Fans, pundits and even club owners talk about the Premier League Big Six all the time. But who are they, and how did they become so powerful? This guide explains what the term means, introduces each club and looks at the teams trying to break into the group.
Who are the Premier League Big Six?
The Premier League Big Six are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. The term became popular in the 2010s, when these six clubs pulled clear of the rest in both results and money.
Together, they have won the vast majority of Premier League titles since 1992. They also have the biggest stadiums, the largest global fan bases and the highest incomes in English football.
Manchester United
Manchester United dominated the early years of the Premier League. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, who managed the club from 1986 to 2013, they won 13 league titles. In 1999, they also won the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League in a single season.
Since Ferguson retired, the club has struggled to repeat that success. Still, its global fan base remains one of the largest in world sport.
Liverpool
Liverpool ruled English and European football in the 1970s and 1980s. However, the club had to wait until 2020 for its first Premier League title, which Jurgen Klopp’s team won with ease. Then, in 2024–25, Arne Slot led the club to another title in his first season.
Today, Liverpool and Manchester United have won more English league titles than any other clubs. So their rivalry remains one of the fiercest in the country.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s greatest Premier League era came under Arsène Wenger, who managed the club from 1996 to 2018. He won three league titles, including the unbeaten Invincibles season in 2003–04. The club also moved from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium in 2006.
In recent seasons, Arsenal have become regular title challengers again under Mikel Arteta, a former Arsenal captain.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s rise began in 2003, when Roman Abramovich bought the club. Two years later, José Mourinho led them to their first league title in 50 years. After that, the trophies kept coming, including the Champions League in 2012 and 2021.
In 2022, new owners took over the club. Since then, Chelsea have built one of the youngest squads in the league.
Manchester City
Manchester City changed English football after the Abu Dhabi United Group bought the club in 2008. First, they won their first league title in 44 years in 2012. Then Pep Guardiola arrived in 2016 and built one of the best teams in football history.
Under Guardiola, City won four league titles in a row and, in 2023, the Champions League as part of a treble.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham have a proud history. In 1960–61, they became the first club in the 20th century to win the English league and FA Cup double. In 2019, they also opened one of the most modern stadiums in the world.
For years, critics said Spurs did not belong among the Premier League Big Six, because they rarely won trophies. However, in 2025, they won the Europa League, their first major trophy since 2008.
The Super League row and the Premier League Big Six
In April 2021, all six clubs agreed to join a breakaway European Super League. The reaction from fans was furious. Within about 48 hours, all six English clubs pulled out. As a result, the episode damaged the reputation of the Premier League Big Six with supporters across the country.
Can anyone break the Premier League Big Six?
Other clubs now challenge the group more often. For example, Newcastle United have spent heavily since a 2021 takeover, and they won the League Cup in 2025. Aston Villa also reached the Champions League in 2024. Meanwhile, Leicester City’s 2016 title still shows that a club from outside the elite can win it all.
So the Premier League Big Six remain the richest clubs, but their grip is not as tight as it once was. To learn more about the league itself, read our guide on how the English top flight works, or browse the Premier League section. You can also follow every club on the official Premier League website.