The five best runners-up in Premier League history | OneFootball

The team which finishes second in the Premier League this season will inevitably be labelled failures in some quarters.

But as we enter the home stretch of the campaign, Manchester City and Liverpool are both on course to pick up 93 points.

That total would have been enough to win the title in all but one of the last 27 Premier League seasons and would be the joint-second highest points total in the league’s history (level with Chelsea in 2016/17).

It would also be the highest ever points total for a Premier League runner-up, and here are the five best silver medalists so far …

5. Manchester United – 2009/10

Points total: 85

Champions: Chelsea (86)

United’s run of three consecutive Premier League titles was brought to a valiant end on the final day of the 2009/10 season.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side beat Stoke City 4-0 but Chelsea’s 8-0 win over Wigan Athletic delivered the first title to Stamford Bridge since 2006.

4. Tottenham Hotspur – 2016/17

Points total: 86

Champions: Chelsea (93)

Spurs’ best ever Premier League finish unfortunately wasn’t enough to deliver any silverware as Chelsea won their fifth Premier League title with two games to spare.

Harry Kane did at least clinch the Golden Boot with a hat-trick in a 7-1 demolition of relegated Hull City on the final day.

3. Liverpool – 2008/09

Points total: 86

Champions: Manchester United (90)

Liverpool’s best Premier League points total to date couldn’t deliver a maiden title to Anfield.

Despite having a better goal difference and beating Manchester United home and away that year, a series of disappointing draws for the Reds towards the end of the season meant the trophy resided at Old Trafford for the 11th time.

2. Manchester United – 1994/95

Points total: 88

Champions: Blackburn Rovers (89)

United’s sixth best Premier League points total wasn’t enough to deliver the title in 1995.

The title race went down to the final day of the season when a 1-1 draw for the Red Devils at West Ham meant Blackburn Rovers clinched their one and only Premier League title so far, despite the fact they lost 2-1 away at Liverpool.

1. Manchester United – 2011/12

Points total: 89

Champions: Manchester City on goal difference

United fans will probably take no comfort from the fact that their 2011/12 points total makes them the best Premier League runners-up to date.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side travelled to Sunderland on the final day knowing that all rivals Manchester City needed to do was beat struggling Queens Park Rangers at home, and the title would be heading to the Etihad Stadium.

But as the clock ticked towards injury time, City were inexplicably trailing 2-1 and United’s 1-0 win at Sunderland meant they were on the verge of winning a title even they thought was beyond them.

However, Sergio Agüero’s dramatic 94th minute winner meant Roberto Mancini’s side broke their rivals’ hearts and won the title on goal difference for the first and, so far, only time.