Arsenal’s 2023/24 Heartbreak: Premier League Teams With Most Points Who Still Failed to Win Title

Arsenal’s 2023/24 Heartbreak: Premier League Teams With Most Points Who Still Failed to Win Title

Joel Reyes
updated at May 20, 2024 at 6:22 AM
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ENG Premier League
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Arsenal
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Liverpool logo
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Manchester City
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  • Arsenal failed to end their Premier League title drought during the 2023/2024 season
  • The Gunners scored 89 points, two shy of Manchester City's winning total this season
  • Two Liverpool sides scored at least 92 points in the league but failed to claim the title

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So near, yet so far.

Arsenal came close to ending their Premier League title drought on Sunday (May 19) but fell short against Manchester City.

Sports Brief looks at the teams with the most points but failed to win the EPL trophy after the Gunners' heartbreaking 2023-24 campaign.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Martin Odegaard, Sergio Aguero, Pep Guardiola
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard looks dejected after they fell short in their bid to win the 2023-24 Premier League title. Image: Mike Egerton.
Source: Getty Images

Premier League's greatest heartbreaks

1. Liverpool (97 points, 2018-19)

In terms of bad beats, nothing will top Liverpool's gut-wrenching 2018-19 season. They scored 97 points in that campaign but still finished runners-up to Manchester City.

They matched the club record of 30 league victories in a season and went unbeaten at Anfield in the 2018-19 campaign. The Reds also recorded the third-highest point total in the history of the English top flight that season.

That still wasn't enough to beat Manchester City, who finished the season with 98 points after winning their last 14 league matches.

2. Liverpool (92 points, 2021-22)

The Reds suffered more heartbreak in the 2021-22 season, as Manchester City once again wrecked their campaign.

They finished the season with 92 points, one shy of City's winning total. They went unbeaten in their last 19 league matches, recording 16 wins and three draws during that stretch.

Liverpool were ready to celebrate at Anfield after Man City fell into a 0-2 hole against Aston Villa on the final day.

However, the Citizens scored three unanswered goals in a five-minute span late in the second half to end the Reds' title aspirations, per the BBC.

3. Manchester United (89 points, 2011-12)

Manchester United fans will never forget the heartbreak Manchester City gave them in the 2011-12 Premier League season.

Sergio Aguero handed City their first-ever Premier League title with a dramatic match-winner against Queens Park Rangers deep into second-half injury time.

That left United with nothing to show for in the league despite finishing the season with the same number of points as City.

It was the first time in 23 years that the Premier League champions and runners-up had finished level on points (89).

3. Arsenal (89 points, 2023-24)

Arsenal entered the final day of the 2023-24 season with an outside chance of ending their 20-year Premier League title drought.

A win over Everton, coupled with Manchester City dropping points against West Ham, would put the Gunners on top of the league table.

Mikel Arteta's men did their job, beating the Toffees 2-1 to finish the season with 89 points, per The Guardian. Unfortunately for them, City also won to finish two points ahead of Arsenal in the title race.

5. Manchester United (88 points, 1994-95)

Manchester United agonisingly fell short in their bid to win the 1994-95 Premier League title, finishing the season with 88 points, one shy of Blackburn Rovers' winning total.

They failed to take advantage of Blackburn's defeat on the final day as they also slipped up against West Ham United, managing just a draw.

United's 88-point total needs an asterisk, however, as they achieved that mark back when a 42-match season was still played in the Premier League.

Man City crowned champions again

Sports Brief recently reported on Manchester City winning the 2023-24 Premier League title.

They defeated West Ham 3-1 to capture their fourth consecutive title in the English top flight.

Phil Foden starred for the champions, scoring a brace in the first half to dash Arsenal's hopes.

Authors
Joel Reyes photo
Joel Reyes
Joel Reyes is a sports editor at Sportsbrief.com with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. He has eight years of work experience in sports writing.