The worst goal difference in a Premier League season is -69, shared by Derby County and Sheffield United.
The full record list
Here are the worst single-season goal differences in Premier League history.
| Club | Season | Goal difference | Scored | Conceded | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby County | 2007/08 | -69 | 20 | 89 | 11 |
| Sheffield United | 2023/24 | -69 | 35 | 104 | 16 |
| Norwich City | 2021/22 | -61 | 23 | 84 | 22 |
| Southampton | 2024/25 | -60 | 26 | 86 | 12 |
| Ipswich Town | 1994/95 | -57 | 36 | 93 | 27 |
| Huddersfield Town | 2018/19 | -54 | 22 | 76 | 16 |
| Swindon Town | 1993/94 | -53 | 47 | 100 | 30 |
| Aston Villa | 2015/16 | -49 | 27 | 76 | 17 |
| Norwich City | 2019/20 | -49 | 26 | 75 | 21 |
| Fulham | 2018/19 | -47 | 34 | 81 | 26 |
| Leicester City | 2024/25 | -47 | 33 | 80 | 25 |
The record is shared, so there is no single club alone at the bottom of this category.
How to read the record
Goal difference is the gap between goals scored and goals conceded across a full league season.
The official tables also show that a very poor goal difference often comes with a very low points total, but the two records are not identical. Derby County matched the worst goal difference and also hold the lowest points total, while Sheffield United shared the goal-difference record without setting the points record.
Fixture length matters when seasons are compared. The first three Premier League seasons, from 1992/93 to 1994/95, had 42 matches per club, and every season since 1995/96 has had 38. Ipswich Town and Swindon Town set their figures in 42-match seasons.
Related low marks in Premier League history
Here are the other single-season records most closely linked to this one.
| Category | Club | Season | Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worst goal difference | Derby County | 2007/08 | -69 |
| Worst goal difference | Sheffield United | 2023/24 | -69 |
| Fewest points | Derby County | 2007/08 | 11 |
| Second-fewest points | Southampton | 2024/25 | 12 |
| Third-fewest points | Sunderland | 2005/06 | 15 |
| Most goals conceded | Sheffield United | 2023/24 | 104 |
FAQ
Which club has the worst goal difference in a Premier League season?
It is a shared record rather than a solo one. Derby County in 2007/08 and Sheffield United in 2023/24 both finished on -69.
What is the lowest points total in a Premier League season?
The lowest total is 11 points, set by Derby County in 2007/08. Southampton finished on 12 in 2024/25, and Sunderland finished on 15 in 2005/06.
Which team conceded the most goals in a Premier League season?
Sheffield United conceded 104 goals in 2023/24, the highest total in a Premier League season. That came in the same season in which the club matched the worst goal-difference record.