While the English football league system was founded in 1888, the formation of the Premier League and the top division as we know it today was introduced in 1992. With three teams promoted from the second tier every season and a trio of teams going down, a total of 51 teams have now played in the Premier League over the years.
However, there are six clubs who have featured in every single campaign having never suffered relegation in more than three decades. This article will profile the teams who have always played in the Premier League, all of which are among the biggest and most storied football clubs in England.
Arsenal
The Gunners are one of the most successful sides of the Premier League era. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal team wrote their name into the football record books by going the entire 2003/04 season unbeaten and were dubbed ‘The Invincibles’. With Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and the iconic backline of Lee Dixon, Steve Bould, Tony Adams and Nigel Winterburn, the north London club were Manchester United’s main rivals at the turn of the century and have won the Premier League title three times.
Now, under Mikel Arteta, they are challenging for the main prize again. If you are eager to watch a live game in England, perhaps Arsenal taking on title rivals Manchester City, you can find your tickets at Hellotickets.com and see the action up close as some of the best players in world football go head-to-head for Premier League glory.
Chelsea
The Blues were promoted back to the top division in 1989, three years prior to the formation of the Premier League and they have not looked back. Chelsea have won the five titles since 1992, with that success coming following the arrival of owner Roman Abramovich who brought Jose Mourinho to the club after the coach lifted the Champions League from Porto.
Winning the league in his first season in 2005, the ‘Special One’ helped transform the club from UEFA Cup participants to one of the best teams in Europe.
Everton
Everton have been in England’s elite division for 70 consecutive years and in fact, no other club has spent more season’s in the top-flight than the Toffees. Next season, when fans say farewell to the iconic Goodison Park, will be Everton’s 122nd campaign in the first tier.
However, while the Blues have always played in the Premier League, it is fair to say they are the ever-present team that has come closest to slipping into the Championship having only beaten the drop on the final day of the season on three occasions.
Last season, Everton beat Bournemouth to stay up and in 1998, a point at home to Coventry was enough to beat the drop while in 1994, the Toffees came back from two goals down at home to beat Wimbledon 3-2 and sensationally avoid relegation. In 2022, they also trailed Crystal Palace 2-0 at home before a Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late header sealed another victory and another year in the Premier League.
Still one of the most successful clubs in the game, Everton will be hoping for a change of fortune and a return to former glories when they move to Bramley Moore Dock in 2025.
Liverpool
Liverpool have never finished lower than 8th in the Premier League and are always competing in Europe. However, the title did elude the Reds for 30 years before Jurgen Klopp finally delivered the top-flight trophy to Anfield in 2020.
With the likes of Mohamed Salah, Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez starring for the Merseyside club over the years, Liverpool have always been battling for top four finishes and silverware as opposed to battling relegation.
Manchester United
Despite failing to win the title since 2013, Manchester United remain the most successful team in the Premier League era having lifted the famous trophy a record 13 times under Sir Alex Ferguson, the club’s legendary manager and one of the greatest coaches in football history.
Like rivals Liverpool, United have constantly finished in the top half of the Premier League table. Seventh is the club’s lowest placing since 1992 and was recorded under coach David Moyes, a year after Ferguson left Old Trafford having announced his retirement.
Tottenham
Spurs were a pretty average side during the first decade of the Premier League, forced to settle for a place in the bottom half as many times as they achieved a top ten finish in the nineties.
However, Gareth Bale’s rise to being a world-class player coincided with Tottenham climbing the table before Harry Kane’s goals meant the club were able to sustain a push on the top places. While the team may have only won two League Cups in 1999 and 2008, Spurs have certainly gone up a level in the last 15 years and are now European regulars, clear of any relegation talk year after year.
Summing Up
While grand institutions like Aston Villa, Leeds, Manchester City and Newcastle can all stake a claim to being among the main clubs of the Premier League era, they have all experienced seasons in the second division at some point during the last 32 years.
It is the six clubs in this article – Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham – that can proudly claim to have played every week in a league considered to be the very best on the planet.
