Chelsea's rearguard claims record

Chelsea's stubborn defensive lines conceded a mere total of 15 goals in the 38 Premier League matches last season - an average of 0.39 per game.

The healthy figures saw the Londoners establishing a modern era record, bettering the 16 conceded by Liverpool (in 42 matches) in 1978-79.

Throughout the past campaign, the champions claimed a staggering total of 25 clean sheets. Liverpool put the shutters down on a significant 28 occasions in their record season when they suffered 16 goals.

Since the start of the 1990s, it was the first time that Chelsea had topped the classification for goals against.

Only three clubs have featured in both top ten charts - for and against - in 2004-05. These are Arsenal, Chelsea and Wigan Athletic.

Best defensive records

1989-90 Bristol Rovers 0.76
1990-91 Arsenal 0.47
1991-92 Manchester Utd 0.78
1992-93 Stoke City 0.74
1993-94 Arsenal 0.67
1994-95 Manchester Utd 0.67
1995-96 Gillingham 0.43
1996-97 Bury 0.83

1997-98 Manchester Utd 0.68
1998-99 Arsenal 0.45
1999-00 Swansea 0.65
2000-01 Fulham 0.69
2001-02 Plymouth 0.61
2002-03 Wigan Athletic 0.54
2003-04 Arsenal 0.68
2004-05 Chelsea 0.39