The most goals conceded in Premier League history

Sheffield United fans have been put through the wringer this season.

Blades supporters have seen their side humiliated on more than one occasion, suffering hefty defeats at the hands of Arsenal, Burnley and Brighton, as well as conceding eight unanswered goals to Newcastle United at Bramall Lane.

The writing was on the wall for a long time but the Yorkshire side have now broken the record for the most Premier League goals conceded in a single season, an unwanted feat that has accompanied their relegation back to the Championship.

The merciless Premier League has been too tough for the Blades this year, so let's take a look at the leakiest defences in the competition's history that Sheffield United have managed to outdo.

6. Norwich City (2021/22) - 84 goals

2021/22 was a season to forget for Norwich City, with the Canaries falling straight back into the Championship after promotion to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke was replaced by Dean Smith after just three months of the campaign, but there was no new manager bounce at Carrow Road as Norwich slumped to the bottom of the table and a whopping 16 points from safety.

The Norfolk side won just five games all season, accumulating a measly 22 points and conceding a staggering 84 goals. There were hefty defeats at the hands of the Premier League's elite, with Norwich conceding 43 goals - over half their tally - in 12 matches against the traditional 'big six'.

5. Fulham (2013/14) - 85 goals

Despite having some talented players at their disposal, Fulham couldn't avoid relegation during the 2013/14 campaign and it was largely down to a defence that was leaking goals.

The Cottagers conceded 85 across the season - an average of 2.24 per match - and the peak of their defensive embarrassment came away at Hull City, where they conceded six second-half goals in a 6-0 defeat.

They also let in four in games against Stoke City, Everton, Liverpool, Sunderland and Manchester City, as well as conceding five to the latter at the Etihad.

4. Derby County (2007/08) - 89 goals

Recording the lowest ever points tally in Premier League history after picking up just 11 from a possible 114, it's fair to say the 2007/08 campaign was hellish for Derby County.

The Rams won just once all season - a 1-0 victory over Newcastle just six games into the campaign - and conceded six goals in four separate matches.

While their defensive performances left a lot to be desired, Derby also struggled in the other penalty box, drawing blanks in 22 matches.

3. Ipswich Town (1994/95) - 93 goals

While Ipswich Town can feel slightly hard done by given their terrible tally of 93 goals conceded came in a 42-game season, there can be no real excuses for their awful defensive displays.

Unsurprisingly, the Tractor Boys finished rock bottom of the table, although they did secure memorable wins over Liverpool and Manchester United.

However, Man Utd would have the last laugh, putting a record nine unanswered goals past Ipswich in their second meeting of the season, with Andy Cole netting five of them.

That drubbing skews their final tally slightly, but the Suffolk side still only managed three clean sheets all term. They'll hope to be a little more frugal in 2024/25, having secured promotion to the Premier League by coming second in the Championship

2. Swindon Town (1993/94) - 100 goals

Similarly to Ipswich, Swindon Town's record-breaking tally of 100 goals conceded came during a 42-game season. Their only season in the top flight of English football was one to forget, with John Gorman's men unable to cope with the step up in quality.

Swindon conceded 32 goals more than any other side in the division during the 1993/94 season, allowing five or more in six individual games.

The Robins will certainly be hopeful that Sheffield United continue their woeful run of form this season, although some of the club's supporters may want to keep their place in the Premier League record books.

1. Sheffield United (2023/24) - 100 goals

It's been a season of pure anguish in 2024/25 for Sheffield United, whose relegation back to the Championship was confirmed in late April with a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Newcastle.

The Magpies put eight past Paul Heckingbottom's bewildered outfit in September and the return of Chris Wilder to the Bramall Lane dugout wasn't enough to steady the ship.

They were ripped apart by title contenders Arsenal in a 6-0 home defeat in March, while the Gunners also thumped in five during their October meeting. The Blades have let in five goals on five separate occasions so far, with Burnley, Brighton and Aston Villa also enjoying their fixtures.

With only one clean sheet kept all season, Sheffield Utd have been unable find any defensive resolve, while they have also been the least effective side of any in the top flight this season.

Unless they manage three successive shutouts to end the campaign, United will take the record for most goals conceded in a Premier League campaign outright.

Team that have conceded most goals in every Premier League season

Only two teams have ever avoided relegation after conceding the most goals in a Premier League season.

One of those sides was Fulham during the 2006/07 campaign, who conceded a pretty respectable 60 goals and managed a 16th-place finish. However, during the same campaign, Charlton Athletic let in an identical amount yet finished in 19th.

West Ham United came a comfortable 13th in 2017/18 despite conceding a joint league-high 68 goals during the season. Stoke City let in the same number, but couldn't avoid the drop after falling to 19th.

*42-game season

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