The 2018-19 season saw a thrilling finale as the title went down to the final game of the season. In the end, it was Man City who emerged victorious as they edged out Liverpool by a single point. 98 was the magic number for the Citizens as they became the first club to retain the Premier League since Man Utd a decade earlier in 2008-09.
* Data is taken from the 1995-96 season as this is the point in which the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams
Man City’s 98 points last season are the second most points ever recorded in winning the Premier League, with the highest being one season earlier (2017-18) when Guardiola’s team scored 100 points on their way to the title. The 198 points gained by City over the last two seasons represents the most points gained by a single club in a two-season span in Premier League history.
Liverpool's total of 97 points would have been enough for the title in 25 of the 27 Premier League seasons and is the most points ever recorded by a team who didn’t go on to lift the trophy. Their wait for a first league title since 1990 continues.
* Data is taken from the 1995-96 season as this is the point in which the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams
Most points for a first-placed finish (since 1995-96) – Man City 2017-18 (100 points)
Average points for a first-placed finish (since 1995-96) – 86.9 points
Fewest points for a first-placed finish (since 1995-96) – Man Utd 1996-97 (75 points)
Most first-placed finishes (since 1995-96) – Man Utd (11 times - 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13)
While the average points to be crowned Premier League champions is 86.9 points, the graphic above shows a trend in recent seasons of team’s greatly exceeding this value.
Winning totals of 93 points (Chelsea), 100 points (Man City) and 98 points (Man City) in the last three seasons suggest that whoever is to win the title will at a minimum need to exceed the 90-point barrier.
* Data is taken from the 1995-96 season as this is the point in which the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams
There have been five different winners of the Premier League since 1995-96, with all winners having lifted the trophy multiple times apart from Leicester.
The largest winning margin was in 2017-18 when Man City finished 19 points above Man Utd.
The two Manchester clubs were also involved in the closest Premier League season in history when Man City once again topped their rivals, but this time on goal difference.
* Data is taken from the 1995-96 season as this is the point in which the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams
Most points for a second-placed finish (since 1995-96) – Liverpool 2018-19 (98 points)
Average points for a second-placed finish (since 1995-96) – 80.1 points
Fewest points for a second-placed finish (since 1995-96) – Newcastle 1996-97 (68 points)
Most second-placed finishes (since 1995-96) – Arsenal (Six times - 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2015-16)
* Data is taken from the 1995-96 season as this is the point in which the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams
There have been seven different teams who have come second in the Premier League since 1995-96.
