The Big Four
A total of 43 clubs have competed in the Premier League, but only four have won the title: Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
The current champions are Manchester United, who won their eleventh Premier League title in the 2008–09 season, the most of any Premier League team. Chelsea currently hold the record for most points in a season, while Arsenal are the only team in the history of the league to go unbeaten in a single season.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are collectively called the big four, although Liverpool has never won the league.
How the Premiership works
There are 20 clubs in the Premier League. During the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 38 games.
Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored.
At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank.
The three lowest placed teams are relegated into the Football League Championship and the top two teams from the Championship, together with the winner of play-offs involving the third to sixth placed Championship clubs, are promoted in their place
Champions League
The top four teams in the Premier League qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the top three teams directly entering the group stage |
