In the English Premier League (EPL), when fans ask how EPL winner is decided, the answer might sound simple at first: the club with the most points at the end of the season is crowned champion. But what if two—or even more—teams finish level on points? That’s where the drama really begins, and 2hanBall is here to walk you through all the rules, the history, and the rare scenarios that could decide the title in the twistiest ways.
What determines the EPL winner in normal cases
Every EPL season, 20 clubs play 38 matches each, facing each opponent twice (home and away).
Here’s the basic points system:
- 3 points for a win
- 1 point for a draw
- 0 points for a loss edia)
At the end of those 38 matches, the team with the highest total points wins the league. That’s the baseline for how EPL winner is decided when there’s no tie at the top.
What happens when teams are tied on points
Titles get more exciting when two or more teams finish with the same number of points. The EPL has a set of tiebreakers to decide who finishes higher—and in the case of a tie at the top, who becomes champion. Here’s the full ranking order used when teams are level on points:
- Goal difference
- Goals scored across the whole season
- Head-to-head record among the tied teams (points gained in their direct meetings)
- Head-to-head away goals (in the matches between the tied teams only)
If all of those are still equal, and the tied position is meaningful (championship, relegation, or European qualification), the league can call for:
- A one-off play-off match on neutral ground to decide who finishes higher.
How often this has come into play
- The only time the EPL title was decided by goal difference was 2011-12, when Manchester City and Manchester United both finished the season with 89 points. City edged United on goal difference.
- There has never been a playoff for the title in the Premier League era, because the tiebreakers before a playoff have always managed to separate teams.
These rules for tiebreakers (including head-to-head and possibility of playoff) are codified in the Premier League handbook (Rule C.17 etc.).
Why the rules are structured this way
Putting goal difference and goals scored before head-to-head was a newer change (introduced in recent years) to make the table clearer and more exciting throughout the season.
Here are sequence:
- Goal difference rewards consistency across the whole season, not just in direct matches.
- Goals scored encourages attacking football (score more! not just defend).
- Head-to-head gives weight to performances in big matches against direct rivals.
- Away goals in head-to-head add one more layer of fairness in those matchups.
And the playoff rule exists as the absolute last resort when everything else fails to separate teams, especially for positions that matter (title, relegation, European places).
Examples of crazy scenarios
Here are some hypothetical or close-calls where these tiebreakers might have come into play:
- If two teams end with the same points, goal difference, and goals scored, but one did better in their head-to-head clashes (say a win and draw vs a draw and draw), that head-to-head advantage will decide the title.
- If even head-to-head points and away goals are equal, then—if it’s for something critical like the championship—a one-game playoff will decide.
These scenarios are extremely rare, but the rules are in place for just such edge-of-your-seat moments.
Conclusion
In this article, 2hanBall has explained how EPL winner is decided in both the routine and the edge-case scenarios. The system balances rewarding consistent performance across 38 games with heightening drama in direct rivalries, and even permits a final decider (play-off) if all else fails.
If you want, 2hanBall can also pull up real examples of recent seasons, compare the EPL rules with those in La Liga or Serie A, or even simulate how the title race could unfold given current standings. Interested?
