What are the lowest points totals to win the Premier League? Read about the teams that earned the top ten lowest points tallies to win the Premier League!
A lot of energy is spent debating the best Premier League teams ever, but less time is committed to looking at the fewest points to win the Premier League. Historically, though, this topic should be of similar interest as it can give an idea of when there was more parity across the Premier League, or when the top teams were comparatively weaker.
Even if a season had one of the lowest points totals to win the Premier League, this doesn’t necessarily mean we missed out on a great Premier League title race, as several have been equally as thrilling.
The fewest points to win the Premier League ranked
Rank | Team | Total points | Season |
1 | Manchester United | 75 | 1996/97 |
2 | Arsenal | 78 | 1997/98 |
3 | Manchester United | 79 | 1998/99 |
T-4 | Manchester United | 80 | 2010/11 |
T-4 | Manchester United | 80 | 2000/01 |
6 | Leicester City | 81 | 2015/16 |
7 | Manchester United | 82 | 1995/96 |
8 | Manchester United | 83 | 2002/03 |
T-9 | Manchester United | 84 | 1992/93 |
T-9 | Liverpool | 84 | 2024/25 |
A spotlight on the Premier League-winning campaigns with the fewest points
Manchester United dominates the list of the lowest points to win the Premier League. They are joined by Arsenal, Leicester City (the biggest Premier League betting outsider to be crowned champion), and Liverpool’s 2024/25 title.
The switch from 42 to 38 matches per season has to be taken into account here, too. Manchester United’s 84 points in 1992/93 amounted to only two points per match, which is the second-lowest mark in Premier League history. Registering 84 points in a 42-match season is the equivalent of 76 in a 38-match campaign.
Leicester’s 81-point mark to win the league was partly down to the struggles of the perceived favourites. Chelsea were miles from contention, as were Manchester City. An inexperienced Tottenham team was unable to keep pace. Then Liverpool and Manchester United were in periods of transition. Not to detract from the Foxes’ achievement, but the reality of the Premier League is that 81 points usually isn’t enough to win the title.
It’s notable that the three lowest tallies to win the league came in a three-year period in the second half of the 1990s. There was greater parity across the Premier League at this point, largely due to finances. The top clubs had not yet built up such a significant advantage over the rest, meaning the playing field was far more level than it is today. The strongest sides had smaller squads with less top-level talent.
The 1996/97 season is a great example of this parity. Manchester United finished seven points clear, even with a meagre 75-point tally. David Beckham notched his first-ever England appearance during the campaign, with the Red Devils developing into the dynastic force that they became at the back end of the 1990s and into the 2000s.
The 1997/98 title race was an epic, and the first episode in a long rivalry between Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. Arsenal claimed their first title of the Premier League era, with a squad featuring new signings Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit. It was nip-and-tuck throughout the campaign, with the season swinging on Arsenal’s win at Old Trafford in March. Wenger completed a league and cup double in his first full season in charge.
What is the smallest Premier League title margin of victory?
The smallest margin of victory to win a Premier League title is +8 goal difference. Come the end of the 2011/12 season Manchester City and Manchester United were tied on 89 points. The deciding factor was City’s superior goal difference, allowing them to win their first-ever title thanks to a dramatic late comeback against QPR.
This is the only time the Premier League has been decided on goal difference, but did not come in a season with one of the lowest points tallies to win the Premier League.
