The Premier League has become less competitive since Leicester City’s fairytale title win in 2015-16. The big six clubs are determined to stop such a shock from happening again.
Financial power and collusion among the elite have created a growing divide. Manchester City have won six of the last seven titles, with Liverpool the only other champion in that period.
The Big Six’s Financial Dominance
Since Leicester’s triumph, the Premier League’s wealthiest clubs have tightened their grip. The so-called “Big Six” – Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Tottenham – have used their financial muscle to dominate.
Revenue from broadcasting deals has been a major battleground. In 2018, the Premier League changed how overseas TV money was split, favouring the bigger clubs. This move widened the financial gap, making it harder for smaller clubs to compete.
The Athletic reported in 2020 how the Big Six openly colluded during a league meeting. They huddled together to discuss a lucrative Chinese broadcast deal, excluding the other 14 clubs. This brazen act confirmed the growing divide in English soccer.
How Manchester City and Liverpool Have Led the Way
Manchester City’s dominance since 2017-18 has been relentless. Pep Guardiola’s side have won six of the last seven titles, setting new standards in consistency. Their financial backing from Abu Dhabi has allowed them to build a squad unmatched in depth.
Liverpool (1.01) has been the only Premier League club to break City’s stranglehold, winning the league in 2019-20. Under Jurgen Klopp previously and Arne Slot now, they have combined smart recruitment with heavy investment. Their success, however, has not stopped the financial gap between big and small from growing.
The top clubs now operate in a different financial stratosphere. Their ability to spend big on transfers and wages makes it nearly impossible for smaller clubs to challenge.
The Big Six’s Tactics to Maintain Control
The elite clubs have pushed for changes that benefit them most. “Project Big Picture” in 2020 was a clear power grab. It proposed giving the biggest clubs more voting rights and a larger share of TV revenue.
Though the plan was rejected, the intent was clear. The Big Six want to secure their financial future at the expense of competition. They argue their global appeal drives revenue, so they deserve a bigger cut.
Smaller clubs see this as greed. They believe the Premier League’s success comes from its unpredictability. Without a level playing field, the league risks becoming a closed shop.
The Fear of Another Leicester
Leicester’s 2016 title win was a wake-up call for the elite. Their triumph exposed flaws in the financial model that the big clubs thought guaranteed success. Since then, the Big Six have worked to eliminate such risks. They even attempted in 2021 to create streams of revenue closed off to other clubs through a European Super League – a project which failed amid widespread fan anger.
Increased revenue shares, inflated transfer fees, and wage bills have made it harder for outsiders to compete. Even clubs like Everton and Aston Villa, with wealthy owners, struggle to break into the top six consistently.
The Big Six’s dominance is now almost institutionalised. Without major changes, another Leicester-style fairytale seems unlikely.
What the Future Holds
The Big Six will continue pushing for more control. Whether through revised revenue splits or changes to league governance, their goal is clear: protect their status.
Smaller clubs must fight to maintain competitiveness.
If the financial gap keeps growing, the Premier League could lose what makes it special. It is likely that clubs such as Newcastle United may be co-opted into the traditional ‘Big Six’ as they grow in stature, but the structure of financially powerful clubs pushing for their interests against those of clubs lower down the soccer pyramid is unlikely to change.
Clubs in the big six are not always the top six in the Premier League standings, but they are the only clubs who have realistic chances of competing for silverware regularly as of now, which is reflected in soccer betting odds.
For now, the big clubs remain in charge. And unless something changes, Leicester’s miracle will remain a one-off.
