The greatest Premier League XIs of all time
The whole idea behind 38-0-0 is the dream of a perfect season. Only a handful of real teams ever came close. Here are the sides that set the bar, and that you are quietly chasing every time you spin.
Arsenal, 2003 to 2004: the Invincibles
The team that gives the game its second best badge. Arsène Wenger's Arsenal went through the entire league season without losing a single match, finishing 26 wins and 12 draws from 38 games. A spine of Jens Lehmann, Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry blended steel with flair. No side has matched the unbeaten run since, which is exactly why an unbeaten season is so prized in 38-0-0.
Manchester City, 2017 to 2018: the Centurions
The first and so far only club to reach 100 points in a Premier League season. Pep Guardiola's City won 32 of their 38 games and rewrote a stack of records along the way, driven by Kevin De Bruyne in midfield and a relentless attacking machine. They are the reason the 100 point Centurions badge exists in the game.
Manchester United, 1998 to 1999: the treble winners
Not the highest points total, but one of the most celebrated squads English football has produced. That United side won the league, the FA Cup and the Champions League in a single season, with a never say die spirit that defined the era. Drawing a late nineties United squad in 38-0-0 still gives you a deep, balanced pool to pick from.
Chelsea, 2004 to 2005: the new benchmark
José Mourinho's first Chelsea team set a points record of 95 that stood for years and conceded just 15 goals across the whole campaign, the meanest defence the league has seen. Petr Čech, John Terry and a powerful midfield made them brutally hard to break down, a reminder that a great defence wins as many games as a great attack.
Liverpool, 2019 to 2020: ending the wait
Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool stormed to the title with 99 points, a tally only City's Centurions have beaten. Built on a famous front three and the attacking full backs of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, they showed how modern full backs can drive a title charge, which is worth remembering when you draft.
What they have in common
Every one of these teams had a strong spine, balance across the pitch, and at least one world class player in each third. That is the blueprint to aim for in 38-0-0. You will rarely assemble all of it in one draft, and that is what makes getting close so satisfying. Read our tips to go 38-0-0 and see how near you can get.