In the history of the Premier League, we have witnessed many incredible things. For more than 30 years, the Premier League has cemented its position as the world's top league. We've seen the best players, the best managers and some incredible moments. Manchester United dominated in their early years, while Arsenal, Chelsea and now Manchester City have all had their own eras. We also saw Leicester City win the Premier League title at 5,000/1 to create one of the greatest miracles in football history.
There are many ways to make history, both good and bad. Nowadays, almost anything can go down in history, and there are many record setters in the history of the Premier League. But the following 21 Premier League records are almost impossible to break.
1. Minimum number of three hat-tricks
Record: 8 games - Erling Haaland (2022/23)
Let's start with the most recent record. Haaland arrived in the Premier League in the summer of 2022 and his goals have never stopped. His first hat-trick came against Crystal Palace in the fourth round, when he helped City to a 4-2 win after being 2-0 down at half-time.
A few days later, he added three more goals against Nottingham Forest. He scored twice against Aston Villa and Wolves and added three goals against Manchester United. That meant he scored three hat-tricks in just eight games. The player who scored three hat-tricks the fastest was Michael Irving, who recorded 48 games.
2. The highest number of goal frames hit in a single game
Record: 4 times - Darwin Nunez (Liverpool v Chelsea, 31 January 2024)
During his time at Anfield, Darwin Nunez was often criticised for failing to capitalise on some of the relatively easy opportunities. In the Reds' 4-1 home win over Chelsea, Darwin Nunez could have had a number of chances on goal and the Reds could have won even more. Darwin Nunez hit the crossbar twice and hit the post twice in that game, and he hit the woodwork a record four times, the first time a Premier League player has done so in a single game.
3. Longest unbeaten streak
Record: 49 games – Arsenal (7 May 2003 – 24 October 2004)
Only Arsenal have been unbeaten in the Premier League season so far, although we wouldn't be too surprised if City could finally repeat that feat, but a full 49-game unbeaten run is outrageous. With the strength of the teams in the Premier League in 2024, it would be an unimaginable achievement if a team could reach 50 games without defeat. Even Pep Guardiola's Manchester City couldn't do that when they were at their peak.
4. The largest number of consecutive games
Records: 310 - Brad Friedel (14.08.2004 – 29.09.2012)
In modern football, due to the size of the squad and the rotation system, it is simply impossible for outfield players (non-goalkeepers) to play 310 games in a row. Brad Friedel spent a full eight seasons at Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham before setting that record.
Even a goalkeeper who hasn't suffered any injuries or suspensions for more than eight years is remarkable. The outfielder with the most consecutive appearances is Frank Lampard, who has a record of 164. Similarly, the physical confrontation of today's game makes it impossible for any player to match the number of appearances that the England midfielder has made.
5. Minimum number of points in a single season
Record: 11 points - Derby County (2007/08)
In 2007/08, Derby County won just one game all season, and that victory came in a 1-0 home win over Newcastle United. Sunderland's 15 points in 2005/06 were the second-lowest in Premier League history.
6. Longest losing streak
Record: 20 - Sunderland (2003 to 2005)
Speaking of which...... Derby County have also picked up a couple of draws in their poor season, but Sunderland have been even worse in the Premier League. Sunderland spanned multiple seasons, losing all of their last 15 games in 2002/03 before ending in relegation, and when they returned to the Premier League in 2005, they lost their opening five games and lost 20 consecutive Premier League games.
7. The oldest player on the field
Record: 43 years and 162 days - John Burridge (Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers, 14 May 1995)
It's clear that John Burridge is a goalkeeper and the record he set may never be broken. The goalkeeper was 43 years old when he featured in Manchester City's match against Queens Park Rangers in 1995.
8. Minimum Winning Margin
Record: 0 points/8 goal difference (Manchester City 2011/12)
"AGUUUERRRROOOOOO" WAS NOT ONLY THE MOST DRAMATIC GOAL IN THE HISTORY OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE, BUT ALSO CREATED THE SMALLEST DEFICIT EVER TO WIN THE TITLE, WITH UNITED SADLY MISSING OUT ON THE TITLE BY LESS THAN ONE POINT. It was the only time in the Premier League that it was won on goal difference.
After beating Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in 2011/12, United thought they had beaten their arch-rivals to win the league title, but then it was revealed that Sergio Aguero had scored the winning goal to help City do the impossible.
9. Fastest goal
Record: 7.69 seconds – Sean Long (Southampton v Watford, 23 April 2019)
In the Premier League, it seems impossible to score a goal faster than 7 seconds. It's even more incredible when you consider that Southampton didn't even kick off. Perhaps the only way to beat it is for the player to score a goal after the kick-off.
