of top-flight continuity since 1986. and marking their first relegation since Oldham Athletic on May 7, 1994—six years earlier and on May 14, 2000, exactly 12 years to the day after winning the FA Cup against Liverpool in 1988, Wimbledon’s Premier League journey came to an end after losing 2-0 away at Southampton. Wayne Bridge was one of two Saints players on target to terminate the Crazy Gang’s hopes, Ending a remarkable 14 years overall of dedicated top-flight representation for the London side.

1 year after their maiden appearance, Alan Curbishley inspired Charlton to the First Division title, the Addicks bounced back in style after their relegation a year earlier and they would also be joined by two more representatives as Joe Royle finally steered Manchester City back to the big time - finishing as runners-up with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park, ending their 4-year absence and George Burley’s Ipswich Town at the third time of asking, finally secured promotion back to the F.A. Carling Premiership after 5 years away, as Dave Basset’s Barnsley were crushed 4-2 at Wembley with goals from new Huddersfield Town signing Marcus Stewart and Dutch international Martijn Reuser.

2000/2001 - F.A. Carling Premiership [Final year of Carling sponsorship 1993-2001, Charlton, City, Ipswich return; Houllier guides Reds to treble; United make it three in a row].

In season 9, Carling’s final year as title sponsor, three teams returned to the top league: First Division champions Charlton, second-place Manchester City, and playoff winners Ipswich after absences of 1, 4, and 5 years. Before the season started in August 2000, five clubs across North West England, West Yorkshire, and London were affected by three tragic football-related deaths. Jack Walker, a key investor who helped Blackburn Rovers win their first league title in over 81 years, passed away. Soon after, Pierre Bolangi, a promising young player expected to join Charlton’s first team, drowned. his sudden death shocked the football club, supporters, SE7 and beyond. Finally, David Rocastle, a talented midfielder from Lewisham, southeast London.remembered for his skillful performances in midfield, represented notable clubs such as Arsenal, Leeds and Chelsea in the First Division and the Premier League, his death on March 31, 2001, occurred on the very same day that the highly anticipated second North London derby was scheduled to take place. Their significant contributions to English football left a deep and lasting impact on the sport as well as its dedicated fans.

Several manager changes happened in nine months. Paul Jewell left Bradford after saving the team from relegation and was replaced by Chris Hutchings, who was fired in November due to poor results. In September, after a mixed start, Gianluca Vialli left Chelsea, and Claudio Ranieri became the new manager. Glenn Hoddle was set to return to London to manage Tottenham after George Graham was dismissed. Stuart Gray took Hoddle's place at Southampton. At the season's end, Joe Royle left Manchester City after nearly three years, and Harry Redknapp left West Ham after seven years, replaced by Glenn Roeder. Bryan Robson, struggling at Middlesbrough, was helped by Terry Venables before Steve McLaren, Alex Ferguson’s assistant, took over. Jim Jeffries left Hearts to manage Bradford, and Martin O’Neill left Leicester to manage Celtic, with Peter Taylor becoming Leicester’s new boss. Kevin Keegan resigned as England manager, following the national team’s failure at Euro 2000 and losing to Germany at the old Wembley before it’s subsequent demolition on October 6, the England job was left vacant until October 30, 2000, when Sven Goran Eriksson became the first foreign manager of the national side. He started officially on January 12, 2001, after leaving Lazio. Eriksson would lead England until 2006, His first full game was a 3-0 friendly win against Spain on February 28th.

Gerard Houllier led Liverpool to Worthington Cup and FA Cup wins over Birmingham and Arsenal, plus a UEFA Cup victory over Alaves, securing three trophies and third place for next season's Champions League.They secured a double over Charlton before Leeds beat Leicester 3-1. The 2001 UEFA Super Cup added to their quadruple three months after the end of the season.. Liverpool's highlights included a win over Derby County on October 15th, with Emile Heskey scoring a hat-trick and Patrik Berger adding a goal. The club also achieved two league doubles over Manchester United and Everton , including their first Premier League win at Old Trafford in 10 years, with Danny Murphy on the scoresheet, and Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler on target in the Anfield return fixture. The influential midfield maestro Gary McAllister, who joined Liverpool this season, secured the much-coveted Merseyside bragging rights for his team. As the Scottish international delivered a trademark 44-yard free kick at Goodison Park, which played a crucial role in helping Liverpool secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over their fierce local rivals.

