Manchester City won again. Honestly, if you just glance at the 2324 Premier League table, it looks like business as usual in English football. Pep Guardiola’s machine churning out wins. Another trophy in the cabinet. But man, if you actually lived through those nine months, you know it was anything but predictable.
The final standings tell a story of a historic four-peat, sure. But they also hide the absolute chaos of points deductions, a three-way title race that lasted deep into spring, and a relegation battle that felt like a slow-motion car crash for the three teams that just couldn't find their footing.
It was the season where the rulebook mattered as much as the playbook.
The Title Race That Almost Broke Arsenal
For a long time, it looked like Mikel Arteta might actually do it. Arsenal spent a massive chunk of the season at the summit. They were resilient, they were scoring for fun, and they finally looked like they had the mental toughness to stare down the City juggernaut.
They finished with 89 points. In almost any other era of English football, that’s a title-winning tally. But they were up against a Manchester City side that simply refused to blink during the run-in. City finished on 91 points, securing their fourth consecutive title—a feat never achieved before in the history of the English top flight.
The turning point? Most fans point to that mid-April weekend. Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa. On the same day, Liverpool—who were right there in the mix until the very end—faltered too. City grabbed the lead and, as they always do, they turned into a relentless winning machine. They didn't drop a single point in their final nine matches.
Champions League Dreams and Manchester Nightmares
If the top two were in a league of their own, the race for the remaining European spots was a total fever dream.
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Aston Villa under Unai Emery was the story of the year for me. They finished 4th with 68 points, securing Champions League football for the first time in over 40 years. Think about that. The last time Villa were in Europe’s elite competition, it was called the European Cup and they were the defending champions in 1982.
Tottenham followed in 5th with 66 points. Close, but not quite enough for the big prize.
Then there’s the Manchester United situation. Yikes.
Erik ten Hag’s second season was statistically their worst in the Premier League era. They finished 8th. They had a negative goal difference. They lost 14 games. The only reason they even have European football now is that wild FA Cup final win over City. In the 2324 Premier League table, United looked broken.
Chelsea somehow managed to salvage a 6th-place finish after spending most of the season looking like a collection of expensive strangers. Mauricio Pochettino found a rhythm late, largely thanks to Cole Palmer, who was arguably the signing of the season.
The Brutal Reality of the Relegation Zone
It’s rare to see all three promoted teams go straight back down. In fact, it hadn't happened since 1997. But the gap between the Championship and the Premier League has never felt wider than it did this year.
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Sheffield United was, to put it bluntly, historically poor. They conceded 103 goals. That is a record no one wants. They finished dead last with a measly 16 points.
Burnley tried to play "the right way" under Vincent Kompany but found out the hard way that style doesn't save you if you can't defend. They went down in 19th with 24 points.
Luton Town was the sentimental favorite. Kenilworth Road was a vibe. They fought, they scrapped, and they stayed in the hunt until the final day, but they just lacked the depth. They finished 18th with 26 points.
The PSR Shadow
We can't talk about the bottom of the table without mentioning the lawyers. Nottingham Forest and Everton were both hit with points deductions for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
- Everton: Deducted 8 points total (in two separate chunks).
- Nottingham Forest: Deducted 4 points.
Despite the handicap, both stayed up. Everton, led by Sean Dyche, actually had a decent season on the pitch, finishing 15th with 40 points. If they hadn't lost those 8 points, they would have been comfortably mid-table. Forest survived in 17th with 32 points—the lowest total ever to ensure safety in a 38-game season.
Individual Brilliance in a Goal-Rich Season
The league saw a record 1,246 goals this year. That’s 3.28 goals per match. No wonder everyone was exhausted by May.
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Erling Haaland bagged the Golden Boot again with 27 goals. People called it a "down year" for him because he "only" scored 27. The standards that guy has set are genuinely stupid.
But the real star for many was Phil Foden. He didn't just play well; he ran games. 19 goals, 8 assists, and the Player of the Season award. He was the heartbeat of that City title win.
Then you have Cole Palmer. 22 goals and 11 assists for a team that struggled for consistency is nothing short of heroic. He single-handedly kept Chelsea relevant for months.
What This Means for Next Season
Looking at the 2324 Premier League table now, it's clear the league is at a crossroads. The dominance of Manchester City is undisputed, but Arsenal has closed the gap to a sliver. The middle of the pack is getting squeezed by financial regulations, and the "Big Six" concept is officially dead—it's more like a Big Two and a very chaotic "everyone else."
If you’re looking to make sense of where your team ended up, don't just look at the points. Look at the goal difference. Look at the points lost to the Premier League's legal team.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the PSR Deadlines: Financial health is now as important as a star striker. Keep an eye on June 30th reporting deadlines, as they will dictate who needs to sell players in a hurry.
- Squad Depth over Star Power: Arsenal lost the title because they didn't have the same level of rotation options as City. In a season with more goals and higher intensity, the "bench" is the most important part of the squad.
- The 40-Point Myth: You don't need 40 points to stay up anymore. With the promoted teams struggling and points deductions flying around, the "safety" bar has dropped significantly.
The 2023-24 season was a marathon run through a minefield. City crossed the line first, but the landscape behind them has changed forever.