Bad reputation: The 10 most hated Premier League clubs in 2024/25

Football is a tribal game, with fans obsessing over their own team and holding, at the very least, some resentment towards the rest. There are some teams, however, that draw genuine hatred from opposition fans.

The Premier League is known for its fierce competition and passionate fanbases, but some clubs evoke more negative emotions than others. Whether it's due to their financial practices, controversial ownership, or historical rivalries, these clubs are often at the center of fan debates. Here's a countdown of the ten most hated Premier League clubs in 2024, based on a Sky Sports survey.

Perhaps a softer dislike, Brighton has grown into a solid Premier League side, but their rise has also brought some disdain. Their intense rivalry with Crystal Palace, often referred to as the "M23 derby," adds to the animosity. Brighton's well-run operations and recent success have sometimes been viewed with envy, especially by clubs struggling to compete.

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West Ham United's relocation to the London Stadium and the perceived entitlement of their fanbase have made them unpopular among rival supporters. Once a hotbed for hooliganism, West Ham fans today are generally a lot less aggressive, but they still manage to annoy rivals with their 'arrogance' despite a lack of on-field success.

Aston Villa may not always be at the forefront of Premier League conversations, but they've certainly attracted their fair share of animosity. The club's passionate fanbase and their long-standing rivalry with Birmingham City have contributed to this. In recent years, this fanbase has been among the most aggressive in the competition, and has been involved in a number of violent, public brawls on game day.

Once likable losers, Newcastle United's rise to the upper echelons has changed not only their status in the Prem, but also how they are perceived by fans. The main reason for this is that they were bought out by a controversial Saudi-led consortium, which many see as 'sportswashing'. There's also the fact that their success has only really come off the back of a lot of money getting thrown at the club. Despite this, the Toon Army remains fiercely loyal, adding a little more fuel to the fire.

Tottenham Hotspur has a fanbase that is wildly confident despite not really having the trophy cabinet to back it up, often rubbing rival supporters the wrong way. Their intense rivalry with Arsenal and the club's self-perception as a major force in football contribute to their place on this list.

Liverpool's resurgence under Jürgen Klopp brought them back to the top of English football, but it has also reignited rivalries and resentment, particularly with Manchester United – easily one of the fiercest rivalries in sport. One of the most passionate – some say loudest – fan bases in the game, Liverpool has always found itself drawing the ire of every other fan. Now under Arne Slot, the Merseyside club faces a more uncertain 2024, so it is perhaps a little more quiet than usual.

Arsenal are once again a top-four team, and their fans are loving it. This of course follows a period where the north London side was struggling on the pitch and apparently at a board level. Despite this, fans of the north London club remained buoyed by the fact they once had one of the best teams of all time, and weren't afraid to tell you about it when they were in the doldrums. Now back on top, their confidence is perhaps a little more justified, but no less grating to rivals.

Another club accused of buying their way to the top, Chelsea's rise to prominence under Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich ruffled a lot of feathers. Their heavy spending and role in the European Super League fiasco have solidified their place as one of the most hated clubs in England. Although the club under Todd Boehly has seen less impressive on-field results, the spending is still there, and it seems the general air around the club remains the same for fans.

Football fans have long memories it seems and the ire for the Red Devils cannot be underestimated. There are a lot of reasons why fans dislike Man U so much, though, and it largely stems from their decades of dominance and the arrogance of their fans that got used to life at the top. Although they find themselves at their worst, with their eighth-place table finish last season being seen as a catastrophic implosion, nobody outside of their own fans seems to be looking forward to them returning to their title winning ways.  

Feelings towards Man City err between hatred and apathy, with many fans not feeling anything when a club that has seemingly bought it's success on dodgy dealings wins another trophy. This has never been more apparent than neutral fans supporting City over Arsenal or Liverpool as their success means so little. Their recent on-pitch collapses have brought joy to millions as their failure finally elicits some emotion.  There is a deep-seated dislike for City that is hard to quantify.

Of course, everyone is going to have their own individual lists – how does yours look?

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