Founded in 1991, the Premier League is the crème de la crème in English football and arguably, football around the world. It contains the 20 best teams in England that season, who all battle it out for a chance to become the champions of England.
For years, the Premier League was run by the big four; Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. Between them, these clubs have 22 trophies. The only other clubs to win the Premier League are Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City. Nowadays, it’s the big six, with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspurs being added to the list.
A season begins in August and from then until May and what takes place is a double-round robin system. This means that each time plays each other twice, making for a total of 380 games. You win 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw and at the end of the season, the team with the most points wins. If points are equal, the next most prominent factor is goal difference. Then it’s goals scored. If still equal after that, teams occupy the same position unless this would decide the title. Then, a playoff game takes place on neutral ground.
The Premier League is of course the highest level in the English Football League System, which means that teams can’t be promoted in the same way that happens at every other level. However, there is an incentive to finish high in the Premier League other than winning the trophy. Every season, the top four Premier League teams qualify for the next season of the UEFA Champion’s League. The team that places 5th in the Premier League qualifies for the UEFA Europe League.
Every season, the teams that finish 18th, 19th, and 20th are relegated to the EFL Championship.