Chelsea played their inaugural league fixture as part of the Football League Second Division on 2 September 1905 against Stockport County.[6] Since that game they have faced eighty different sides in league football with their most regular opponent having been Arsenal, whom they have played on 175 occasions since their first meeting on 9 November 1907.[7] They met their most recent different league opponent, Wigan Athletic, for the first time in the 2005–06 FA Premier League season.[8] The club has won 67 of their league matches against Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur which represents the most Chelsea have won against any club.[9][10] Chelsea have drawn more matches with Manchester United than with any other club, with 54.[11] The side has lost more league games to Liverpool than to any other club, having been defeated by them 72 times in 163 encounters.[12]
All-time league record
Statistics correct as of match played on 26 December 2024.
Colour key
Positive balance (more wins in total matches)
Neutral balance (equal W/L ratio in total matches)
For the sake of simplicity, present-day names are used throughout: for example, results against Small Heath, Woolwich Arsenal and The Wednesday are integrated into the records against Birmingham City, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday, respectively.