Lowest Scoring Premier League Seasons in History

Not every Premier League season is a goal-fest. While the modern era has produced record hauls, some campaigns were defined by shut-outs, low blocks, and 1-0 grinds. Here are the lowest scoring Premier League seasons in history, ranked by goals per match.

TL;DR: The 2006-07 season is the lowest scoring in Premier League history, with just 2.45 goals per game.

What Counts as a Low-Scoring Season?

Goals per match is the fairest measure, because the Premier League has used 20 clubs since 1995-96. A season's total of 380 matches makes comparisons straightforward, so we can line up eras directly against each other.

The league average has generally hovered between 2.5 and 2.9 goals a game. Anything dipping near 2.4 signals a year of cautious, defence-first football.

The Leanest Seasons Ranked

• 2006-07 — 2.45 goals per match. The standout low-scoring campaign. Manchester United won the title with 380 matches producing just 931 goals, and Didier Drogba topped the charts with only 20. The era of packed midfields and reactive football was in full swing.
• 2015-16 — 2.70 goals per match. Leicester City's fairytale title was built on organisation and counter-attacks. The league managed 1,026 goals, yet no player reached 30.

For context, the 2022-23 season exploded with 1,084 goals at 2.85 per game, and Erling Haaland alone scored 36. That contrast shows how much the game's attacking output has grown.

Why the Low Years Happened

Tactical caution is the main driver. In 2006-07, many sides used two holding midfielders and squeezed space between the lines, prioritising safety over risk. Relegation-threatened clubs also parked the bus to survive against stronger teams.

How the Premier League Compares

Even the leanest Premier League season is far from dull. The 2006-07 title race still went to the final weeks, with entertainment coming from tension rather than goal volume. Football's data revolution — led by tools like Opta — now tracks expected goals, showing chance quality matters as much as quantity. Fans still argue whether low-scoring seasons are boring or brilliant, but defenders insist a hard-fought clean sheet is a thing of beauty.