Premier League top 4, relegation scenarios; tiebreaker rules explained
It is time to focus on the latest Premier League relegation, top 4 and Europa League scenarios and remind ourselves of the Premier League tiebreaker rules as the business end of the season is here.
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Strap in, folks, and get your calculators out and keep this page open as it will come in very handy in the final week of the season with things about to get wild.
Below we take a look at the latest scenarios for relegation, Europa League and the top 4, as there are many permutations which could play out during the final 90 minutes of the season.
Plenty could still be decided on the final day of the season.
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Here’s a look at what needs to happen for relegation, Europa League and top four spots to be confirmed, while a look at the tiebreaker rules already has us imagining the madness of Watford, Bournemouth and Aston Villa all being tied on points, goal difference and goals scored when the final whistle arrives.
PREMIER LEAGUE TOP 4 SCENARIOS
Chelsea
- Chelsea would clinch top-4 with:
OR
-
- Loss v. Wolves AND Manchester United win at Leicester
Manchester United
- Manchester United would clinch top-4 with:
OR
*Scenario assumes MU maintain GD advantage over Chelsea (MU: +28 / CHE: +13)
Leicester City
- Leicester would clinch top-4 with:
OR
-
- Draw v. Manchester United AND Chelsea loss v. Wolves
EUROPA LEAGUE SCENARIOS
Wolves
- Wolves would clinch top-6 finish if:
- They better or equal Tottenham’s result
Tottenham Hotspur
- Tottenham would clinch top-6 finish if:
- They better Wolves’ results
And 7th would qualify for Europa League if Chelsea win the FA Cup.
TIEBREAKER RULES
In terms of tiebreakers, here is the order and format in which league position will be sorted by if teams finish level on points:
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Points won in head-to-head meetings
- Away goals in head-to-head meetings
If the teams still can’t be separated after the above tiebreakers, a playoff will be arranged (at a neutral ground with the format, timing and venue determined by the Premier League Board).
RELEGATION SCENARIOS
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | PTS | |||
| West Ham United | 37 | 10 | 8 | 19 | 48 | 61 | -13 | 6-3-9 | 4-5-10 | 38 | |||
| Aston Villa | 37 | 9 | 7 | 21 | 40 | 66 | -26 | 7-3-9 | 2-4-12 | 34 | |||
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|
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| Watford | 37 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 34 | 61 | -27 | 6-6-7 | 2-4-12 | 34 | |||
| Bournemouth | 37 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 37 | 64 | -27 | 5-6-8 | 3-1-14 | 31 | |||
| Norwich City | 37 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 70 | -44 | 4-3-12 | 1-3-14 | 21 | |||
Relegation – How teams can stay up
-
- Aston Villa: Better Watford’s result OR draw and Watford draw
- Watford: Better Aston Villa’s result
- Bournemouth: Win and both Aston Villa and Watford lose
Aston Villa
last match: 11 am ET Sunday at West Ham
Villa needs a little bit more than a win or hoping Watford falls at Arsenal.
How could Villa go down with a win? If Watford beats Arsenal by at least two more goals than Villa defeats West Ham, it will climb over the Villans.
Similarly, if Bournemouth draws or loses, and both Villa and Watford lose, Villa could go down if it loses to…
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