Chelsea started the season well, winning the Charity Shield against the champions and then beating West Ham 4-2 at home on August 19. But after a loss to Bradford and a 2-2 draw with Arsenal, Vialli was replaced by Ranieri. Chelsea lost twice in the league to Sunderland, Leicester, and Charlton. They recovered by beating West Ham on March 7, and won twice against Manchester City, Derby County, and Tottenham, maintaining their supremacy over Spurs. They finished 6th, qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Key players included record signing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who scored 23 goals in 35 games, and the experienced Gianfranco Zola, who scored 9 goals and created many chances. Leeds United, in their 9th top-flight season, competed in the UEFA Champions League, facing tough teams like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. They drew one match and narrowly lost another, showing resilience. Despite challenges, they won key games and reached the semi-finals, a historic European milestone for the club. Domestically, Leeds excelled, notably beating rivals Liverpool twice in the Premiership. New signing Mark Viduka scored four goals in a 4-3 win at Elland Road, becoming the second player to do so in a match. They then won 2-1 at Anfield, with goals from new signing from new recruit from West Ham - Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer. confirming Leeds' dominance in the rivalry that season.

On October 1st, the top four in the Premiership played each other. The North West’s top two went to London. In the West End, Liverpool faced more trouble at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat them 3-0. in N5, Thierry Henry’s spectacular finish over Fabien Barthez was decisive at Highbury, inflicting Manchester United’s first league defeat of the season. Following those results, Leicester led the Premiership for the first time after a 0-0 draw with Sunderland. They held first place until the international break on October 14th, when a 3-0 home loss to the champions handed United control of the leadership which they would not relinquish. Despite a mixed season and a managerial change which took place in the summer of 2000, Leicester beat Chelsea twice [as mentioned above], winning at Stamford Bridge on September 17, 2000, and at Filbert Street on February 3, 2001.

Manchester United won the title for the third year in a row. Their 36-game unbeaten run at home, which started in late 1998, ended with a loss to Liverpool. This loss came exactly five years after their last defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on December 17, 1995. The team dropped early points but faced no serious challenge afterward, securing a crucial November Manchester derby win. David Beckham was the hero at Maine Road with a flawless free kick. Their campaign was also partly helped thanks to one of their former players Bryan Robson as his Middlesbrough team successfully won their fight against relegation, which was solidified by a crucial 3-0 victory at Highbury on April 14 that secured the Teessiders’ top-flight status and ended Arsenal’s title hopes. 

Arsene Wenger’s team who had been pursuing Sir Alex Ferguson’s side from day one, saw their title bid severely wounded six weeks earlier in a highly anticipated live televised clash on Sky Sports’ Ford Super Sunday on February 25th, 2001. Thierry Henry was on target for the north Londoners again, but his goal was unfortunately not enough to prevent Dwight Yorke from scoring an impressive hat-trick. Additionally, with further strikes from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, captain Roy Keane, and Teddy Sheringham, United crushed the Gunners 6-1, their biggest Premiership win over their title rivals [This would be bettered a decade later]. They faced earlier losses in away matches across the North of England. on day one at the Stadium of Light, Niall Quinn scored in Sunderland's 1-0 win which saw Patrick Vieira sent off. At Goodison Park, where Everton secured a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Danny Cadamateri and ex-Gunners legend Kevin Campbell, a week later, on November 26, at Elland Road, Olivier Dacourt’s deflected freekick gave Leeds a narrow 1-0 triumph. On December 23rd, live on Sky Sports’ Ford Football Special at Anfield, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Nicky Barmby, and of course, Arsenal’s nemesis - Robbie Fowler all scored as Liverpool beat them 4-0.

This strong performance came after their first meeting of the season on August 21, the first Ford Monday Night Football match, which saw Patrick Vieira, Dietmar Hamann, and Gary McAllister all sent off in controversial circumstances by referee Graham Poll angering players, coaches, and fans on both sides. That initial encounter ended in a 2-0 victory for Arsenal with Henry and new signing Lauren Bisan on target, Arsene Wenger secured his first-ever triumph over Liverpool as Arsenal manager. It was also notable for being the Gunners’ first win against the Merseysiders at home since March 26, 1994, Paul Merson was the goalscorer.

