The English Premier League is arguably one of the toughest leagues in club football, as it is physically as well as mentally challenging. It is fast, aggressive, and requires technical skills to maintain consistency and fitness to stay at the top.
The league starts in August and ends in May the following year. The league has produced some of the most intriguing contests.
The Premier League is arguably one of the most distinguished leagues where some of the most distinguished clubs and legendary players and managers have highlighted their class.
We take a look at the format of the Premier League in detail.
Premier League’s Round-Robin Format
The English Premier League witnesses 20 teams in action. And the league consists of a round-robin format where every club plays the other club twice on a home and away basis.
This gives every team an equal chance where they can take advantage of home conditions. Every club plays 38 games in the entire season, and every team needs to show consistency to be at the top.
Some of the top-ranked teams give chances to the younger lot in games when they face lower-ranked teams.
Points System in Premier League
In the Premier League, three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw or tie, and zero points for a loss.
The league positioning of every team is determined by the points earned by every team in the entire season, and depending on that, the rankings are decided. The team that has the highest points is declared the winner.
Promotion and Relegation in Premier League
The promotion and relegation process is a nail-biting one, like some of the high-octane games. Teams that have finished in the bottom three in the rankings are relegated to the second division called the EFL (English Football League) Championship.
The top two teams in the EFL championship rankings are promoted to the Premier League. The promotion for the third team is decided through playoff games between teams that are ranked in between third and sixth position. This process makes the competition even more competitive and thrilling.
Fight for the Title and Top Four Positions
The club that finishes at the top of the league standings is declared winner on the basis of the highest number of points. The Premier League hasn’t been short of exciting contests with high-voltage games.
The excitement gets all the more intense when there is a fight for the top four positions. Teams that have finished in the top four positions qualify for the UEFA Champions League, which is one of the most reputed club championships in European club football.
Other Domestic and European Trophies
The teams that are ranked fifth and sixth in the Premier League qualify for the Europa League. Apart from this, the Premier League clubs can play in competitions like the FA Cup as well as the EFL Cup.
By playing in these tournaments, teams can test their reserve players by giving chances to the younger crop to highlight their talent and prepare for tougher challenges like the UEFA Champions League or the Europa League.
Big clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea FC, etc., utilise such competitions to test their reserve players.
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