There’s no doubt that the English Premier League is one of the most important and well-respected football leagues in the world. Ask any casual or hardcore football fan and they’ll tell you that the Premier League is unquestionably one of the most exacting and daunting places for a footballer to cut their teeth, and if you ask professional players, they’ll tell you that twice over. Some teams, though, have arguably earned their keep even more than others. Here are the 10 most iconic Premier League teams.
1. Manchester United
Most young football fans begin by watching Manchester United, or at least that used to be the case. The team’s attacking strength, speed, and defensive play are almost unmatched, and while they’re certainly a shadow of their former selves these days, they’re still a force to be reckoned with. Cristiano Ronaldo’s time with the club might be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean you should count Manchester United out as a dominating team in English football.
2. Manchester City
There’s almost no doubt that Manchester City is the team that’s going to win this year’s Premier League title. For most analysts, it’s between them and Arsenal; football icons Richard Dunne and Glen Johnson told sports betting site Betway that they think Manchester City will dominate the game for the next decade to come. It’s not hard to see why. The team has a huge amount of resources, a stunningly high standard when it comes to play, and virtually no rivals at the top.
3. Arsenal
When we say “virtually” no rivals at the top, we are, of course, excluding Arsenal from that declaration. Arsenal is another one of English football’s most iconic teams. Whether you love the glory days of Arsenal, in which manager Arsene Wenger took them to the top, or you’re more of a modern follower with opinions about the managerial style of Mikel Arteta, there’s no doubt that Arsenal is one of the most important teams in the English Premier League.
4. Chelsea
Chelsea are not the valorous lions they once were. There was a time, mostly during the Roman Abramovich era of the club, when Chelsea’s name was to be feared, and simply going up against the side would essentially mean certain doom for their opponents. That’s no longer the case; thanks to a resurgent Man City, a hungry Arsenal, and several other Big Six teams gunning to take them down, Chelsea are having to fight to be recognised. However, the team is still inarguably iconic.
5. Liverpool
Right now, it’s effectively between Liverpool and Manchester City in terms of who’s going to win the English Premier League. Man City looks like the likely team, but Liverpool’s aggressive style under manager Jürgen Klopp should make them a formidable side this year. Liverpool’s midfield is where the team falls down, so Klopp will likely be looking to make some reinforcements in that area and train his squad more as a result.
6. Tottenham Hotspur
Rounding out the Big Six of English football is Tottenham Hotspur, also known as Spurs to their fans. Obviously, Spurs’ biggest strength right now is striker Harry Kane, who is currently sitting as the fourth most prolific goal-scorer of all time in English Premier League football. Kane is also the captain of the resurgent England squad, so he’s not even a secret weapon for Spurs; he’s their biggest gun, and the team will be looking to use him as much as possible this season.
7. Aston Villa
Now that we’re moving outside the legendary Big Six, let’s take a moment to acknowledge this iconic Birmingham club. Aston Villa’s fortunes, much like the fortunes of long-term rivals Birmingham City, have wavered over the years, with the club bouncing up and down in terms of the league tables. Last season, Villa finished 14th in the Premier League, which is not a result the team will want to repeat, so let’s hope striker Ollie Watkins and midfielder Douglas Luiz can shore up the team’s forward momentum.
8. Newcastle United
There are murmurs right now that Newcastle United could be the next club to join the Big Six, thereby making it a Big Seven. Analysts have predicted that the Big Six’s complacency and avoidance of competition are exactly what Newcastle needs to surge forward and claim its spot. The UEFA Champions League has been stagnant for some time now, and what it really needs is some new blood coming in to shake things up. Hopefully, that will be Newcastle soon.
9. West Ham United
West Ham finished an agonising seventh in the league table last season, which will no doubt come as a source of consternation for the London side. They’ll want to perform that much better this season in order to attempt to guarantee a place in the pantheon of English football teams, and they’ll no doubt be hoping that forwards Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio can help them to build their goal average and try to slip past some of the league’s greatest keepers.
10. Leicester City
Another Midlands team (although this time based in the East Midlands) with a long history to its name, Leicester City can’t be counted out when it comes to the Premier League greats of 2022 and beyond. Leicester can hammer shots home time and time again, but they simply can’t defend, and although last season wasn’t helped by an anomalous amount of injuries for the club, they will need to ensure that they’re building on their strengths and covering their weaknesses going forward.
