According to The Athletic, there are 20 teams in the Premier League. Two cities contribute two teams each, while the rest represent different regions of England. London, of course, is an exception.
This Premier League season features six London clubs. On Saturday night, Chelsea from West London will host Tottenham Hotspur from North London. This is one of the biggest rivalries in the city.
So, which teams does each club in London truly hate? The Athletic asked each team's beat reporter to provide answers and explain the reasons below.
Arsenal
Their three most hated London teams: Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, West Ham United
Why?
As Arsenal have become title contenders under Mikel Arteta, animosity towards them seems to be growing across England; but for their neighbors, this sentiment has always existed, regardless of Arsenal's success.
Tottenham Hotspur tops the list. The two teams are only four miles apart, and the North London Derby never disappoints each season. The most intense periods were probably when the two clubs were vying for Champions League qualification; last year, Eberechi Eze rejected Tottenham and joined Arsenal, scoring five goals in two encounters, adding more fuel to the fire.
The rivalry between Arsenal and Chelsea emerged later. Roman Abramovich's sudden injection of buying power into Chelsea in 2004 ignited it all; Chelsea's rise coincided with Arsenal's decline, leaving a bitter taste in North London. For a time, Chelsea seemed to always have the upper hand over Arsenal on and off the pitch, but this has changed under Arteta.
Perhaps "hate" isn't the right word for West Ham United. The two teams are neither direct geographical rivals nor direct competitive rivals, and the animosity primarily stems from various encounters between their fan bases. For example, Declan Rice's move to Arsenal and the subsequent reaction from some West Ham fans made their clashes more compelling—until West Ham United were relegated to the Championship.
Overall, despite West Ham United pulling off upsets against Arsenal in recent years, the true hatred will always be reserved for Tottenham and Chelsea.
Brentford
Their three most hated London teams: Queens Park Rangers, Fulham, Chelsea
Why?
Former manager Thomas Frank affectionately described Brentford as "a bus stop in Hounslow," but they are neither that provincial nor that inconspicuous. Their Jersey Road training ground is within the Hounslow borough, and the Gtech Community Stadium, opened in 2020, is located in an affluent area of West London.
Four miles to the east is Queens Park Rangers—in a much less affluent area—and the animosity between the two teams is half geographical, half historical. In 1967, Brentford was struggling a division below Queens Park Rangers, and the two clubs discussed QPR taking over Griffin Park (Brentford's old stadium), a deal that would likely have led to Brentford's demise. The proposed deal ultimately fell through due to fan outrage. Notably, when the two teams met in the Championship in the mid-to-late 2010s, Brentford had an excellent record: eight wins, one draw, and three losses.
As Brentford climbed the football pyramid and QPR stagnated, their rivalry with Fulham became more frequent and serious (which is also why Chelsea can now be considered an opponent). Fulham's home ground, Craven Cottage, is five miles further east along the Thames, and the two teams have provided exciting contests in both the Championship and the Premier League—spending 10 out of the last 13 seasons in the same division, and the last five together in England's top flight; this began when Fulham beat Brentford at Wembley in the 2019-20 Championship play-off final.
Chelsea
Their three most hated London teams: Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, West Ham United
Why?
Six years ago, The Athletic detailed why Tottenham are considered sworn enemies. Nothing has changed since.
Speaking to fans who have followed Chelsea for decades, a deep-seated hatred for Tottenham began in the 1960s. It was already unpleasant to see beloved former players Jimmy Greaves and Terry Venables end up at Tottenham; losing to Tottenham in the first all-London FA Cup final in 1967 added insult to injury. On that day, clashes also occurred between fans of both teams outside Wembley.
Since then, this hatred has only grown and is now passed down through generations. Becoming a Chelsea fan, the first rule is "We hate Tottenham"—this is fully evident when "The Liquidator," the traditional pre-match anthem, plays at Stamford Bridge and thousands chant this phrase in unison.
Over the past 30 years, as the two teams have more frequently competed for trophies, the rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal has also deepened.
But like Tottenham, regardless of the teams' form, the atmosphere in matches against West Ham United is always quite hostile. This is a West London versus East London rivalry. When West Ham United still played at Upton Park, this fixture was known as the "District Line Derby" because the two stadiums were connected by the same London Underground line.
Millwall might appear on some older fans' lists, but the two teams play each other so rarely that this animosity has inevitably faded.
Crystal Palace
Their three most hated London teams: Millwall, Charlton, West Ham United
Why?
In reality, among these three teams, the only one Crystal Palace fans truly care about is Millwall. Their geographical proximity and mutual perceptions of each other's fan bases fuel this rivalry. When the two teams met for the first time in nine years in the 2022 FA Cup, fans threw objects at celebrating Crystal Palace players, and Millwall fans sang offensive songs.
There has also been some rivalry between Crystal Palace and Charlton, but it has never been truly intense, and even rare encounters haven't heated it up. Charlton fans celebrating their team relegating Crystal Palace from the Premier League in 2004, and Iain Dowie leaving Crystal Palace to manage Charlton in 2006, briefly added to the local derby's narrative, but since Crystal Palace's promotion to the Premier League in 2013, there hasn't been much to tell.
There is almost no animosity between Crystal Palace and West Ham United, let alone a rivalry or "hatred," hence their placement last. In 2003, Crystal Palace defeated West Ham United in the First Division (now Championship) play-off final. Recent encounters in the top flight mean they are Premier League opponents in London, but that's about it.
Fulham
Their three most hated London teams: Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, Brentford
Why?
The word "hate" is rarely associated with Fulham, but make no mistake: these West London derbies carry more weight.
Seven years ago, if asked the same question, it would have been hard to find a Fulham fan who would list Brentford as the club's top rival.
Wealthy, successful, and literally located within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Chelsea has always been an easy target for Fulham fans' disdain. For decades, Chelsea was also almost unbeatable. Fulham's three victories in the past four years have brought some balance, adding a new dimension to this rivalry.
In the 2010s, Mark Hughes's move to manage Queens Park Rangers, citing "ambition," added fuel to this modern rivalry, but Fulham's overwhelming record of 14 wins in 19 encounters ultimately diminished the suspense.
Rivalries are built on memories of past grievances and the threat of being surpassed in the future—Brentford has embodied both since the 2020 Championship play-off final. Joe Bryan scored a brace in extra time at Wembley to help Fulham gain promotion; but Brentford's subsequent rise has sometimes made Fulham seem like the third Premier League force in this corner of London.
Against Chelsea, perhaps it's the game fans enjoy winning the most; against Brentford, it's the one they least want to lose.
Tottenham Hotspur
Their three most hated London teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham United
Why?
Despite an equally tense relationship with Chelsea, the North London Derby against Arsenal still ranks first. It is one of English football's most acrimonious and historically rich local rivalries. The problem isn't just that the two teams are only four miles apart and constantly in each other's faces. The root lies in Arsenal's move from Woolwich in southeast London to North London in 1913, forcing their way into territory that originally belonged to Tottenham and Clapton Orient. Since then, Arsenal's shadow has often loomed over Tottenham, especially when Tottenham captain Sol Campbell moved to Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001.
But Tottenham and Chelsea also have a unique rivalry. Although the two clubs are not particularly close—it's a long walk between them—their encounters always have a distinct edge. These matches seem pre-loaded with a special drama, making you feel anything can happen. The frequent movement of so many managers between the two clubs in recent years is also very telling.
Next up is West Ham United. This might be a slightly imbalanced rivalry, but every encounter is always hotly contested. After a few quiet years, last season's fixture turned into a relegation battle, with Tottenham ultimately coming out on top.