The lowest Premier League finish for every ‘Big Six’ club | OneFootball

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are heading towards unwanted records after dismal domestic campaigns for both clubs.

As we head into the penultimate round of games, United and Spurs sit 16th and 17th in the table. It’s an unforeseen slump for both teams, who had pre-season ambitions of Champions League qualification.

Amid their stumbles toward their lowest league finishes of the Premier League era, we’ve ranked each of the division’s ‘Big Six’ by their worst seasons.

Manchester City – 18th (1995/96 and 2000/01)

Manchester City are the only member of the ‘Big Six’ to have been relegated from the Premier League. The caveat, of course, is that City’s slumps into the second tier came before the transformative takeover that catapulted the Citizens into England’s elite.

City were first relegated in 1995/96. Alan Ball’s tenure began disastrously with two points from the opening 11 games, rooting the club to the foot of the table. A turnaround that began in the autumn gave City a fighting chance, before a bizarre final day. Drawing 2-2 with Liverpool at Maine Road, City’s players were mistakenly instructed to waste time, in the belief that relegation rivals Southampton were losing at Wimbledon. With that game goalless, City were relegated on goal difference.

City were relegated a second time in 2000/01. However, under Kevin Keegan, City bounced back the following season and have remained a top-flight side ever since. The Citizens have not finished lower than fourth in the table since 2010/11.

Tottenham Hotspur – 15th (1993/94)

Spurs could be set for their lowest league finish of the Premier League era.

That unwanted record currently belongs to the 1993/94 team. Under the management of former favourite Ossie Ardiles, Spurs started the season in good form, but their campaign hit the rocks in mid-October.

The North Londoners won just two of their 23 games between October and March, including a run of seven straight defeats.

Chelsea – 14th (1993/94)

Chelsea’s lowest league finish of the Premier League era also came in 1993/94, as the West Londoners finished just above Spurs in the table.

An 11-game winless run punctuated their Premier League campaign, but the Blues made progress in the FA Cup. Glenn Hoddle’s side reached the final and, despite being thrashed 4-0 by Manchester United at Wembley, earned a place in Europe for the first time in 20 years.

Arsenal – 12th (1994/95)

George Graham’s time at Arsenal came to an end after a miserable 1994/95 campaign.

The Gunners started the season with a whimper, scoring just once in five games to open the campaign. Despite the best efforts of Ian Wright, Arsenal were unable to climb out of mid-table. They ended the campaign just six points above the relegation places.

To make matters worse, the North Londoners ended the season without silverware. Arsenal lost both the European Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup finals.

Liverpool – 8th (1993/94, 2011/12 and 2015/16)

The last time Liverpool finished lower than eighth in a top-flight campaign was way back in 1953/54, when the Reds were relegated to the second tier.

Liverpool have finished eighth three times in the Premier League era, in 1993/94, 2011/12 and 2015/16. The first of those seasons saw manager Graeme Souness leave mid-season, following poor league form and a shock FA Cup exit to Bristol City. Roy Evans took charge and led Liverpool to a top-half finish.

In 2011/12, Kenny Dalglish’s side could only manage a top-eight finish. Consolation was found with League Cup success, while the Reds also reached the FA Cup final.

Liverpool’s third eighth-place finish in the Premier League came in 2015/16. Brendan Rodgers was sacked after a poor start, with Jurgen Klopp succeeding Rodgers in October. Liverpool also reached two cup finals that season, losing both the League Cup and Europa League deciders.

Manchester United – 8th (2023/24)

Manchester United’s eighth-place finish in 2023/24 was the club’s lowest of the Premier League era.

The Red Devils did not finish below third between 1992/93 and 2012/13, winning 13 league titles, before a rapid decline following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement as manager. Since Ferguson’s exit in 2013, United have failed to win the Premier League, and their domestic form has reached new lows over the last two seasons.

Erik ten Hag guided the club to their lowest league finish of the Premier League era in 2023/24, but things have got worse this time around.

This season, Ruben Amorim has the joint-second worst points tally after 25 games of any ‘Big Six’ manager in history. Only Manchester City’s relegated team of 1995/96 had fewer. United can finish 13th at best in 2024/25.

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