Ipswich, relegated in 1995 when the league had 22 teams, were expected to quickly return to the First Division after the league was reduced to 20 teams.Contrary to these initial expectations, they finished in a highly respectable 5th place, securing qualification for the UEFA Cup—a prestigious competition they had last won back in the early 1980s. Key highlights of their memorable season included a dramatic comeback draw against Man United, a result that stood in stark contrast to their humiliating 9-0 defeat at Old Trafford on March 4th, 1995. They also earned another 1-1 draw, this time against Arsenal, a convincing 2-0 home win over Charlton with Marcus Stewart on target, and an important, morale-boosting victory over Tottenham Hotspur on December 30, That match saw goals from Stewart, Jamie Clapham, and Alun Armstrong. Stewart, in particular, was outstanding for the East Anglian side, delivering a decisive winning goal at Anfield which secured Ipswich their second triumph there in six years, with their last victory coming on December 10, 1994 when George Burley officially was installed as manager. Stewart's remarkable Premier League hat trick for Ipswich took place on April 2 at the Dell stadium during the match against Southampton, and this exciting game was broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Alan Curbishley’s Charlton finished 9th, securing Premier League survival and their best league finish since the 1950s.. Among the many highlights for the Addicks were a remarkable league double victory over Manchester City, as well as a notable 1-0 home triumph against Arsenal on New Year's Day 2001, courtesy of new signing Jonatan Johansson from Rangers. This hard-fought win marked their first of two victories Charlton would achieve over the Gunners in 2001, following a 5-3 away defeat on August 26, 2000. Additionally, the team engaged in two entertaining East London derbies against their local rivals, West Ham United. The first derby ended in a 5-0 drubbing at Upton Park on Boxing Day, thanks to impressive strikes from Trevor Sinclair, Frederic Kanoute, Frank Lampard, and Paolo di Canio. Sky Sports returned to The Valley on January 22 for the rematch which saw Shaun Bartlett and Paolo di Canio both finding the net in a 1-1 draw. Bartlett, the South African player on loan, had a great start at his new club. He scored two headers on his Premiership debut with help from Graham Stuart and Radostin Kishishev in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Manchester United on December 9th. Later, on April 1st, he scored a powerful left-footed goal that helped his team win 2-0 against Leicester City..

Five clubs from West Yorkshire, West/East Midlands, North West, and North East England. fiercely battled throughout the season to avoid facing the disheartening prospect of relegation to the Nationwide First Division. Derby secured their Premiership spot with a second win at Old Trafford since 1997, Malcolm Christie scored the only goal, leading to their triumph. Middlesbrough sealed survival by winning their final games. Defeat to Everton saw Bradford leave first. Meanwhile, Manchester City faced another agonizing wait for their much-anticipated return to the Premier League, as a disappointing 2-1 away defeat at Portman Road, ultimately confirmed another season of football in the First Division. The May 7 match on Sky Sports’ Ford Monday Night Football marked one year since they secured promotion at Ewood Park.

In a notable match at Villa Park, Aston Villa secured the West Midlands bragging rights when Paul Merson scored the pivotal goal in a thrilling 3-2 victory for his team, which ended Coventry City's impressive 34-year run in the top tier of English football. In 1997, Coventry avoided relegation, while Middlesbrough lost many points for missing a match against Blackburn in late 1996 because half their team was ill. If Middlesbrough had beaten Blackburn, Coventry would have been relegated in 1997 instead of 2001. This change affected both clubs' histories.Meanwhile, Southampton ended their time at The Dell with a win over Arsenal. Matt Le Tissier scored Southampton’s last goal there, which was also his final Premier League goal, before the team moved to the Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium the next season.

Two fellow returnees from the North West would make their returns for the following year after 2 and 3 year absences, as both runner-up and playoff final finishes respectively were confirmed for Blackburn and Bolton, they would also be joined by the 33rd newest member to join the Premier League, Chelsea’s West End neighbours Fulham, who were crowned champions of the 2000-01 Nationwide First Division. 

2001/2002 - F.A. Barclaycard Premiership [10 Years of the Premier League, Gunners clinch Premiership and FA Cup double again since 1998.; Adams and Dixon’s last season at Highbury.]

After Carling's 8-year sponsorship of the FA Premier League ended, Barclays became the new sponsor in June 2001, with a deal lasting until 2016. From the 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 seasons, the league was known as the FA Barclaycard Premiership. Sky Sports remained the lead broadcaster, while ITV gained highlights rights after the BBC's Match of the Day.

