The dust has long since settled on the Etihad turf, but if you look closely at the premier league table 2023 24, the numbers still tell a story of absolute madness. It wasn't just another year of Manchester City winning. Well, they did win, obviously. But the way the table shifted, groaned, and eventually buckled under the weight of points deductions and a relentless three-way title race made this season feel... different.
Honestly, at one point in April, we all thought Liverpool might actually do it for Klopp's grand finale. Then Arsenal looked like they had the steel to finally push past their demons. But in the end, Pep Guardiola’s machine did what it always does. They churned out results like a high-end factory.
The Final Top Four: A Record-Breaking Run
Manchester City didn't just win the league; they rewrote history. By finishing top of the premier league table 2023 24 with 91 points, they became the first men’s team in English football history to win four consecutive top-flight titles. That’s a stat that feels fake until you realize they haven't lost a home league game since late 2022.
Arsenal finished just two points behind them on 89. It’s kind of heartbreaking for the Gunners. They won 28 games, the same as City, and had an identical goal difference of +62. Basically, the title was decided by a couple of draws where Arsenal couldn't quite find the net.
Liverpool took third place with 82 points. It was a weirdly emotional season at Anfield, seeing Jurgen Klopp wave goodbye. They were right in the mix until a rocky patch in late April effectively ended their charge. Then there's Aston Villa. Unai Emery basically performed a miracle to get them into fourth with 68 points, securing Champions League football for the first time in the modern era.
Points Deductions and the Chaos at the Bottom
This is where the premier league table 2023 24 gets really messy. We spent half the season looking at asterisks and legal footnotes instead of just the scorelines.
Everton were hit with two separate deductions for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). They lost eight points total. Somehow, Sean Dyche kept them up anyway. They finished 15th with 40 points, but without that penalty, they would have been comfortably mid-table.
Nottingham Forest also got whacked with a four-point deduction. They survived by the skin of their teeth, finishing 17th with just 32 points. That is the lowest point total ever for a team that didn't get relegated. Seriously. Usually, you need 35 to 40 points to feel safe, but the bottom three were so poor that Forest walked through the door.
Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United all went back down to the Championship. It was the first time since 1998 that all three promoted teams were relegated in the same year. Sheffield United, in particular, had a rough go, conceding a record 104 goals. That’s nearly three goals a game.
The Battle for Europe and the Mid-Table Squeeze
Tottenham Hotspur finished fifth with 66 points. They started the season like a house on fire under "Big Ange" Postecoglou but eventually cooled off. Chelsea, meanwhile, had a bizarre season. They spent most of the year looking lost in 10th or 11th place, then suddenly went on a massive winning run in May to snatch 6th place with 63 points.
- Manchester City: 91 pts (Champions)
- Arsenal: 89 pts
- Liverpool: 82 pts
- Aston Villa: 68 pts
- Tottenham: 66 pts
- Chelsea: 63 pts
Newcastle United finished 7th with 60 points, which would usually be enough for Europe, but because Manchester United won the FA Cup from 8th place, the Magpies missed out entirely. It just goes to show how much the cup competitions can mess with the European spots.
Individual Brilliance and Outlier Stats
Erling Haaland won the Golden Boot again, bagging 27 goals. People said he had a "down" year, which is hilarious because he still scored more than almost anyone else in Europe.
But the real star for many was Ollie Watkins at Villa. He didn't just score 19 goals; he also topped the playmaker charts with 13 assists. He was the engine behind Villa's top-four finish. Over at Arsenal, David Raya silenced his doubters by winning the Golden Glove with 16 clean sheets, proving Mikel Arteta was right to swap out Aaron Ramsdale.
The league saw a record 1,246 goals this year. That’s an average of 3.28 per match. If you felt like you were seeing more 4-3 and 3-2 scores than usual, you weren't imagining it. The game has become faster, more transitional, and frankly, more exhausting for defenders.
What the Premier League Table 2023 24 Teaches Us
Looking back, the biggest takeaway is that the "Big Six" isn't really a thing anymore. It's more like a "Big Two" (City and Arsenal) followed by a chaotic scramble.
If you're looking to understand what makes a winning season now, it’s all about the margins. Arsenal’s 89 points would have won the league in almost any other era. But against Pep’s City, you almost have to be perfect.
To stay ahead of the curve for next season, keep an eye on how clubs manage their PSR limits. The points deductions we saw in the premier league table 2023 24 weren't a one-off; they are the new reality. If you want to follow the league like an expert, start paying as much attention to the balance sheets as the Expected Goals (xG) stats.
For those wanting to dive deeper, you should analyze the home vs. away form of the top four. City’s unbeaten home record was the bedrock of their title, while Arsenal’s away defensive record was actually the best in the league. Understanding these nuances is how you truly "read" the table.