10 Games with the Most Red Cards in Premier League History [Ranked]

The Premier League’s reputation as one of the most competitive leagues in world football is built on countless factors, with drama being a key one. Every week, matches capture the world’s attention, often due to high stakes that can push players to the edge.

The pressure can be overwhelming, sometimes leading to moments of tension or even violence—situations every coach fears.

Throughout the history of English football's top tier, there have been plenty of instances where matches ended with fewer players than they began with. Take a look for yourself.

10. Wimbledon FC vs Blackburn Rovers (1992-93)

2 direct red cards, 1 double-yellow

Rovers fans waited 26 long years to reclaim their place at the top of English football, and they were determined to ensure they didn’t slip back down easily. The players shared that resolve, even if it meant engaging in some tough battles.

One of the most memorable came in September 1992, when they faced Wimbledon FC. The match was a gritty affair, highlighted by the red cards for Vinnie Jones (who ranks sixth for most red cards in Premier League history), Anthony Dobson, and Mike Newell. Despite the chaos, it was also the day Alan Shearer scored his tenth goal in nine league games, securing a draw for Blackburn at Selhurst Park.

9. Barnsley vs Liverpool (1997-98)

2 direct red cards, 1 double-yellow

Before 1998, Barnsley FC had never played in the top flight, and since that season, no team has managed to repeat the feat. This makes the memories of their time in the Premier League all the more cherished for Colliers fans. Among those memories, the two matches against Liverpool stand out as some of the most vivid.

After witnessing their team heroically defeat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in the first leg, hopes of an unlikely double were high, both for the fans and for Danny Wilson’s squad. However, things didn’t go as planned in the second leg. In front of a fired-up Oakwell crowd, Barnsley were reduced to nine men, and eventually eight, by the end of the match. They ultimately lost 3-2, but the real chaos came after the final whistle. Referee Gary Willard had to be escorted off the pitch by police as tensions soared, with fans threatening to invade the field. It was a scene of utter mayhem.

Barnsley 2-3 Liverpool
The Tykes have 3 players sent off & the reds net a winner in injury time at Oakwell in '98.
Great goal by Riedle here! pic.twitter.com/0dpL6O44iT

— Davolaa (@Davolaar) October 17, 2022

8. West Ham United vs Leeds United (1998-99)

2 direct red cards, 1 double-yellow

Speaking of chaos... When West Ham hosted Leeds United at Upton Park on May Day 1998, they certainly didn't expect to witness one of their most memorable matches. But the game took a dramatic turn just after the 15-minute mark when Ian Wright received a second yellow card, followed by a red, setting the stage for a match that would go down in history—for several reasons.

First, there was the sheer scale of the humiliation as Leeds dismantled their opponents 5-1. Second, referee Rob Harris brandished three red cards and seven yellow cards, highlighting the game's volatile nature. Finally, the match was marked by the six arrests of home fans in the stands, a testament to the fury that exploded among the crowd. The memory of that day still lingers in East London.

7. Brighton vs Nottingham Forest (2024-25)

3 direct red cards

You don’t have to look far into the past to find one of the most intense encounters in Premier League history. A trip to Brighton in September 2024 provides a perfect example. On that day, the match between the Seagulls and Nottingham Forest took an unexpected twist.

The tension kicked in right from the start, with both sides eager to maintain their unbeaten league records. Just one minute into the game, Morgan Gibbs-White was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Joao Pedro. This sparked a heated confrontation between the two managers, Fabian Hurzeler and Nuno Espirito Santo, both of whom were also sent off by referee Robert Jones.

6. Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United (2000-01)

3 direct red cards

There’s a difference between setting ambitious resolutions and actually following through on them. But in 2001, Tottenham Hotspur seemed determined to do just that. Their first match of the year against Newcastle was crucial. It provided the perfect opportunity to snap a run of six consecutive winless games and finally kick-start their season.

And it turned out to be a successful mission. Not just because of the attacking performance by George Graham’s men, but also due to the dismissals of Nolberto Solano and Kieron Dyer, which played a key role in the outcome. With Newcastle down to just 10 men after Neil Sullivan’s red card, they were left to pick up the pieces against a numerically superior Tottenham side.

5. Newcastle United vs Aston Villa (2004-05)

3 direct red cards

Winning at St James' Park is never an easy feat, and many teams have been left licking their wounds after visiting. Aston Villa is no exception, especially in the early 2000s, when they won just one of their 11 trips to the north-east of England.

However, a 3-0 victory in one of those encounters was largely influenced by the Magpies’ consecutive red cards for Steven Taylor, Lee Bowyer, and Kieron Dyer. With Newcastle reduced to just eight men, Villa, led by Gareth Barry—who scored twice from the penalty spot—took full advantage and finally managed to secure a rare win in the north-east.

4. Chelsea vs Aston Villa (2007-08)

3 direct red cards

Few periods in the Premier League are as decisive as the festive season. Titles may not be won outright, but they can certainly be lost—something Chelsea knows all too well.

Who knows how the title race might have unfolded had the Blues managed to overcome Aston Villa on Boxing Day? Could they have shifted the balance of power with Manchester United? That question will forever remain unanswered. Instead, a chaotic 4-4 draw against the Claret and Blue Army saw Chelsea drop crucial points in a match that was both thrilling and fiery, featuring no fewer than three red cards.

3. Chelsea vs Leicester City (2003-04)

3 direct red cards

Roman Abramovich could hardly have envisioned his first match at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s owner unfolding the way it did. On August 26, 2007, the visit of a modest Leicester City side was expected to be little more than a routine victory. But as football so often proves, nothing is ever guaranteed.

Despite Leicester's inexperience—and their eventual reduction to nine men—Claudio Ranieri’s Chelsea had to dig deep, showing both grit and resilience to secure the win. Adding to the drama, they had to do so without Geremi Njitap, who was sent off just after the hour mark.

2. Portsmouth vs Sunderland (2009-10)

3 direct red cards

Portsmouth’s future looked uncertain as the looming threat of administration hung over them when they hosted Sunderland at Fratton Park in February 2010. The match began in disastrous fashion for Pompey, as Ricardo Rocha was sent off early, and Darren Bent put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.

Despite the uphill battle, Avram Grant’s side refused to back down. With their backs against the wall, they found a late equalizer after Sunderland were also reduced to nine men, following the quick dismissals of Lee Cattermole and David Meyler. While the hard-fought draw was met with cheers from the home fans, it ultimately couldn’t prevent the inevitable—a nine-point deduction and relegation to the Championship at the end of the season.

1. Liverpool vs Everton (1999-00)

3 direct red cards

Few rivalries in world football are as intense as the one between Liverpool and Everton. The Merseyside Derby has produced countless fiery encounters, and the September 1999 clash was no exception.

Tempers flared as Sander Westerveld and Francis Jeffers were both sent off following a heated altercation, while a young Steven Gerrard also saw red for a reckless challenge on Kevin Campbell—the match's lone goalscorer. On top of that, referee Mike Riley handed out five more yellow cards in a game that perfectly encapsulated the fierce nature of this historic fixture. Could we really have expected anything less?