The FA Group Defend — previously the Charity Defend — is the curtain-raiser of the top-flight English soccer season. The match is contested between final season’s Premier League champions and FA Cup winners. If a group wins each the FA Cup and the Premier League title, the league championship runner-up takes the second spot.
Final yr, Manchester Metropolis received the Premier League title whereas Manchester United stood on the highest step within the FA Cup, beating Metropolis within the last. Earlier than the 2 groups lock horns for the primary aggressive match on the English calendar on Saturday, August 10, let’s check out essentially the most profitable groups within the competitors’s historical past.
Learn on to take a look at the 5 Premier League golf equipment which have received essentially the most FA Group Defend titles.
#5 Tottenham Hotspur: 7 Wins
With seven FA Group Defend wins to its title, Tottenham Hotspur is the fifth-most profitable group within the competitors’s historical past. The Lilywhites have competed in a complete of 9 Shields / Charity Cups, dropping solely twice.
Spurs haven’t received the Premier League title or the FA Cup since 1992. Their final look got here within the competitors in 1991, which noticed them share the trophy with Arsenal after the 2 London groups performed out a goalless draw. Tottenham’s final defeat, in the meantime, got here in opposition to Liverpool in 1982. The Reds claimed a 1-0 victory in that recreation.
#4 Everton: 9 Wins
In fourth place, we’ve got one of many proudest golf equipment in English soccer, Everton. The Merseyside outfit has been fairly good within the FA Group Defend, successful 9 instances in solely 11 participations.
Everton’s final Charity Defend win got here in 1995. They beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0 on the iconic Wembley Stadium. The Toffees’ final defeat arrived in opposition to bitterest rivals Liverpool in 1966. The Reds beat the Blues 1-0 at Goodison Park.
#3 Liverpool: 16 Wins
Nineteen-time English champions Liverpool are the third-most profitable facet in FA Group Defend historical past. Of the 24 matches they’ve performed in, the Reds have received 16 and misplaced eight.
The Mereseysiders emerged victorious of their last FA Group Defend look in 2022. Then Jurgen Klopp’s facet claimed an emphatic 3-1 victory over Manchester Metropolis at Wembley Stadium. Their final defeat got here to Arsenal in 2020. The Gunners received on penalties after the sport completed 1-1 on the finish of 90 minutes.
#2 Arsenal: 17 Wins
Regardless of not successful the Premier League for the reason that 2003-04 season, Arsenal has managed to outperform all however one group within the FA Group Defend. Through the years, the Gunners have competed in 24 Group Shields, successful 17 and dropping seven.
The North London facet emerged victorious within the 2023 FA Group Defend, beating Manchester Metropolis 4-1 on penalties (1-1 after 90 minutes). The Gunners, in the meantime, suffered their final Defend defeat in 2005 to London rivals Chelsea. The Pensioners bagged a 2-1 victory within the Wembley conflict.
#1 Manchester United: 21 Wins
Significantly forward of the curve, Manchester United is essentially the most profitable group within the historical past of the FA Group Defend. Because the event’s inception in 1908, the Pink Devils have competed in 30 matches, racking up 21 victories.
Their final victory got here in opposition to Leicester Metropolis in 2016. Man Utd claimed a 2-1 victory over the Foxes at Wembley Stadium. United’s final defeat, in the meantime, was in opposition to Chelsea in 2009. The Blues completed 2-2 on the finish of 90 minutes, with the Londoners prevailing on penalties, claiming a 4-1 win.