As the season began, Manchester United entered their 10th season as defending champions, having won 7 titles in 9 years, including three consecutively since 1999. Strong rivals Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Arsenal aimed to challenge their dominance. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a former Rangers player, replaced left-back Silvinho. Sol Campbell's surprising move from White Hart Lane to Highbury aimed to strengthen Arsenal's goals. Meanwhile, Ajax's Ruud van Nistelrooy joined Manchester United after a previous injury held him back in mid-2000, eagerly taking the famous No. 10 shirt after Teddy Sheringham left for Spurs.

The top and bottom of the Premiership proved to be exceptionally eventful from the very first day as the leadership of the league changed hands several times, with both Merseyside clubs making their mark and having their turn at the top of the table as well. Additionally, there were a number of very exciting and memorable matches that captivated fans and viewers alike, Charlton Athletic especially as they looked to build on their achievements of last year in their second season, their highlights included a first ever league win at Highbury on November 4th, where they came from behind to beat Arsenal 4-2 with Claus Jensen scoring an iconic goal that will forever live in the memory of Addicks fans for years to come. More was in store for the SE7 outfit as Sky Sports’ cameras rolled up at The Valley on Monday, November 19th to witness another East London classic involving Charlton and West Ham.

The last time the Ford Monday Night Football cameras were at The Valley on January 22 in the 2000-2001 Carling Premiership clash., Shaun Bartlett and Paolo di Canio were the two forwards on target in that meeting, this one saw both sides showcase their competitive spirit by taking the lead twice throughout the game. New Addicks striker Jason Euell, previously with Wimbledon, replaced the retired Andy Hunt, and both he and Jonatan Johansson scored two goals each.Paul Kitson scored a hat-trick, his second for West Ham since 1997 vs. Sheffield Wednesday. Kitson helped Charlton return to the Premiership two seasons earlier during his loan spell at the Valley. Jermain Defoe, back at SE7 after his controversial exit to Upton Park two years earlier that angered the club and the Addicks supporters, added to the excitement with a remarkable half volley of his own. A month later on December 18, Newcastle broke their London hoodoo, winning 3-1 against Arsenal at Highbury, their first win there since May 1997. At the same time, Manchester United, thought to be out of the title race, bounced back with a 5-0 win over Derby during the Christmas and New Year period.

In February 2002, Southampton were the last team to take points from Arsenal during their 13-match unbeaten run, nearing a second title under Arsene Wenger. Thierry Henry shone, highlighted by Dennis Bergkamp's spectacular goal against Newcastle on March 2, later voted one of the Premier League's best. Wins over Chelsea, West Ham , Charlton and Spurs on April 6 followed with a crucial 2-0 win at Bolton on April 29, with goals from Freddie Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord, positioned Arsenal favorably after Tottenham defeated Liverpool two days prior. This also took the Gunners to within three points of a second top-flight title under Arsene Wenger

On May 8, in the penultimate week of the season, Arsenal played United at Old Trafford in a crucial match, the same place they lost 6-1 in February 2001.. A draw would virtually secure the title for the Gunners, for United they had to win to extend their title hopes of overhauling the north London side on May 11. But four years after Marc Overmars scored past Schmeichel on March 14, 1998, Sylvain Wiltord scored against Fabien Barthez, ending Manchester United’s three-year title run and securing Arsenal’s Premiership win., complementing their FA Cup victory over Chelsea on May 4. This win was important because it happened as key players, captain Tony Adams and full-back Lee Dixon, were about to retire after 19 and 14 year associations with Arsenal. They were the main part of Arsenal's famous Back 4 in the late 1980s under George Graham, along with Martin Keown and former teammates Nigel Winterburn and Steve Bould., who left for West Ham and Sunderland earlier. Fulham, Blackburn, and Bolton, promoted in 2000-01, maintained their league status in following years.

Man City, relegated a year before, promptly won the First Division and returned to the top league with runners-up West Bromwich Albion and play-off winners Birmingham City. Ipswich, who relegated Man City a year earlier, qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing 5th but this time were relegated after two years. They lost to Liverpool 11-0 on aggregate, including a 6-0 home defeat and 5-0 away loss at Anfield - where they last won in December 2000. This series of disappointing results ultimately sealed the Suffolk side’s fate. They became the third and final team to be relegated, following the East Midlands pair, Derby and Leicester, who exited the Premier League after their respective six-year stays at the top level.

2007/2008 - Barclays Premier League [United win 10th title; Derby produce unwanted Premier League record].

