Fans watching Manchester City’s title-winning 2018/19 side had the most enjoyable Premier League season ever, according to a study from the spread betting experts Spreadex.

By calculating the number of Leading Minutes for each and every side in each and every Premier League season, Spreadex can reveal that Pep Guardiola’s City were ahead for a total of 2096 minutes in 19/20. That meant they led for an average of 55.16 minutes per game – more than any side in any other Premier League season.

City fans have actually been spoilt of late – 3 of the top 4 places are taken up by the blue half of Manchester, with last season’s champions joined by the title winners of 2013/14 and 2017/18.

In stark contrast, poor Aston Villa fans will have being watching the club through their fingers back in 2015/16. Not only did they finish in 20th place, but they were in the lead in their matches for a mere 243 minutes, or an average of just 6.39 minutes per game – that’s the worst performance in the history of the rebranded top flight.

But who else rounds out the top 10 most and least enjoyable Premier League seasons for fans? Take a look below to find out!

Top 10 Most Enjoyable Premier League Seasons for Fans

1. Manchester City 2018/19 – 2096 leading minutes
By this metric, the defending champions – at the time of writing – are easily the most dominant in the Premier League history, leading for a total of 2096 minutes across 2018/19. That’s a whopping 153 minutes ahead of the next team on this list.

2. Blackburn 1994/95 – 1943 minutes
In a season that saw Alan Shearer score 34 Premier League goals – the joint highest single-season tally ever – the 94/95 title-winning Blackburn side led in their fixtures for a total of 1943 minutes.

3. Manchester City 2013/14 – 1909 minutes
While not quite as impressive as his successor’s achievement, Manuel Pellegrini’s champions still dominated in 2013/14, leading for a total of 1909 minutes.

4. Manchester City 2017/18 – 1822 minutes
Though they may have won the league by 19 points compared to their single point triumph a season later, City’s 2017/18 side still led for 274 minutes fewer than in 18/19.

5. Liverpool 2013/14 – 1806 minutes
As ever, Liverpool are the highest ranked team on this list not to actually win the title in the season in question. Yet even Gerard’s infamous slip couldn’t prevent the Reds from leading for 1806 minutes in 2013/14.

6. Manchester United 2011/12 – 1751 minutes
Fergie’s 2011/12 runners-up make this list ahead of that season’s champions Man City, leading for a total of 1751 minutes. Representative, perhaps, of the unique sequence of events that won City their first title.

7. Blackburn 1993/94 – 1720 minutes
Perhaps the single most surprising entry in the top 10, the Blackburn side that finished 8 points adrift of Man United sit once place ahead of the champs, with a leading minutes total of 1720.

8. Manchester United 1993/94 – 1703 minutes
Only 17 minutes behind the Rovers, Alex Ferguson’s 2nd Premier League title-winning side managed to lead their fixtures for a total of 1703 minutes.

9. Arsenal 2003/04 – 1688 minutes
Up until now a controversial absentee from almost all of Spreadex’s studies, the Invincibles finally make a top 10, leading for 1688 minutes during that remarkable season.

10. Liverpool 2018/19 – 1684 minutes
We close out the top 10 where we started it – in 2018/19. And though only one point separated the 2 sides by the season’s end, Liverpool led for 412 fewer minutes than Man City.

Top 10 Least Enjoyable Premier League Seasons for Fans

1. Aston Villa 2015/16 – 243 leading minutes
Pity Villa fans in 2015/16. The ignominy of relegation was compounded by the fact they only got to witness their side lead for a miserly 243 minutes across the entire season.

2. Derby County 2007/08 – 245 minutes
The Rams’ last stint in the top flight wasn’t a pleasurable experience for the club’s fans. In 2007/08 Derby were in the lead for just 245 minutes in total.

3. Sunderland 2016/17 – 266 minutes
Finishing in 20th place, Sunderland’s Premier League exit in 2016/17 was a morose affair, with the Black Cats in front for a mere 266 minutes across the season.

4. QPR 2012/13 – 274 minutes
Another side that was relegated in the season in question, the QPR side of 2012/13 were in front for 274 minutes.

5. Wolves 2011/12 – 287 minutes
In their 20th place finish in 2011/12 Wolves, led first by Mick McCarthy and then Terry Connor, were ahead of their opponents for 287 minutes in total.

6. Huddersfield 2018/19 – 334 minutes
The Terriers’ 2nd season in the top flight was one to forget, with the club picking up a paltry 16 points. They did, however, lead for 334 minutes, which is better than some sides with far better points-hauls.

7. Portsmouth 2009/10 – 355 minutes
It’s been a decade since Portsmouth were in the top flight. Their last appearance saw them in front for a total of 355 minutes.

8. West Brom 2008/09 – 363 minutes
Tony Mowbray’s relegated 2008/09 Baggies totalled 363 minutes leading over their opponents as they finished in 20th place.

9. Watford 1999/2000 – 366 minutes
At the turn of the century Watford, led by Graham Taylor, finished plum bottom of the league table, with a total of 366 leading minutes.

10. Swansea 2017/18 – 370 minutes
The only side on this list not to finish in 20th place, the nevertheless relegated Swans managed just 370 minutes in the lead in 2017/18.