When you think of the highest scoring games in EPL history, what image flashes through your mind? Eleven-goal thrillers, last-minute equalizers, defensive collapses, or sheer attacking genius? At KorKick, we relish those rare, chaotic spectacles that remind us why we love football: anything can happen. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the craziest goal-fests the Premier League has ever seen, explore context, trends, and unforgettable moments, and end with what these matches teach us about the spirit of the game.
What Defines a “Highest Scoring Game”
Before we list the matches, let’s set definitions. In this context:
- A “highest scoring game” means a match with a very high total of combined goals (both teams).
- We pay special attention to matches with 10 or more goals, although many of the wildest showdowns hover around 9 goals too.
- We also note biggest winning margins (e.g. 9–0), but these are a slightly different beast — dominance rather than mutual goal-fest.
In short: top-tier goal celebrations and heartbreak mixed together.
The Ultimate Record: Portsmouth 7–4 Reading
There’s only one game that stands above all others when it comes to sheer goal volume in Premier League history: Portsmouth 7–4 Reading on 29 September 2007 at Fratton Park. This 11-goal thriller remains the single highest scoring match ever recorded in the league.
Match Highlights
- Portsmouth took an early lead through Benjani (6′), then extended it to 2–0 (37′), before Reading clawed back via Hunt (45′).
- The drama escalated: Reading equalized (via Kitson 48′), then surged ahead.
- But Portsmouth fired back: Benjani completed a hat-trick (70′), Hreiðarsson (55′), Kranjčar (75′), Ingimarsson own goal (81′), and Muntari (90+2′) sealed it.
- The match also shares the record for most goal scorers in one match — nine different players found the net.
In short, it had everything: comebacks, counterattacks, nerves, and a frantic finale.
Other Legendary Goal-Fests with 10+ Goals
That 7–4 game is unique, but there have been several ten-goal affairs. Below are some of the standout ones:
| Goals | Fixture | Date | Notes |
| 10 | Tottenham 6–4 Reading | 29 December 2007 | Dimitar Berbatov scored four goals; Reading were also in the 7–4 defeat earlier that season |
| 10 | Tottenham 9–1 Wigan Athletic | 22 November 2009 | Spurs ran riot; a massive blowout with Defoe starring |
| 10 | Manchester United 8–2 Arsenal | 28 August 2011 | A statement of power from United — Welbeck, Rooney, Nani all scored |
| 10 | Arsenal 7–3 Newcastle United | 29 December 2012 | High-octane attacking play, lots of end-to-end action |
These games are rarer than you think. The 11-goal record remains unique; even among the most thrilling matches, 10-goal affairs are special exceptions.
Notable 9-Goal Matches & Big Margins
Because “highest scoring” often brings up matches in the high-eights or nines, we shouldn’t ignore those. Some of the most dramatic and memorable 9-goal games include:
- Manchester United 9–0 Ipswich Town (4 March 1995) — one of the biggest margins ever.
- Tottenham 9–1 Wigan as above (2009) — part goal feast, part blowout.
- Arsenal 4–5 Tottenham, West Brom 5–5 Manchester United, Norwich 4–5 Southampton — agonizing for defenders, exhilarating for neutrals.
- Southampton 0–9 Leicester City (25 October 2019) — Leicester matched Man United’s 9–0 feat; that remains one of the most shocking scorelines.
In addition to goal volume, some of these matches represent colossal failures in defense, tactical collapses, or sheer attacking audacity.
Why These Games Matter
1. Unpredictability and drama
These matches embody football’s essence: you can’t script them. Even a comfortable lead vanishes, momentum swings, emotions boil over.
2. Tactical implications and vulnerabilities
High-scoring games often originate from tactical gambles — e.g. pushing fullbacks forward, leaving space at the back, high pressing gone wrong. Defending teams must pay the price.
3. Player glory and nightmare
These fixtures produce unlikely heroes and infamous blunders. A striker may bag a hat-trick, defenders may become scapegoats, goalkeepers tortured by their own fans.
4. Fan memory and lore
Decades later, fans still talk about these matches. They become part of club mythology, referenced when football feels stale again.
Trends & Patterns Among the Highest Scoring Matches
When we look across decades, a few trends emerge:
- Reading appears often: They lost 7–4 and 6–4 in big scoring affairs in the 2007–08 season.
- Crazy flurries in the second half: Many matches saw goals flood in during the last 20–30 minutes, including injury time.
- Big teams rarely win by enormous margins against strong defenses: the 9–0 scorelines are exceptions, not norms.
- Modern defensive focus makes them rarer: As analytics, pressing systems, and defensive organization improved, 10+ goal games became less frequent.
Top 10 Highest Scoring Games in EPL History
Here’s a curated list of the most goal-laden fixtures the Premier League has seen, ranked by total goals:
- Portsmouth 7–4 Reading (2007) — 11 goals
- Tottenham 6–4 Reading (2007) — 10 goals
- Tottenham 9–1 Wigan (2009) — 10 goals
- Manchester United 8–2 Arsenal (2011) — 10 goals
- Arsenal 7–3 Newcastle (2012) — 10 goals
- Tottenham 4–5 Arsenal (2004) — 9 goals
- West Brom 5–5 Manchester United (2013) — 10 goals total though 5–5 draw
- Norwich 4–5 Southampton (1994) — 9 goals
- Manchester United 9–0 Ipswich (1995) — 9 goals (huge margin)
- Southampton 0–9 Leicester City (2019) — 9 goals (big margin)
Records Around These Matches
- Biggest winning margin in the EPL: 9–0.
- Most goals in one half: Tottenham once scored 8 goals in a half in their 9–1 demolition of Wigan.
- Most different goal scorers in one match: Nine (in the Portsmouth 7–4 Reading match).
- Hat-trick performances: Rare in these matches, but standout when they happen, especially under pressure.
What About Recent Seasons?
While we haven’t seen an 11-goal spectacle since 2007, the Premier League continues to produce wild swings and high-scoring games. For instance:
- Liverpool’s 9–0 win over Bournemouth (27 August 2022) matched the largest margin and lit up the season.
- Manchester City and United have recently engaged in 6–3 thrillers and other high-scoring duels, reinforcing that attacking football still rules.
However, no match in the modern era has seriously threatened the 11-goal peak. Defensive discipline, fitness, rotation, and game management all play bigger roles now.
Lessons From the Wildest Matches
- Never lead by complacency: Even a 3–1 or 4–2 lead isn’t safe when momentum turns.
- Attackers live for these days: Celebrated names, remember these are the games where strikers become legends.
- Managers are judged in extremes: Tactical calls either elevate or ruin you.
- For fans, social media lights up: The memes, the banter, the “unbelievable” exclamations — these matches go viral, living forever online.
Final Thoughts
Highest scoring games in EPL history are more than just statistics — they’re pure emotional theater, where defenses abandon caution, midfielders gamble, and strikers strike with abandon. They give us memories of last-minute goals, wild comebacks, and the feeling that anything was possible.
If you’ve enjoyed this deep dive, KorKick encourages you to explore our match-by-match analysis, player spotlights, or posts on defensive strategies. And next time someone asks you about the highest scoring games in EPL history, you’ll have a story — not just a stat — to tell.