10. The league wins the championship with the fewest points
Record: 75 points - Manchester United (1996/97)
With Manchester City and Liverpool approaching 100 points several times in recent years, the idea of winning the league title with 75 points seems ridiculous, after all, in some seasons 75 points are not even enough to finish in the top four.
11. Longest unbeaten home record
Records: 86 games – Chelsea (20 March 2004 – 5 October 2008)
It wasn't until 2008 that Liverpool won at Stamford Bridge thanks to Xavi Alonso's stunner. Jose Mourinho, who led the Blues to back-to-back Premier League titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06, built Stamford Bridge into a formidable stadium for all other teams.
12. Minimum (non-COVID) attendance
Record: 3039 - Wimbledon v Everton (January 26, 1993)
As Premier League stadiums continue to expand and attract more and more fans, this record will be difficult to break. To be fair, Selhurst Park wasn't Wimbledon's home stadium and it was a chilly Tuesday night. By the way, Everton brought 1,500 fans.
13. Fastest hat-trick
Record: 2:56 – Sadio Mane (Southampton v Aston Villa, 16 May 2015)
Haaland may be the king of hat-tricks, but he will never be able to break Mane's record for a hat-trick in less than three minutes.
14. Maximum time without conceding a goal
Record: 1113 minutes – Van der Sar (15.11.2008 – 18.02.2009)
In the 2008/09 season, Van der Sar kept a clean sheet in 14 consecutive matches.
15. Scored in the most consecutive seasons
Record: 21 - Ryan Giggs (1992/93 2012/13)
Just 21 consecutive seasons in the Premier League is a crazy statistic, in fact, Ryan Giggs has actually scored in the top flight for 23 consecutive seasons, but the first two times were before the Premier League era. Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992 until the 2012/13 season (inclusive), Ryan Giggs has scored in every Premier League season, with only one full Premier League season without scoring a goal, and that was his last season before retiring at Old Trafford.
16. Player with the most goals in the half
Record: 5 - Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham v Wigan Athletic, 22 November 2009)
With Haaland's arrival, the record looks a bit precarious. Only five players have scored five goals in a single game so far, but Jermaine Defoe did it in the 45 minutes of the half. Tottenham won the match with a score of 9-1. Jermaine Defoe was unstoppable in the day's game and could have scored more goals in the game if he had taken a couple of other chances.
17. The longest-serving head coach
Records: 21 years 224 days – Arsene Wenger (1 October 1996 – 13 May 2018)
Jurgen Klopp is currently the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, having been in charge of Liverpool for over eight years, although the German head coach will leave at the end of the 2023-24 season. The longest-serving manager in Premier League history is Arsene Wenger, who spent 21 years at Arsenal.
18. Most consecutive goals scored against the same team
Record: 9 games - Sadio Mane (v Crystal Palace)
Sadio Mane scored in nine consecutive games against Liverpool against Crystal Palace. From the start of the 2017/18 season until the final game against Crystal Palace in the 2021/22 season. Mane missed out on 10 consecutive matches as he played in the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2021. When Sadio Mane finally left English football in 2022, Crystal Palace fans must have been delighted.
19. Concede the fewest goals in a single season
Record: 15 - Chelsea (2004/05)
Chelsea with Cech, John Terry, Carvalho, William Gallas and Paolo Ferreira are indestructible. They conceded an average of 0.37 goals per game. Now that the Premier League is full of attacking talent, that will certainly not happen again. This is Jose Mourinho's first season in charge of Chelsea, and his side have struggled to replicate the incredible willpower with which they keep the back of the net. The Blues sometimes use the dark arts, stopping at nothing to prevent their opponents from scoring.
20. Fastest goal for a substitute
Record: 6 seconds – Niklas Bendtner (Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur, 22 December 2007)
Bendtner's career at Arsenal has not been smooth, as he failed to make the regular starting line-up in competition with the likes of Robin van Persie and Bam Adebayo. However, against Tottenham, he scored less than six seconds after coming on.
21. Concede the most goals in a single season
Record: 101 goals - Sheffield United (2023/24, season underway)
The previous Premier League record for the most goals conceded in a single season was exactly 100, held by Swindon in 1992/93.
What's even more embarrassing for Sheffield United is that Swindon did it in a 42-game season, with Sheffield United now surpassing that total. Sheffield United have conceded 101 goals in 37 games and the final game against Tottenham is yet to come.