SInce it's inception in 1992, the Premier League has been home to top quality sides from all across the United Kingdom. Promotion into England's top league entails a lot of financial privileges, but it isn't always as easy to stay there. As most teams have found out.
Apart from new entrants Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town AFC, only 9 teams that have never faced relegation since the Premier League was formed in 1992. Can you name all of them?
#1 AFC Bournemouth
Playing in Premier League since - 2015-16
Worst League Position: 16th (2015-16)
Best League Position: 9th (2016-17)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 16th, 9th
Eddie Howe's Bournemouth finally secured promotion to the top flight in 2015-16 by finishing at the top of the Championship table in 2014-15. Since then, they have managed to finish above the relegation zone and be a part of the cash-rich Premier League.
#2 Swansea City
Playing in Premier League since - 2011-12
Worst League Position: 15th (2016-17)
Best League Position: 8th (2014-15)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 11th, 9th, 12th, 8th, 12th, 15th
The Swans gained promotion to the top flight via playoffs in 2011, and since then have always managed to be in the top 12. Until last season, when they slumped under the American, Bob Bradley, subsequently leading to his dismissal.
Their best finish came in the 2014-15 season where they finished 8th by completing a double (home and away victory) against giants Arsenal and Manchester United.
#3 Stoke City
Playing in Premier League since - 2008-09
Worst League Position: 14th (2011-12)
Best League Position: 9th (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 12th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 13th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 13th
The Potters got promoted to the Premier League in 2008 and faced stiff competition in their debut season, in the top flight. They conceded 40 away goals that season but still managed to stay afloat, and finish the season 12th. Their best form came in the seasons 13/14, 14/15, 15/16, as they finished 9th thrice, consecutively.
#4 Everton
Playing in Premier League since - 1992-93
Worst League Position: 17th (1993-94, 1997-98, 2003-04)
Best League Position: 4th (2004-05)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 13th, 17th, 15th, 6th, 15th, 17th, 14th, 13th, 16th, 15th, 7th, 17th, 4th, 11th, 6th, 5th, 5th, 8th, 7th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 11th, 11th, 7th.
Before David Moyes joined the blue half of Merseyside, Everton almost always finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table. With the help of David Moyes' managerial skills, Everton eventually rose to a respectable top-half finish.
Their best season was undoubtedly David Moyes' second full season in-charge,when they finished fourth in the league behind Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.
#5 Tottenham Hotspur
Playing in Premier League since - 1992-93
Worst League Position: 15th (1993-94)
Best League Position: 2nd (2016-17)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 8th, 15th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 14th, 11th, 10th, 12th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 9th, 5th, 5th, 11th, 8th, 4th, 5th, 4th, 5th, 6th, 5th, 3rd, 2nd.
Despite a succession of great managers and players, such as Teddy Sheringham, Jürgen Klinsmann, and David Ginola, for a long period in the Premier League, Spurs finished mid-table in most seasons, winning few trophies.
It wasn't until the early 2010s that Spurs started battling for the top 6. Now an essential part of the 'Big Six', Tottenham have been agonizingly close to finishing as champions for two successive seasons, but ended up settling for 3rd and 2nd positions, respectively
#6 Liverpool
Playing in Premier League since - 1992-93
Worst League Position: 8th (1993-94, 2015-16, 2011-12)
Best League Position: 2nd (2001-02, 2008-09, 2013-14)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 6th, 8th, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 3rd, 7th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 5th, 4th, 5th, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 7th, 6th, 8th, 7th, 2nd, 6th, 8th, 4th.
One of the most successful clubs in the history of English football, Liverpool's trophy cabinet is replete with gleaming trophies of all kinds, except one major silverware - The Premier League trophy.
A part of the famous 'Big Four' in the 2000s, until the start of the decade, Liverpool mostly finished in the top 4, barring a few exceptions (2002-03, 2004-05 and 2009-10).
Their best chance of winning the elusive Premier League trophy came in 2013-14, when a stunning run of results took them ever-so-close to the top, before an unfortunate slip by captain Steven Gerrard against Chelsea, and the calamitous 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace, forced them to settle for second place, behind eventual winners Manchester City.
#7 Arsenal
Playing in Premier League since - 1992-93
Worst League Position: 12th (1994-95)
Best League Position: 1st (1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-04)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 10th, 4th, 12th, 5th, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 5th.
The Gunners had a topsy-turvy start to the Premier League, but eventually turned into one of the finest teams in the Premier League with the appointment of Arsene Wenger, in September 1996.
#8 Chelsea
Playing in Premier League since - 1992-93
Worst League Position: 14th (1993-94)
Best League Position: 1st (2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 11th, 14th, 11th, 11th, 6th, 4th, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 6th, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 3rd, 3rd, 1st, 10th, 1st.
Until the appointment of Ruud Gullit as player-manager in 1996, Chelsea was a relatively unknown team in the Premier League. However, real success washed ashore only after the appointment of the eccentric Jose Mourinho, who led Chelsea to two back-to-back titles along with other silverware.
Chelsea have always managed to finish in the top 7 since 1995, until in 2015-16, when the defending champions were languishing at 16th in December, before somehow managing to jump up 6 positions to finish 10th.
#9 Manchester United
Playing in Premier League since - 1992-93
Worst League Position: 7th (2013-14)
Best League Position: 1st (1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13)
League Positions since joining Premier League: 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 7th, 4th, 5th, 6th.
Quite rightly labeled the best team in Premier League, Manchester United have won the Premier League trophy a record 13 times in 25 years, 8 times more than the closest team on the list - Chelsea with five.
United never failed to finish in the top 4 for 21 years, until the departure of their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Since his retirement, United have failed to reach the top four, 3 times in the last 4 seasons.