The English Premier League is often referred to as the best and most competitive top-flight league in Europe, and perhaps the world.
This means that winning hotly contested matches by the odd goal is generally seen as a good day at the office for the clubs.
However, there have been times when, for whatever reason, one side has totally dominated a match and knocked in a number of goals past hapless opponents.
Let’s have a closer look at the record number of goals scored by a team in an EPL match, and the clubs that have achieved it.
Has a Team Ever Scored 10 Goals in a Premier League Game?
No team has ever scored ten goals in a Premier League game. However, four teams – Manchester United, Tottenham, Leicester and Liverpool – have come close by scoring nine goals.
Five matches have had a combined total of ten goals, and the 2007 clash between Portsmouth and Reading went one better and saw eleven goals scored, with the match ending 7-4 to Portsmouth.
Most Goals Scored by One Team in a Premier League Game
The most goals scored by one team in a Premier League game is nine, which has been achieved by Manchester United (twice), Tottenham, Leicester and Liverpool.
Teams That Scored 9 Goals in a Match
1. Manchester United 9-0 Ipswich (4 March 1995)
The first instance of a team scoring nine goals in an EPL match saw reigning champions United thrash soon-to-be-relegated Ipswich at Old Trafford. Andrew Cole scored five of the goals, which remains the joint-most scored in a single EPL match. While the United fans chanted “We Want Ten”, the Ipswich supporters ironically responded with “We Want One”.
Goals: Roy Keane (15), Andrew Cole (19, 37, 53, 65, 87), Mark Hughes (55, 59), Paul Ince (72).
2. Tottenham 9-1 Wigan (22 November 2009)
Spurs became the second side to find the net nine times, and Jermain Defoe equalled the individual record of scoring five times in a match, as Wigan were soundly beaten at White Hart Lane. This remains Spurs’ biggest winning margin in the top flight. Incredibly, the score was only 1-0 until Defoe scored the second goal on 51 minutes.
Goals: Peter Crouch (9), Jermain Defoe (51, 54, 58, 69, 87), Aaron Lennon (64), David Bentley (88), Niko Kranjcar (90); Paul Scharner (56).
3. Southampton 0-9 Leicester (25 October 2019)
Leicester set a new record for the largest away win in the English top flight by dismantling Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy both scored hat-tricks for Leicester, only the second time that two players scored a hat-trick for the same team in an EPL match. After their dismal performance, the Southampton players donated their wages from the match to charity.
Goals: Ben Chilwell (10), Youri Tielemans (17), Ayoze Perez (19, 39, 57), Jamie Vardy (45, 58, 90), James Maddison (85).
4. Manchester United 9-0 Southampton (2 February 2021)
It’s the Saints again. The season after losing 9-0 to Leicester, Southampton contrived to concede nine goals in a match once more, this time at Old Trafford. Seven different players scored for United, equalling the EPL record. Southampton’s cause was not helped by Alexandre Jankewitz being sent off in the second minute on his first start for the club.
Goals: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (18), Marcus Rashford (25), Jan Bednarek (34 o.g.), Edinson Cavani (39), Anthony Martial (69, 90), Scott McTominay (71), Bruno Fernandes (88), Daniel James (90).
5. Liverpool 9-0 Bournemouth (27 August 2022)
Liverpool equalled their biggest-ever top-flight victory by putting Bournemouth to the sword at Anfield in only the fourth match of the 2022/23 season. Cherries’ manager Scott Parker was sacked three days later. Liverpool controlled the match throughout, were 5-0 by half time and showed no mercy by adding four more goals after the break. Ironically, they went on to lose the reverse fixture 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium in March 2023.
Goals: Luis Diaz (3, 85), Harvey Elliot (6), Trent Alexander-Arnold (28), Roberto Firmino (31, 62), Virgil Van Dijk (45), Chris Mepham (46 o.g.), Fabio Carvalho (80).
