Liverpool are closing in on the longest Premier League winning run… how does their streak compare?

Liverpool will smash yet another Premier League record this weekend if they pick up three points against relegation-threatened Watford at Vicarage Road.

Victory for Jurgen Klopp’s men would be their nineteenth in a row, giving them the longest winning streak in the division’s 28-year history.

The Reds equalled Manchester City‘s 18-game run from the 2017-18 season with a dramatic 3-2 win over West Ham on Monday night – a result which sent them 22 points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side. 

Liverpool are just one victory away from the Premier League’s longest winning run ever

Mohamed Salah and Co have not dropped points since being held to a 1-1 draw by fierce rivals Manchester United back in October of last year. 

Their first Premier League title now looks a certainty and more records are likely to be broken too, with City’s 100-point total from a couple of seasons ago now well and truly in their sights.

But for now their focus remains on seeing off Nigel Pearson’s men to secure the most impressive run of wins ever. Here, Sportsmail takes a closer look at the previous five teams to have held that accolade. 

CHELSEA, 13 WINS, OCTOBER 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2016

The most unexpected winning streak on our list was put together by Chelsea back in 2016 when Antonio Conte’s men picked up maximum points from 13 games.

The Italian had endured an up-and-down start to his time at Stamford Bridge, earning wins over West Ham, Watford and Burnley in his first three matches, before a draw with Swansea and defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal.

Questions were already being asked of the former Italy boss just six games into the new campaign, but then he switched to a 3-4-3 formation and everything changed.

Cesc Fabregas (centre) celebrates after scoring in a win over Sunderland in December, 2016

The Blues looked like a different side for the rest of the season and their 13-game winning run – which included victories over Manchester United, City and Tottenham – catapulted them to the top of the table.

Their incredible form came to an end with a 2-0 defeat against fierce rivals Spurs on January 4, 2017, but it was not enough to derail their title tilt.

Fired by the goals of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, Chelsea dropped just nine more points all season to win their fifth Premier League crown.  

ARSENAL, 14 WINS, FEBRUARY 10 – AUGUST 18, 2002

Before Arsenal’s Invincibles came Arsene Wenger’s incredible Double-winning side of 2001-02.

Having drawn nine and lost three of their opening 25 games, the Gunners flicked a switch after a disappointing stalemate at home to Southampton in February 2002.

Thirteen straight wins – including a 2-1 triumph in the north London derby against Tottenham – followed, but they saved their best until the penultimate game of the season.

Sylvain Wiltord, Dennis Bergkamp and Freddie Ljungberg celebrate a goal in March, 2002

A 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, courtesy of Sylvain Wiltord’s strike, gave Wenger’s men the Premier League title and ensured the Red Devils finished the season trophyless.

Arsenal rounded off the season with a thrilling 4-3 win over Everton at Highbury before celebrating with the trophy, and then kicked off the 2002-03 campaign with three points at home to Birmingham to make it 14 in a row.

However, their streak was abruptly ended on only the second weekend of the new season when they salvaged a 2-2 draw late on against West Ham.

MANCHESTER CITY, 15 WINS, FEBRUARY 3 – AUGUST 10, 2019

Perhaps the most impressive – and important – winning run on our list came at the end of last season as Manchester City pipped Liverpool to the title.

Guardiola’s side were trailing the Reds by four points after losing 2-1 against Newcastle on January 29, but that defeat at St James’ Park would prove to be the last time they dropped points all season.

The likes of Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United were all brushed aside as City took advantage of Liverpool drawing four games during the run-in.

Manchester City celebrate with the Premier League trophy after their 14th win in a row

Vincent Kompany’s wonder-strike against Leicester gave them a crucial victory in their penultimate game of the season and ensured the title was in their hands going into the final day.

And despite going 1-0 down at Brighton, Sergio Aguero and Co bounced back to finish just a point ahead of Klopp’s men after their 14th straight win.

City racked up No 15 on the opening day of this season with a thumping 5-0 triumph of West Ham, before Tottenham – and a late VAR decision – ended their streak with a 2-2 draw at the Etihad. 

LIVERPOOL, 17 WINS, MARCH 10 – OCTOBER 20, 2019

After drawing four of six games between January 30 and March 3 of last year, Liverpool made sure the title race went to the final day of the season with their own brilliant run of form.

Having been held to a 0-0 draw by local rivals Everton at Goodison Park, Klopp’s men went on to win their final nine games of the season in style.

Tottenham and Chelsea were both seen off as the Reds stayed on top of the pile until City won their game in hand to move a point clear with a game to go.

Roberto Firmino rises highest to score Liverpool’s winner away at Chelsea last September

A victory over Wolves on the final day wasn’t enough for Liverpool, but they soon moved on from the disappointment of finishing second.

Having lifted the Champions League after a win over Spurs in Madrid, Klopp’s stars began the new season on fire, winning their first eight games in a row.

But after making it 17 straight victories by beating Leicester, their fine run came to an end at Old Trafford when United held them to a 1-1 draw on October 20. It remains the only game they have dropped points in all season. 

MANCHESTER CITY, 18 WINS, AUGUST 26 – DECEMBER 27, 2017 

Liverpool go into Saturday’s game at Watford looking to go one better than City’s amazing run from the start of the 2017-18 season.

Having finished third in Guardiola’s first season in charge, they were a different animal in his second after beginning with a 2-0 win away at Brighton.

A topsy-turvy 1-1 draw at home to Everton, in which they saw two penalties saved, was not an ideal way to kick off the campaign at the Etihad, but they soon recovered.

Manchester City managed 18 straight victories from August 26 to December 27, 2017

Eighteen straight victories followed, with the highlight being a 5-0 thrashing of Liverpool on September 9.

Watford were hit for six and Stoke for seven as City dominated the division and kept extending their lead at the top of the table.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham were also defeated before a surprising 0-0 draw away at Crystal Palace saw their run come to an end on New Year’s Eve, 2017. 

Two more draws and two defeats in the second half of the season didn’t affect the title race as they romped home, finishing 19 points ahead of rivals United in second.