The Premier League, sometimes known as the EPL or the English Premier League, is the highest level of English football. It is contested by 20 clubs and is based on the English Football League's promotion and relegation system (EFL). Each club plays 38 matches during the season, which runs from August to May. (playing all 19 other teams both home and away). Following the vote of teams in the Football League First Division to break away from the Football League, the FA Premier League was established on February 20, 1992. It is the most-watched sports league in the world, with 643 million households and potential TV viewership of 4.7 billion people watching it in 212 countries.
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The recently concluded Premier League season saw Manchester City lift the title for the third time in four years. Manchester United came second, followed by Liverpool and Chelsea. Manchester United were unbeaten away from home the whole season and it is quite a remarkable feat. But you know what’s more remarkable? Staying unbeaten in both home and away games. Here we take a look at the top five longest unbeaten runs in Premier League history.
5. Manchester United - 29 games
Streak -
December 26, 1998 - September 25, 1999 &
April 11, 2010 - February 5, 2011
A surprising stat, Manchester United have gone unbeaten for 29 games twice in their Premier League history. The first time it happened was in the middle of the 1998-99 season and extended till early 1999-00 season. It was Manchester United’s treble-winning season. The second time it happened in the late 2009-10 season and ended in the middle of the 2010-11 season. On both occasions, United were managed by Sir Alex Ferguson.
4. Manchester City - 30 games
Streak -
April 8, 2017 - January 2, 2018
Manchester City’s 100 points campaign broke many Premier League records. The team that everyone expected to follow in the footsteps of the Invincibles lost for the first time 22 games into the 2017/18 season. The 4-3 loss to Liverpool did not derail their championship bid, as they continued on their approach to become the first side in Premier League history to earn 100 points in a single season.
3. Chelsea - 40 games
Streak -
October 16, 2004 - November 6, 2005
The arrival of the ‘Special One’ marked the beginning of the golden era of Chelsea. Jose Mourinho was already an established manager after a successful campaign with Porto. He made Chelsea a force to reckon with. After losing to Manchester City in October 2004, the Blues went on a 40-game-unbeaten run. Manchester United halted their 40-game unbeaten streak in the 2005/06 season, despite the Blues winning the title both seasons.
2. Liverpool - 44 games
Streak -
January 12, 2019 - February 29, 2020
The most recent one on our list, Liverpool managed to stay unbeaten for a whopping 44 games. During the 2018-19 Premier League season, the Reds lost just once (against Manchester City) but still lost the league by one point. However, they bounced back after the loss and remained unbeaten till the end of the campaign. When they drew 1-1 with arch-rivals Man United at Old Trafford in October, they came within a game of equaling the Premier League's greatest winning run, but they quickly made up for it by winning the next 18 games. Their unbeaten run continued till next season when they finally lost against Watford.
1. Arsenal - 49 games
Streak -
May 7, 2003 - October 24, 2004
Who else but the Invincibles, who tops our list. Arsenal became only the second team in English football history and the first team in Premier League history for an entire season unbeaten. Arsene Wenger's team, on the other hand, were brought to a halt just short of the half-century mark by none other than their arch-rivals, Manchester United. That match in 2004 was the site of the notorious Battle of the Buffet, in which Cesc Fabregas splashed Alex Ferguson with a slice of pizza.
