Premier League : the record no team wants to break
In the 2022-2023 Premier League season, Sheffield United set a new, unwanted record by conceding an astonishing 104 goals. This staggering figure highlights the defensive struggles the team faced throughout the campaign, averaging 2.74 goals conceded per match.
Alarmingly, 53 of those goals came while the team was in a well-structured formation, indicating that their defensive shape was far from solid. Across the 38-game season, they had nine matches in which they conceded four or more goals, further emphasizing the consistency of their defensive frailties.
With this, the Blades have shattered the record for the most goals conceded in the history of the 20-team Premier League. Sheffield United has now become the worst defensive side in the history of English top-flight football. Previously, this dubious record was held by Swindon Town, who conceded 100 goals during the 1993-1994 season.
However, at that time, the league featured 22 teams and spanned 42 matches—four more than the current format. Since the 1995/96 season, the top tier of English football has been reduced to 20 clubs.
This negative record serves as a cautionary tale for future teams looking to maintain their Premier League status, showcasing the devastating consequences of an unstable defense.