The Premier League is the top division of English football and one of the most-watched sports leagues in the world. It was founded in 1992 when the leading clubs broke away from the old Football League First Division to run their own competition.
How the season is structured
Twenty clubs take part each season. Every club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, which gives a total of 38 matches per team and 380 matches across the whole season. The season usually runs from August to May.
How points are awarded
A win is worth three points, a draw one point and a defeat none. The club with the most points at the end of the season is crowned champion. If two clubs finish level on points, goal difference is used first, followed by goals scored.
Promotion and relegation
The three lowest-placed clubs are relegated to the second tier, the Championship, and three clubs are promoted to take their places. This constant movement is a big reason why the league stays unpredictable and why the fight to avoid the drop is often as dramatic as the title race.
Places in Europe
The top finishers also earn places in European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, which makes the race for the top four or five positions almost as important as the title itself.