Premier League power rankings: Who have been the top five sides this millennium

With the 2023-24 Premier League season officially over, many football fans are questioning what it will take for someone to dethrone the champions Manchester City, who won a record-breaking fourth consecutive title under Pep Guardiola despite once trailing Arsenal in the title race and in the live football odds.

The Spaniard has established City as one of the best sides in Premier League history, and it is no surprise that Man City are the favourites to win the league once again next term. Since the turn of the millennium, they have played some fantastic football that has earned the plaudits of many neutrals and revolutionised the modern game.

Here we take a look at the top five sides in the Premier League since the year 2000 based on the trophies they picked up and the brand of football they’ve played.

1.) Manchester United

We begin with the most decorated Premier League team of the 21st century, Manchester United. While the Red Devils have been unable to capture the league since Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement in 2013, the Scot still led the club to eight titles throughout this millennium.

A great example of longevity, consistency, and dominance, United produced some of the greatest players of their era including Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney, alongside the experienced class of ’92 to win England’s top prize on multiple occasions.

2.) Manchester City

Staying in Manchester, their noisy neighbours have become the dominant force in English football since their financial takeover by the Etihad Group in 2008.

Their inaugural Premier League title came in 2011, but it was when Guardiola arrived five years later that the baton was truly passed. This year’s victory ensured silverware would arrive in the cabinet for the eighth time.

3.) Chelsea

The team with the third most titles this millennium is Chelsea, who lifted the trophy five times under the ownership of Roman Abramovic.

The Russian sold the club in 2022 but ensured some of the best managers were at the helm at Stamford Bridge. José Mourinho arrived as a Champions League winner with Porto and won consecutive titles in 2005 and 2006, with Carlo Ancelotti adding a third before the Portuguese boss returned for a second stint in west London and won the league in 2015.

Antonio Conte won the fifth in 2017 incorporating the Italian’s unique style of football that saw the Blues hit their record points tally and win 30 games.

4.) Arsenal

This year sees Arsenal celebrate 20 years since their ‘Invincibles’ team won the Premier League under Arsène Wenger, and while the Gunners are still waiting to end their drought, they have had some encouraging seasons as of late that suggest the glory days under Thierry Henry and co could soon return.

Mikel Arteta has spent big but instilled a winning culture in a side that has come painstakingly close to City the last two seasons. Wenger also managed a second-place finish in the 2015-16 season but fell short to a Leicester City side that defied all the odds under Claudio Ranieri.

5.) Liverpool

Although Liverpool have managed just one league title since 19990, the Reds have exceeded 90 points on three different occasions under Jürgen Klopp, eventually capturing the biggest prize in 2020 behind closed doors in a season where they were unbeaten for the first 26 games.

The Reds had come close before Klopp’s arrival, with a great team in 2009 that included Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, while Brendan Rodgers also ran City to the wire in 2014 in a season where Luis Suárez scored 31 goals in 33 games before departing for Barcelona.

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With the Premier League undergoing a managerial merry-go-round next term, it will be interesting to see if any newcomers can challenge for the title and climb the rankings as one of the league’s top sides.