We are only 13 match rounds into the 2024/25 season and already there has been a quirk of the table rankings as Arsenal and Chelsea share identical records.
So why are the Gunners in second place, while the Blues are third?
Here we seek to explain the rules that govern positions and how they differ from during the season to the end of the campaign.
In the Premier League Handbook, rules C.4.-C.7 cover the positions of clubs in the Premier League table.
Here is what the Handbook says in full:
C.4. The position of Clubs in the League Table shall be determined by the number of points scored in the Competition during that Season; the Club having scored the highest number of points being at the top of the League Table and the Club having scored the lowest number of points being at the bottom.
C.5. If any two or more Clubs have scored the same number of points their position in the League Table shall be determined on goal difference, that is to say, the difference between the total number of goals scored by and against a Club in League Matches in the Competition during that Season (“Goal Difference”), and the higher or highest placed Club shall be the Club with the higher or highest Goal Difference.
C.6. If any two or more Clubs have scored the same number of points and have the same Goal Difference the higher or highest placed Club shall be the Club having scored the most goals in League Matches in the Competition during that Season.
C.7. Subject to Rule C.17, if any two or more Clubs have scored the same number of points, have the same Goal Difference and have scored the same number of goals in League Matches in the Competition during that Season, they shall be deemed to occupy the same position in the League Table.
In brief, during a season, the positions are determined by points won, goal difference, goals scored - in that order.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea are on 25 points, after winning seven matches, drawing four and losing two. They both have scored 26 goals and conceded 14.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
13 | +18 | 34 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
13 | +12 | 25 |
| 3 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
13 | +12 | 25 |
| 4 |
Brighton
BHA
|
13 | +5 | 23 |
| 5 |
Man City
MCI
|
13 | +3 | 23 |
So as per the rules above, "they shall be deemed to occupy the same position in the League Table" - in this case, their position is joint-second.
However, as with the Premier League table at the start of the season, where all teams have zero matches played, zero points, zero goals scored or conceded, the 20 teams have to be organised in the table through some process and alphabetical order is used.
Which is why Arsenal traditionally start the season top and why they sit above Chelsea in the rankings now. (So the decision to change the club name from “The Arsenal” in 1914 is having an incidental and beneficial impact, you could say.)
This isn't the first time that this process has happened this season.
When Brighton & Hove Albion drew with Southampton 1-1 on Friday evening, that gave them an identical record to Manchester City: 23 points; 22 goals scored; 17 goals conceded. Brighton were placed above City in second because of alphabetical order, before the champions' 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday gave them an inferior goal difference.
What happens at the end of the season?
But, things are slightly different at the end of the season, which is when the final standings have, of course, the most importance in determining the champions, qualification for European competition, and relegation.
At the season’s end, alphabetical order is no longer a determining factor.
In the Handbook, Rule C.17. on “Determination of League Table Placings” explains the process here.
C.17. “…if following the completion of the Competition either the League Champions or the Clubs to be relegated or the question of qualification for other competitions cannot be determined because two or more Clubs are equal on points, Goal Difference and goals scored, the relative position in the League Table of the Clubs will be determined by the following means:
C.17.1. the total points scored by the relevant Clubs in the League Matches in that Season’s Competition contested by those Clubs (“Head-to-Head Matches”), with the Club having scored the highest number of points in Head-to-Head Matches occupying the highest position in the League Table and the Club having scored the lowest number of points in Head-to-Head Matches occupying the lowest position in the League Table;
C.17.2. if the Clubs cannot be separated by operation of Rule C.17.1, the Club scoring the higher number of goals whilst the Visiting Club in Head-to-Head Matches occupying the higher position in the League Table; and C.17.3. if two Clubs cannot be separated by operation of Rule C.17.1 or C.17.2, a play-off on a neutral ground, the format, timing and venue of which shall be determined by the Board.
In short, as it is during a season: points, goal difference and goals scored - in that order.
If teams cannot be separated by these criteria, the teams with the better records from their head-to-head matches will be placed higher.
If the two records are identical here, then the number of away goals scored in the head-to-head matches by the relevant teams will be used to determine the rankings.
If even these are the same, then a playoff match at a neutral ground is used to determine the final positions.
The Premier League has never had such a playoff, although there have been seasons where two teams had the possibility of finishing on identical records, before their records eventually diverged.
Given the current table is so condensed, with only seven points between second place and 13th, could this be the first season to have such a playoff?