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Who’s your club’s bogey team? Every PL team’s least favourite opponents

Every team has an opponent they traditionally struggle against more than most – and for more than half the teams in the Premier League that opponent is Arsenal or Manchester United.

Player turnover is so high in the modern era that most squads look dramatically different to even a couple of years ago. And with managers – and as a result ways of playing – also changing on a regular basis, there really is no logical reason why one team should struggle against one opponent in particular.

The reality, however, is that some clubs really do seem to have hoodoos over others. More often than not it’s easily explainable – it’s hardly surprising that Bournemouth have lost most of their games against Arsenal, for example – but Watford fans could be forgiven for thinking wider forces come into play when they face Everton.

Research shows the Hornets have lost 76% of their 25 previous games against the Toffees, remarkably including last month when they led 2-0 at Goodison Park but ending up losing 3-2.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have lost 40% of their fixtures against Huddersfield Town – a higher percentage than against any other opponent – but the last of those defeats came back in 1959. The Reds have since won eight and drawn three of the 11 clashes, proving no matter how much of a hold you may think a club has over yours, things can change.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have no real bogey team. While they have their highest loss rate of 36% against Arsenal, they’ve also beaten the Gunners more than any other team currently in the Premier League, winning 96 of their 225 meetings.

Here’s a list of every club’s bogey teams in the Premier League.

Arsenal
Most losses vs Manchester United (96)
Highest loss rate vs Watford (44%)

AFC Bournemouth
Most losses vs Watford (40)
Highest loss rate vs Arsenal (83%)

Brighton & Hove Albion
Most losses vs AFC Bournemouth (41)
Highest loss rate vs Arsenal/Chelsea (75%)

• • • • 

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• • • • 

Burnley
Most losses vs Manchester United (59)
Highest loss rate vs Manchester United (48%)

Chelsea
Most losses vs Liverpool (77)
Highest loss rate vs Liverpool (43%)

Crystal Palace
Most losses vs Southampton (45)
Highest loss rate vs Manchester United (67%)

Everton
Most losses vs Liverpool (117)
Highest loss rate vs Arsenal (50%)

Huddersfield Town
Most losses vs Arsenal (33)
Highest loss rate vs Burnley (46%)

Leicester City
Most losses vs Arsenal (65)
Highest loss rate vs Manchester United (51%)

Liverpool
Most losses vs Manchester United (87)
Highest loss rate vs Huddersfield Town (40%)

Manchester City
Most losses vs Liverpool (101)
Highest loss rate vs Arsenal (50%)

Manchester United
Most losses vs Arsenal (82)
Highest loss rate vs Arsenal (36%)

Newcastle United
Most losses vs Manchester United (84)
Highest loss rate vs AFC Bournemouth (56%)

• • • •

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Southampton
Most losses vs Tottenham Hotspur (79)
Highest loss rate vs Manchester United (52%)

Stoke City
Most losses vs Liverpool (76)
Highest loss rate vs Arsenal (53%)

Swansea City
Most losses vs Southampton (34)
Highest loss rate vs Manchester City (67%)

Tottenham Hotspur
Most losses vs Manchester United (89)
Highest loss rate vs Manchester United (48%)

Watford
Most losses vs Crystal Palace (48)
Highest loss rate vs Everton (76%)

West Bromwich Albion
Most losses vs Arsenal (71)
Highest loss rate vs Arsenal (51%)

West Ham United
Most losses vs Tottenham Hotspur (94)
Highest loss rate vs Huddersfield Town (55%)


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