The 2007-08 campaign, which was the first under the newly renamed Barclays Premier League, proved to be yet another year of significant success for Manchester United, both domestically at home and in Europe. They celebrated the triumph of securing their 10th Premier League title, alongside their hard-fought 3rd European crown in an all-English UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea, held in Moscow. This victory came just a year after the FA Cup final took place at the new Wembley, and it was a notable 13 years following United's impressive 4-0 victory over the Blues in the memorable season during which United experienced defeats against Chelsea both at home and away in September 1993 and March 1994.

In a contrasting narrative, Derby County marked their return to the Premier League following their last appearance in the top-flight, which had ended after their first tenure from 1996 to 2002. However, they etched their name in the record books by becoming the first side in the history of the Premier League to be relegated while accumulating the lowest points ever recorded in a single season, totaling just 11. This unfortunate outcome was compounded by their historic early relegation in March 2008, occurring two months prior to the conclusion of the season. This record would be surpassed 17 years later. Additionally Birmingham City and Reading, who had been promoted just one season earlier, also faced the disappointment of exiting the league.

2008/2009 - Barclays Premier League [Stoke and Hull reach top level. Newcastle and Middlesbrough relegated]

The 2008/09 season proved to be yet another remarkable and record-breaking year for the defending champions Manchester United, as the coveted title once again remained in the North West region of England. This achievement was particularly significant, even though the team experienced the disappointment of losing the prestigious UEFA Champions League crown to Barcelona in a closely contested final held in Rome in May. In domestic competitions, Chelsea emerged victorious, winning the FA Cup at Wembley for the second time in just three years at the New Wembley, this time overcoming a determined Everton in the final.

Despite their defeat FA Cup, the Toffees achieved the distinction of being one of three teams outside of the traditional top four to automatically qualify for the newly-renamed UEFA Europa League, joining Aston Villa and Fulham in this endeavour. On the domestic front, the 2008-09 season marked the second time in 12 years that two of the three teams from the same region [North East of England] faced relegation to the EFL Championship, as Newcastle United and Middlesbrough’s 16 and 10 year stays in the Premier League came to an end. West Brom completed the relegation trio.

Conversely, Hull City and Stoke City, both of whom were newly promoted to the highly competitive Barclays Premier League, successfully managed to retain their hard-won status in the top division, despite having suffered losses in their respective final home matches on the penultimate day of the season. The West Midlands side, with its spirited performances, would continue to remain a member of the top-flight league until 2018, contributing to the rich tapestry of English football during those years.

2013/2014 - Barclays Premier League [Special One returns, Palace bounce back, Gerrard and Liverpool stunned at Selhurst, Pellegrini wins City 2nd title, Fulham relegated after 12 years.]

The 2013/2014 season brought three significant changes in English football, particularly impacting the North West and London regions. David Moyes made a high-profile move from Everton to Manchester United, stepping in to replace the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who had retired after a remarkable tenure. Additionally, the Barclays Premier League welcomed a fresh face as Cardiff City made their debut in the top flight, marking their arrival on the big stage. Despite the excitement, Manchester United struggled to find form throughout the campaign, which allowed their local rivals, Manchester City, under the management of Manuel Pellegrini, to clinch the Premier League title once again.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho made a highly anticipated return to Chelsea after a gap of seven years, successfully steering the team to secure a place in the top four, a campaign highlighted by a significant and memorable victory at Anfield. Crystal Palace, having been promoted back to the top flight after an absence of nine years, staged an astonishing comeback from a 3-0 deficit to earn a draw against Liverpool, a result that not only cemented their Premier League status for the following season but also dashed the title hopes of the Merseysiders. Meanwhile, Cardiff City’s remarkable and inspiring fairytale season came to an end with their immediate relegation back to the Championship. After 11 years competing in the Premier League since their promotion to the top level in 2001-2002, Fulham were also relegated.

2014/15 Barclays Premier League [Drogba, Fabregas, and Costa lead Chelsea to 4th PL title.; Leicester, QPR and Hull return to the top flight].

The 2014-2015 season was another memorable year for Chelsea. It marked ten years since their first title in this league, their second overall after their 1955 title in the First Division. Jose Mourinho returned to the club, looking to both new and familiar players to help Chelsea win the title. The Blues signed forward Diego Costa and left-back Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid, as well as midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal and Barcelona. Didier Drogba also returned two years after leading the team to Champions League victory. All four, along with the rest of the squad, aimed to bring the title back to the West End.

