The Premier League turns 34 years old this season, and in all that time only six clubs have never once packed their bags and dropped into the Championship. Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur form that select group — but one of them is staring down the barrel of history on the final day of the season.

The six ever-presents

When the Premier League kicked off in August 1992, 22 clubs took part. Over three decades of promotion, relegation and financial upheaval, the vast majority of those founding members have spent at least one season outside the top flight. Not these six. Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United have combined league titles, European trophies and generational squads to keep themselves comfortably clear of the drop zone. Tottenham have contributed rather less silverware to that CV, but they have remained in the division throughout — until now that record is under very real threat.

Spurs in the danger zone

Heading into the final weekend, Tottenham sit 17th. They face a home fixture against Everton — one of their fellow ever-present clubs — at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the equation is straightforward: win and they are mathematically safe. A draw would leave the market nervous but would almost certainly be enough, given that West Ham's goal difference is significantly worse than Spurs'. The danger scenario is a Spurs defeat combined with a West Ham victory at home to Leeds, which would see Nuno Espirito Santo's side leapfrog them on the final afternoon.

The irony is not lost on anyone. Tottenham arrived in this campaign as Champions League participants — thanks to Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton finishing in the top four — and they are also the current Europa League holders. A club competing at the highest level of European football for much of the season now needs a result to avoid the second tier. That is quite the collapse in fortunes.

Aston Villa: the last founding member to go down

For context on how rare this kind of fall from grace is among the original clubs, Aston Villa were the last founding Premier League member to suffer their first-ever relegation from the division. That came at the end of the 2015-16 season, a campaign that saw them collect just 17 points. Villa have since returned to the top flight and, rather remarkably, have just been crowned Europa League champions — so there is life after the drop, even if the wounds take years to heal.

What it would mean for Spurs

Should Spurs go down, they would join a long list of clubs whose Premier League ever-present status eventually ended. The record stood for 33 years. Losing it now, in a season that began with European nights under the lights, would represent one of the more extraordinary single-season collapses the division has seen.

The noises out of N17 suggest the squad knows exactly what is at stake. A sold-out home crowd will be there to either witness history of the best or worst kind. Five clubs would remain in that exclusive never-relegated group. Whether Tottenham join them on Sunday afternoon is still, just about, in their own hands.

  • Never relegated from the Premier League: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur (as of the penultimate round of fixtures).
  • Last founding member to be relegated for the first time: Aston Villa, end of 2015-16.
  • Spurs' final-day scenario: A win guarantees safety; a draw almost certainly does; a defeat combined with a West Ham win would see them go down.

Frequently asked

Which clubs have never been relegated from the Premier League?
As of the 2024-25 season, six clubs have never been relegated from the Premier League: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs' place in that group depends on their final-day result.
Can Tottenham still be relegated this season?
Yes. Spurs are 17th going into the final day. They must avoid defeat at home to Everton, or hope West Ham fail to beat Leeds, to guarantee their Premier League survival.
Which was the last original Premier League club to be relegated for the first time?
Aston Villa were the last founding member to suffer their first-ever Premier League relegation, dropping out of the division at the end of the 2015-16 season.