Playing for 90
Fansided

30 Greatest Teams in Premier League History

By Benjamin Taylor

Who will lift this trophy in May and join these 30 teams among the greatest ever to compete in the English Premier League? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Who will lift this trophy in May and join these 30 teams among the greatest ever to compete in the English Premier League? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 31
Next

30. Everton, 2004-05

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: Everton team-mates celebrate after Tim Cahill (far left, partly obscured) scores the winning goal during the Barclays Premiership match between Portsmouth and Everton on September 26, 2004 at Fratton Park in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: Everton team-mates celebrate after Tim Cahill (far left, partly obscured) scores the winning goal during the Barclays Premiership match between Portsmouth and Everton on September 26, 2004 at Fratton Park in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Starting XI: N. Martyn (GK); T. Hibbert, J. Yobo, D. Weir, G. Naysmith; L. Osman, T. Cahill, T. Gravesen, K. Kilbane; J. Beattie, J. McFadden.

David Moyes’ side had finished 17th the previous season and, despite this being a serious underachievement given the quality of players on their books, were in dire need of improvements to their squad heading into the new season.

Instead, they lost their brightest young talent (and top scorer from the previous season), Wayne Rooney, to Manchester United and failed to replace him until January’s acquisition of James Beattie. Despite this, they enjoyed an excellent season, finishing 4th and qualifying for the Champions League. A physical back four, featuring notorious hot-head Tony Hibbert and club captain David Weir, gave the team vital defensive stability. 2004-05 also saw the emergence of what would become a famous and highly successful midfield pairing between Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta, who would step in for Thomas Gravesen following the Dane’s transfer to Real Madrid the following summer.

However, Everton subsequently failed to make it past the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, and have never since returned to the heady heights of the top four.

Next: No. 29

Home/Premier League