The club maintained its top position throughout the season, finishing with three losses, including a thrilling 5-3 against Spurs at White Hart Lane. winning 26 matches and drawing 9, securing the title 12 points ahead of Arsenal and 2 clear of second-placed Manchester City. The SW6 outfit also won the EFL Cup, defeating Spurs in a rematch against the two London rivals in the 2008 edition, which the N17 side won.

Returning to the league this season were Leicester City, marking their return 11 years after their last appearance, as well as Burnley after a four-year absence, and Queens Park Rangers, who rejoined in 2011 but were relegated in 2013. They replaced Norwich, Fulham, and Cardiff, who had faced relegation after 3 years, 13 years, and a 12-month spell in the top tier, respectively. Leicester, despite struggling in the campaign, ultimately did enough to secure their place and finish 14th under ex-Middlesbrough skipper Nigel Pearson, positioning themselves ahead of the following season, which would remarkably change their fortunes for the better. Unfortunately, QPR and Hull City again faced the disappointment of folding back to the Championship after just one season in the Premier League.

2016/2017 - Premier League [Pep arrives at the Etihad, Terry’s final season at Chelsea. Conte takes Blues to 5th title, Farewell White Hart Lane, Tottenham finish above Arsenal since 1995.]

The 2016-2017 season marked the 25th anniversary of the competition and brought about several significant changes. For the very first time since its inception, the original title was restored, following the end of Barclays' 15-year sponsorship. Along with this change, the competition also featured a fresh and updated look, signaling a new era in its long-standing history. Leicester City, the previous Premier League champions and notably the first team to win the title outside the traditional "Big Six," finished in 12th place this season, marking the shortest and most disappointing title defense in the history of the league. A new era was also taking place at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola who played for and managed FC Barcelona, rocked up at Manchester City, read to take on the new challenge of delivering silverware to the blue half of Manchester. Antonio Conte arrived at Stamford Bridge with the clear and determined mission of bringing silverware back to Chelsea’s trophy cabinet.

At the same time, managerial changes were occurring across several other clubs, including at Crystal Palace, who were struggling to maintain their position in the top-flight. After suffering defeats to Chelsea and especially Swansea, Alan Pardew was axed. and ex-Bolton manager Sam Allardyce was drafted in to help secure the south London club’s Premier League status.. This objective was ultimately achieved with a convincing 3-0 home victory over Arsenal on April 10th, a result which paved the way to ensure their survival in the league.

By May, the Premier League trophy was proudly back at SW6, as Chelsea reclaimed the title with an impressive total of 93 points. This achievement was particularly significant as it also marked the final season for John Terry as Chelsea captain, a club legend who had been a key part of the first team since the 1998-1999 season. After 118 years, White Hart Lane in London was set for major redevelopment. Tottenham secured second place behind Chelsea, surpassing Arsenal for the first time in 22 years since 1994-95. Their last highest placing over local rivals was in the inaugural season, with victories at White Hart Lane and Highbury.; the final WHL North London derby ended 2-0 with goals from Harry Kane and Dele Alli. The England captain and Victor Wanyama scored in a 2-1 win over Manchester United in the final match.

Arsenal and United, the top two who dominated the Premier League in the 1990’s and early 2000’s both finished outside the top four, with the Gunners missing out on UEFA Champions League football for the first time in 21 years under Arsene Wenger, their last and final trophy under him came in the FA Cup final defeating Chelsea 2-1 with Olivier Giroud on target, before his shock move to Stamford Bridge the following year. Everton finished in seventh place, which was enough to qualify for the UEFA Europa League. Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Hull earned promotion to the Premier League, but only Burnley managed to avoid relegation by staying up. Middlesbrough and Sunderland were relegated together once again, joined by Hull, who also returned to the Championship after just one year in the top flight.

2017/2018 - Premier League [Pep’s City revolution begins; Tottenham win at Stamford Bridge for the first time since February 1990]

In the 2017-2018 season, Chelsea Football Club began as the defending champions of the English Premier League but ultimately lost the title to Manchester City, who performed exceptionally well under the astute management of Pep Guardiola. Key signings such as Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Gabriel Jesus significantly strengthened City's squad, helping them achieve an impressive total of 100 points by the end of the season. They set remarkable records for the most wins, most away victories, and the highest goal difference, all of which underscored their dominance in the league throughout that campaign. Chelsea did manage to secure the FA Cup by defeating Manchester United 1-0, with Eden Hazard notably scoring the crucial winning penalty, just a year after suffering a loss to Arsenal in the final.

