One of the safest ways to guarantee Premier League success, whether it be a title or even a title challenge, is a solid defence.
If one takes a look at the 30 years since the dawn of the new league, the vast majority of title winners also had the best defence. As Sir Alex Ferguson expertly put it, “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.”
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five best ever defensive records in the Premier League era.
In the case of a tie, clean sheets will be the deciding factor. If they are also equal, league positions will next be considered.
5. Chelsea 2005/06 – 22 goals conceded
LONDON - MARCH 11: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho celebrates the winning goal with William Gallas during the Barclays Premiership match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on March 11, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s dominance of the Premier League under Jose Mourinho trucked on, with a second straight title won at a relative canter once again. Like all the Special One’s best sides, defensive solidity was a key component to success.
The summer signing of Michael Essien bulked up a midfield already featuring Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard, which sat in front of a defence marshalled by John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and William Gallas. Petr Cech remained the top keeper in the division.
Six clean sheets started the season as the Blues won their opening nine games and 17 of their first 19 as the title was more or less decided by New Year's day.
This clean sheet tally and points total would have been higher if they had not downed tools after they actually won the league, but who can argue with 20 and 91 respectively?
Read more: Chelsea: Top 10 goal scorers of all time
4. Liverpool 2018/19 – 22 goals conceded
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Fabinho of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal with team mate Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United at Anfield on December 26, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Outside of Sergio Aguero’s 2012 last-gasp goal pipping Manchester United to the title on goal difference, there hasn't been a closer second in Premier League history.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were transformed by the January 2018 signing of Virgil Van Dijk, and the capture of Brazilian pair Alisson (who won the Golden Glove with 21 clean sheets) and Fabinho the following summer set the wheels in motion for several years of near-perfection.
2018/19 saw Liverpool concede just 22 goals, one less than Manchester City. Unfortunately for them, they had one less point than Pep Guardiola’s side, resulting in a scarcely believable 97-point second-place finish.
This pain was extinguished by going one better than the previous season in the Champions League, defeating Spurs in the final, and winning the league itself the following season.
3. Manchester United 2007/08 – 22 goals conceded
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 23: Andriy Shevchenko of Chelsea is tackled by Wayne Rooney of Manchester United as Rio Ferdiand look on during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on September 23, 2007 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Arguably Sir Alex Ferguson’s best ever side, it is most remembered for the devastating front three of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and Premier League player of the year and top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, it was built on the foundations of a rock solid defence. Wes Brown had the best season of his career at right back while Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra continued their form from the 2006/07 season.
Behind them for 29 games was Edwin Van Der Sar, with Tomasz Kuszczak and Ben Foster deputising for the remaining nine. 21 clean sheets came across the 38 games.
United won their second of three straight league titles and added a third Champions League to their trophy cabinet in the rain of Moscow.
The following season saw a Premier League record 13 consecutive clean sheets but two more goals conceded rather oddly.
2. Arsenal 1998/99 – 17 goals conceded
20 Sep 1998: Tony Adams of Arsenal celebrates his goal during the FA Carling Premiership match against Manchester United at Highbury in London. Arsenal won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: /Allsport
The originals. “1-0 to the Arsenal” and even “Boring, boring Arsenal” became popular chants amongst the Highbury faithful during the George Graham days, which saw the Gunners win two league titles and several cups.
A gallic flavour was added with the arrival of Arsene Wenger in 1996, but he wisely kept the famous back five of David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Nigel Winterburn intact. An ageing Steve Bould and keeper Alex Manninger provided backup in the 1998/99 season.
Coming off a league and FA Cup double the season before, they came agonizingly close to a repeat, finishing a point behind United, as well as losing to them in an epic FA Cup semi-final replay.
Their defensive prowess was a double-edged sword, as although just 17 goals were conceded and 22 clean sheets came, only 59 league goals were scored. Seven 0-0s and a failure to score in 10 games total were in stark contrast to Fergie’s free-scoring Red Devils.
Wenger rectified this in the coming years, leading to two more titles in 2001/02 and 2003/04.
1. Chelsea 2004/05 – 15 goals conceded
LONDON - MAY 7: Ricardo Carvalho of Chelsea tackles Kevin Lisbie of Charlton during the Barclays Premiership match between Chelsea and Charlton at Stamford Bridge on May 7, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
A simply staggering record unlikely to ever be broken in England or abroad, with it being a joint best alongside AC Milan 1993/94 amongst the English, Italian, Spanish and German leagues.
Jose Mourinho’s first season with Chelsea can be seen as a seminal moment in Premier League history as the duopoly of Fergie and Wenger was finally toppled. Highly questionable bankrolling from Roman Abramovich of course played a significant role too.
Built from the back, Jose brought his Porto Champions League defenders Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira to London, adding to the already strong core of Terry, Gallas and Wayne Bridge. This season also saw Chelsea somehow upgrade Carlo Cudicini in nets with Cech.
One goal conceded in the first eight league games set the tone for the rest of the season, with the Blues keeping a Premier League record 25 clean sheets, including ten straight from late December to March, which sealed a first title for the Stamford Bridge club in 50 years.
With this defensive record on top of just one League loss and 95 points, it’s indisputably amongst the greatest individual seasons in the history of both the Premier League and English League history as a whole.
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