With three games left to play this season, bottom club Sheffield United are edging closer to having the worst Premier League goal difference in history.
The Blades have endured a torrid time back in the top flight, and are rooted to the foot of the table on just 16 points.
They have taken numerous hammerings, including an 8-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in September, the second-biggest home defeat ever in the Premier League.
Sheffield United’s Heaviest Defeats in 2023/24:
- Sheffield United 0-8 Newcastle United – 24 September
- Arsenal 5-0 Sheffield United – 28 October
- Burnley 5-0 Sheffield United – 2 December
- Sheffield United 0-5 Aston Villa – 3 February
- Sheffield United 0-6 Arsenal – 4 March
15 Worst Premier League Goal Differences In History
| Club | Season | Games Played | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby County | 07/08 | 38 | 20 | 89 | -69 |
| Sheffield United | 23/24 | 34 | 34 | 97 | -63 |
| Norwich City | 21/22 | 38 | 23 | 84 | -61 |
| Ipswich Town | 94/95 | 42 | 36 | 93 | -57 |
| Huddersfield Town | 18/19 | 38 | 22 | 76 | -54 |
| Swindon Town | 93/94 | 42 | 47 | 100 | -53 |
| Norwich City | 19/20 | 38 | 26 | 75 | -49 |
| Aston Villa | 15/16 | 38 | 27 | 76 | -49 |
| Fulham | 13/14 | 38 | 40 | 85 | -45 |
| Barnsley | 97/98 | 38 | 37 | 82 | -45 |
| Sunderland | 02/03 | 38 | 21 | 65 | -44 |
| Sheffield United | 20/21 | 38 | 20 | 63 | -43 |
| Hull City | 16/17 | 38 | 37 | 80 | -43 |
| Sunderland | 05/06 | 38 | 26 | 69 | -43 |
| Watford | 99/00 | 38 | 35 | 77 | -42 |
Will Sheffield United Break The Worst Goal Difference Record?
This year’s Sheffield United will undoubtedly go down as one of the worst sides in Premier League history.
With just three wins all season, and 97 goals conceded, the Blades have been lucky to surpass Derby County’s record low points tally of 11, when the Rams won only a single game all season.
Derby finished with a goal difference of -69, the worst ratio ever in the Premier League era.
As it stands, Sheffield United’s goal difference of -63 is six better off than Derby’s, with three games remaining.
After the weekend’s 5-1 thumping away at Newcastle, the Blades will surpass Derby’s record if they lose their remaining games by an average of more than two goals.
Based on their current averages, this seems very possible. Having scored 34 goals in 34 games and conceded 97, Sheffield United’s average score is 2.85-1 against them.
This gives an average margin of defeat of 1.85 goals per game, just shy of the two-goal average needed, meaning one more heavy defeat is likely to see them break the record.
Sheffield United’s Last Four Premier League Games:
- Nottingham Forest (H)
- Everton (A)
- Tottenham (H)
With these three fixtures left to play, it is far from inconceivable that Sheffield United could break the goal difference record.
Having just been hammered 5-1 at Newcastle, the already-relegated Blades are utterly devoid of confidence and show no signs of improving their results.
Nottingham Forest and Everton may be at the lower end of the table, but Forest need results to ensure their own survival, so will be throwing everything at their best chance of three points.
Everton meanwhile are guaranteed safety after beating Brentford, but will now be able to play without pressure and could well throw more bodies forward.
And Tottenham will be another tough game, with Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs scoring three or more goals seven times this season already.
Were Sheffield United to lose all three games, it would only take one or two heavy defeats to put them right on the cusp of breaking the record.
Likewise, they have already conceded 97 goals, the most ever in a 38-game season. Should they let in another four, they will overtake Swindon Town’s record of 100 goals conceded in a Premier League season.
However, there were 42 games in 1993/94 when Swindon conceded the record tally.
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