A look at the greatest Premier League teams of all time

Manchester City ended the 2017-18 Premier League season with an unprecedented 100 points, after a last second lob from Gabriel Jesus secured a 1-0 win at Southampton on the final day. This is the one figure that symbolises the incredible achievements of Pep Guardiola and his side this season. Is it going too far if one says that they are the greatest team the Premier League has ever seen?

The greatest team in Premier League history is one that will be remembered for decades to come for doing some remarkable things and leaving a legacy. Here, we look at City and the other teams that did remarkable things over the years.

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Manchester City (2017-18)

Manchester City lift the Premier League title.

Manchester City have done some incredible things all season, breaking records left, right and centre. They won 32 games, beating the record set by Antonio Conte's Chelsea in 2016-17.

18 of those wins came successively, in a run spanning from August until the end of December, another record taken from the previous champions. Another two of Chelsea's records perished as Pep Guardiola's men finished at 100 points and 106 goals. This is largely down to the overwhelming attacking power boasted by the Citizens, who can grab any number of goals at any given time.

With Sergio Aguero leading the way and Gabriel Jesus playing little more than a supporting role, wide men Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling stepped up and took over the country. An improvement in the defensive and goalkeeping situation, along with a stellar midfield three of Fernandinho, David Silva and the fantastic Kevin De Bruyne made the Citizens the real deal and runaway winners of the league.

Chelsea (2004-05)

The team whose record just got broken in the previous week, Chelsea came into their own and took the league by storm in 2004-05 after years of threatening to do so. Jose Mourinho got 95 points in his first season and 92 points in his second. This team did not only do great things, they stayed on a similar level consistently.

They did not lose a single match at Stamford Bridge from 2004 until 2008, a run that lasted 86 games.

The key players Chelsea had in 2005 would go on to form the core and backbone for the Blues in the next half decade. Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are the defining characters in one of the best periods in Chelsea's history. With all four in the team during their prime, Chelsea finished in the top two in six out of their first seven seasons together, winning three league titles. They won the UEFA Champions League in the eighth campaign.

Manchester United (2008-09)

The backbone of Man United's defence.

Sir Alex Ferguson created something special at Old Trafford and had several glorious teams that he managed. The Class Of '92 come to mind, with their incredible treble winning season in 1999.

The strongest team he coached, however, was the record equalling Red Devils of the Rooney-Ronaldo era. Three consecutive title victories, in a period where England was dominating the Champions League, is nothing short of incredible and 2008-09 is the pinnacle of that.

After being crowned Champions Of Europe, all the business they did in the summer was bringing in Dimitar Berbatov from Spurs. He was all that was needed. Manchester United overcame a rocky start and rose up the table as Edwin Van Der Sar kept 14 consecutive clean sheets. FOURTEEN!

The core of this team included countless legends like Vidic, Ferdinand, Scholes, Carrick, Rooney and Ronaldo. Certainly a catalyst to put them in contention to be the greatest Premier League team ever.

Arsenal (2003-04)

The Invincibles celebrate with their Premier League trophy.

Perhaps the single greatest achievement made by any team in Premier League history. No team is good enough to go an entire league season unbeaten, even Barcelona ended up losing to Levante, last weekend.

Arsenal did it, though. They somehow managed to do the impossible. A total of 49 matches unbeaten is no small matter. Arsene Wenger, at the prime of his managerial career, really created a monster.

Another team being discussed, another team with a solid backbone. A perfect mix of strength, skill and character. Every player stepped up, none so more than captain Patrick Vieira, who ran the midfield in games.

Up front, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp were pure class. Not as flashy and powerful as Man City, but more than effective nonetheless. This is another feat that is never going to be repeated by any team in the Premier League.

Conclusion

You could categorise the accomplishments of each team discussed here separately, as per the consistency of each team or the enormity of it.

Chelsea and Manchester United both enjoyed years of competition and dominance with one year in particular standing out for both teams as their greatest. Consistency is one of the key elements in leaving a legacy which would want to be followed.

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger peaked massively in 2004 and nothing he could do after it would be able to match the standards set by this incredible team. Manchester City are in a similar vein that they have done something that may only happen once in the history of the Premier League, and they are not going to match the same levels that they reached this season in the next.

Manchester City v Huddersfield Town - Premier League

If Manchester City continue to play this brand of football under Pep Guardiola and stay at some of the lofty heights they reached this season, though, you cannot look further than them as the best Premier League team in history.

I feel they have already achieved that, as some significant records have been going tumbling down all season. If they even manage to hint at reaching similar heights in the upcoming seasons, City's current class will be hailed as the greatest team in Premier League history.