<P> One significant feature of the Premier League in the mid-2000s was the dominance of the so - called "Big Four" clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United . During this decade, they dominated the top four spots, which came with UEFA Champions League qualification, taking all top - four places in 5 out of 6 seasons from 2003--04 to 2008--09 inclusive . Arsenal went as far as winning the league without losing a single game in 2003--04, the only time it has ever happened in the Premier League . In May 2008 Kevin Keegan stated that "Big Four" dominance threatened the division, "This league is in danger of becoming one of the most boring but great leagues in the world ." Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said in defence: "There are a lot of different tussles that go on in the Premier League depending on whether you're at the top, in the middle or at the bottom that make it interesting ." </P> <P> The years following 2009 marked a shift in the structure of the "Big Four" with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City both breaking into the top four . In the 2009--10 season, Tottenham finished fourth and became the first team to break the top four since Everton in 2005 . Criticism of the gap between an elite group of "super clubs" and the majority of the Premier League has continued, nevertheless, due to their increasing ability to spend more than the other Premier League clubs . Manchester City won the title in the 2011--12 season, becoming the first club outside the "Big Four" to win since 1994--95 . That season also saw two of the Big Four (Chelsea and Liverpool) finish outside the top four places for the first time since 1994--95 . In the following five seasons, Manchester United and Liverpool both found themselves outside of the top four three times while Chelsea finished 10th in the 2015--16 season . Arsenal finished 5th in the 2016--17 season, ending their record of 20 consecutive top - four finishes . </P> <P> Due to insistence by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the international governing body of football, that domestic leagues reduce the number of games clubs played, the number of clubs was reduced to 20 in 1995 when four teams were relegated from the league and only two teams promoted . On 8 June 2006, FIFA requested that all major European leagues, including Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga be reduced to 18 teams by the start of the 2007--08 season . The Premier League responded by announcing their intention to resist such a reduction . Ultimately, the 2007--08 season kicked off again with 20 teams . </P> <P> The league changed its name from the FA Premier League to simply the Premier League in 2007 . </P>

When did the premier league change to 20 teams