Additionally, this season also marked a significant milestone not only for the league but also for fans, as the Premier League bid farewell to Arsene Wenger in what was his final year as the manager of Arsenal after an extraordinary tenure spanning 22 years at the helm, which officially began on September 30th, 1996, replacing Bruce Rioch after 1 year at the Islington club. During this remarkable period, he achieved a commendable tally of 7 FA Cups and 3 Premier League titles, including an unprecedented and historic unbeaten season in 2003-2004, which will forever be remembered in football history.

Meanwhile, April 1, 2018, marked a significant moment in football history for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League era as they finally ended a lengthy and frustrating wait for a league victory in one stadium located 8 miles across the capital. Saturday February 10, 1990, then 28 years ago in the original First Division - marked the last time the N17 side side last tasted an away win in SW6. This long wait for a victory was finally broken as they came from behind to overturn an Alvaro Morata opener and hammer an impressive 4-1 victory over Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge. In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the promoted teams of Brighton and Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town, and Newcastle United all performed admirably throughout the season, finishing commendably above the relegation zone and ensuring their survival in the competitive atmosphere of the top flight. In stark contrast, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City faced the harsh reality of relegation after enduring long spells within the league, lasting 7, 8, and 10 years, respectively, ultimately highlighting the challenges and unpredictability of football.

2018/2019 - Premier League [A new North West rivalry begins between Manchester City and Liverpool.]

2019/2020 - Premier League [Klopp guides Liverpool to Premier League title win; Leeds and Sheffield United return to the top-flight; Bournemouth relegated after 5 years.]

The 2019-2020 football season was undeniably one that once again shocked the football world as it unfolded in a whirlwind of unexpected events and impressive achievements. In a fashion reminiscent of Leicester City's astonishing surprise victory, Liverpool managed to break their long-standing drought, claiming their first top-flight title since 1990. After numerous attempts that spanned decades, Jurgen Klopp finally managed to lift the curse, allowing the red half of Merseyside to taste Premier League title success for the very first time. This remarkable accomplishment occurred during a season that was nearly brought to a halt as the looming presence of Coronavirus began to disrupt the football landscape significantly.

Indeed, the season faced an unprecedented suspension lasting from mid-March until June 17, leaving many fans and players alike in uncertainty. However, when the league resumed, Liverpool displayed remarkable resilience, refusing to be deterred and ultimately going on to secure the 2020 title. Throughout this journey, they established an impressive array of new records, including the earliest-ever title confirmation with seven games remaining in the season, the largest points lead ever maintained at 25 points, and a remarkable streak of 24 consecutive victories at Anfield, seven of which had been accumulated from the previous season. Furthermore, they impressively shattered the former top-flight points record that was previously held by Chelsea, a record which had stood strong since the 2004-2005 season., finishing the season with an impressive total of 99 points. This triumph marked the Merseysiders’ 19th domestic top-flight title.

As the new season kicked off with excitement and anticipation, two notable clubs made their much-anticipated return to the competitive atmosphere of the Premier League. Sheffield United joyfully came back after an extended absence of 13 long years since their relegation in 2006, while Leeds United made their long-awaited return following a frustrating 15-year hiatus from the top flight. In contrast, Norwich City, Watford, and Bournemouth - despite winning against Everton on the final day, all faced the disappointment of relegation.

2021/2022 - Premier League

2022/2023 - Premier League : The 31st season of the top-flight [Haaland joins Man City and leads them to a historic treble, West Ham win UEFA Europa Conference League. Leeds and Leicester drop out.]

2023/2024 - Premier League [Jurgen’s final season at Anfield, 4 titles in a row for Man City, Glasner joins Palace]

2024/2025 - Premier League [Slot leads Reds to 20th title; Ipswich, Saints, Leicester back in PL; Tottenham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace win trophies; Maresca guides Blues to UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup.

The 2024-2025 saw the 33rd season of the top-flight get underway with Manchester City defending the title which they have won in the past 4 seasons since 2021, the new campaign also saw some new faces join the division as Jurgen Klopp departed Anfield and Arne Slot filled the Anfield hotseat, Oliver Glasner began his full season proper as manager of Crystal Palace, following Roy Hodgson’s retirement. Returning for this campaign were Leicester and Southampton after 1 year out and Ipswich Town making their return 22 years after their last appearance in the 2001-2002 season, this time managed by Kieran McKenna who guided the Tractor Boys to two promotions - the first to rise from League One to the Championship, then to the top league.

At Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca became Chelsea's head coach after promoting Leicester back to the top-flight, with Steve Cooper succeeding him at the King Power and at the AMEX Stadium, Roberto de Zerbi left Brighton, replaced by Fabian Hurzeler, the Premier League's youngest manager, born in February 1993 during the inaugural season.

The season saw managerial changes: Erik Ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United on October 28 after losing to West Ham, replaced by Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim. On November 24, Leicester City fired Steve Cooper after a 2–1 home loss to Chelsea, sitting 16th, one point above relegation. Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed Leicester manager on November 29. In the West Midlands and the South of England, Gary O’Neil departed Wolves with Vitor Pereira taking over at Molineux on the day that Russell Martin was also axed by Southampton following a 5–0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Ivan Jurić replacing him. A 4-1 loss to the champions led to Julen Lopetegui's sacking at West Ham, with the club 14th on January 8. Graham Potter was named his replacement the next day.At Goodison Park, Sean Dyche was sacked, and David Moyes returned 12 years after leaving in 2013 to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Following the incredible 2-2 draw at the final Merseyside derby at Goodison which saw James Tarkowski rescue a point for Everton and the match finish with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones clashing, resulting in red cards on February 12, Diogo Jota scored the winner at Anfield, moving the Reds within three points of their second Premier League title in five seasons. Four days later, on the weekend of April 5-6, the bottom three teams' fate was decided. In north London, Southampton were relegated to the EFL Championship after losing 3-1 at Tottenham Hotspur. With just 10 points from 31 games, they set a record by being relegated with seven games still to play, beating the old record of six. The south coast team suffered two 5-0 losses to Tottenham and Chelsea at St Mary’s.

In the East Midlands, Leicester were the second team to go on April 20 after Trent Alexander-Arnold who announced that he would be leaving Liverpool after 21 years — scored the winner. which set a record for Leicester as the first top-flight club to go nine straight home matches without scoring. Six days later, Ipswich became the third team relegated after a 3–0 loss at Newcastle, for the second season running, all three promoted teams were relegated, the third time in English top-flight history since 1997–98. It was also the first Premier League season where all three relegations were confirmed with over four games remaining, breaking the previous record of two games from the 2020-2021 season.

April 27 saw Liverpool crowned champions for the second time since 2020 with a 5-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, their second title in the Premier League era also saw the Merseysiders draw level with their North West counterparts, Manchester United, on 20 league titles each, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing rivalry between these two historic football clubs. Arsenal finished second for the third consecutive year, trailing Liverpool and City. City finished in third after four years of first-place finishes.

Newcastle made history by beating Liverpool 2-1 to win the EFL Carabao Cup, their first major trophy in 70 years and the first since PIF took over. The club also finished 5th to qualify for the Champions League. On May 21, Ange Postecoglou ended Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought with Brennan Johnson’s goal winning the UEFA Europa League final against Man United in Bilbao, securing Spurs a place in the Champions League.

Oliver Glasner successfully guided Crystal Palace to a historic FA Cup victory, thanks to Eberechi Eze’s decisive first-half goal against Manchester City. This triumph marked the club’s first major trophy in its history and secured their qualification for European competition for the very first time.. This victory was also bittersweet as Palace prepared to bid a heartfelt farewell to Joel Ward. Ward made history by becoming the first and only player to make over 300 appearances for the club, reaching an impressive total of 363 matches. His dedication and commitment over the years have left an indelible mark on the team and its supporters. The former Portsmouth right-back made the move to south-east London in 2012 and has since been a consistent presence on the pitch, appearing in nearly every game throughout his impressive 13-year tenure at Selhurst Park. His long-standing commitment and performances have established him as a key figure and an important part of the club’s rich history.

Chelsea also made history by becoming the first London club to win every UEFA competition, adding the Conference League after a 4-1 comeback against Real Betis. They will also return to the Champions League after their last appearance back in 2022. Chelsea added another trophy to the Stamford Bridge cabinet by winning the FIFA Club World Cup on July 13, beating UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint Germain 3-0. They became the first and only English top-flight team to win all 12 major competitions.