Premier League three-way title races: seasons when three (or more) teams fought for the crown

With around 15 Matchdays left of the 2023/24 Premier League season at the time of writing, a three-way title race appears to be forming between Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. Aston Villa and Tottenham are also close enough to keep things interesting, which is usually when the league decides to become emotionally expensive for everyone involved.

This article looks back at Premier League seasons where the title race involved three or more genuine contenders in the final stretch. For consistency, a team is treated as being in the title race if the team finished within six points (two wins) of the eventual champions.

What counts as a three-way Premier League title race in this article?

A three-way Premier League title race, in the context used here, means at least three teams finished close enough to the champions that the title could plausibly have swung late in the season. The practical definition used is simple and measurable: any team that finished within six points of the champions is included. Six points is used because it represents two wins, which is enough for a late-season swing if results break the right way.

This definition matters because it avoids fuzzy claims about who was "in the race" based on vibes, fixture difficulty, or the volume of social media panic. The measure is based on final points totals only. It also means a season can qualify even if the table leadership changed late, or even if one side only emerged as a true contender right at the end.

2013/14: four teams vying for the Premier League title

The 2013/14 season is the most recent example, prior to 2023/24, of a Premier League title race involving more than two sides. Four teams finished within six points of the champions: Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Manchester City were managed by Manuel Pellegrini. City left things late and, other than a single week in January, only reached the top of the table with two games to go. That shift happened after Liverpool lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea, a match remembered for one specific moment: "when Steven Gerrard suffered that fateful slip!" (source material).

City then sealed the title with a 2-0 win against West Ham on the final day. Chelsea were managed by Jose Mourinho during his second spell at the club and spent a few weeks at the top at various points. Arsenal, managed by Arsene Wenger, finished strongly and remained close enough to capitalise if the teams above faltered. The top three were separated by four points, and each of the top three lost six matches, which helps explain why the race stayed open for so long.

2007/08: Arsenal lead for months, then stumble late

The 2007/08 season produced another three-team finish within six points of the champions, with Manchester United winning the title ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal.

Manchester United finished two points clear of Chelsea, with Arsenal a further two points back. The season is framed in the source material as a contest involving two major managers, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. Chelsea, however, were no longer managed by Jose Mourinho by this point. Avram Grant was in charge at Stamford Bridge for this campaign.

Arsenal set the pace for much of the season. The club were top of the table from mid-September 2007 until early March 2008, with only brief interruptions. Chelsea only reached the top very briefly in the early stages. Manchester United finished the strongest, "winning nine and drawing two of their last 12 games" (source material). Chelsea beat United at Stamford Bridge with two games to go, but United still held on to win the league.

1998/99: familiar contenders, familiar champions

The 1998/99 season is presented in the source material as the final three-way title battle in this look-back, and it again involved Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Manchester United won the title.

Chelsea were managed by Gianluca Vialli, who had replaced Ruud Gullit the season before. The season is described as unusual in the source material because none of the eventual top three set the early pace. Instead, Aston Villa led the table for much of the first half of the season before dropping to sixth.

Chelsea were top for a couple of weeks in the middle of the season, and Arsenal were top for a few weeks towards the end. Manchester United finished strongly. After a 3-2 home defeat to Middlesbrough on 19 December 1998, United "didn’t lose another league match all season" (source material). United won the league by two points and, in the same season, went on to win the FA Cup and the Champions League to complete a treble.

Will there be a three-way title race in 2023/24?

At the time of writing, the 2023/24 season has the shape of a multi-team title race, led by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. The source material also notes that Aston Villa and Tottenham are not far behind, which keeps open the possibility of additional pressure on the front-runners.

The source material highlights two narrative factors that could influence the run-in. Arsenal may have learned from a late-season collapse in 2022/23 and could be better prepared this time. Liverpool, meanwhile, have added motivation because Jurgen Klopp has announced he will leave at the end of the season, and the team will want to finish strongly.

Manchester City are described as "habitual winners" in the source material under Pep Guardiola, with the implication that City may maintain performance levels while rivals drop points. Whether 2023/24 becomes a true three-way race by the definition used here will ultimately depend on final points totals and whether multiple teams remain within two wins of the eventual champions.

Takeaway framework: how three-way title races usually stay alive

A three-way title race tends to remain open when at least three conditions apply at the same time:

1. Small points gaps: the leading teams stay within roughly two wins of one another.
2. Shared vulnerability: top sides drop points often enough that no team breaks away.
3. Late momentum shifts: a key result changes the table leadership close to the end.

This simple framework fits the seasons covered here because each featured tight points totals and late-season swings that kept multiple teams within reach.

FAQ

What is a three-way Premier League title race?

A three-way Premier League title race is a season where at least three teams remain close enough to the champions that the title could realistically change hands late in the campaign. In this article, that means finishing within six points of the champions.

Why use six points as the cut-off for being in the title race?

Six points equals two wins. Using a two-win margin provides a clear, consistent way to identify teams that were still within striking distance of the champions.

Which Premier League season had a four-team title race by this definition?

The 2013/14 season qualifies as a four-team race by this definition, with Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all finishing within six points of the champions.

Who won the Premier League in 2007/08, and how close was it?

Manchester United won the Premier League in 2007/08 with 87 points. Chelsea finished second with 85 points, and Arsenal finished third with 83 points.

Why is 1998/99 described as an unusual title race in this look-back?

The 1998/99 season is described as unusual because Aston Villa led the table for much of the first half of the season but later slumped to sixth, while the eventual top three rotated at the top later in the campaign.