⚽ Premier League FAQ 2025-26

The Premier League consists of 20 teams. Each season, the bottom 3 teams are relegated to the EFL Championship, and 3 teams are promoted from the Championship to replace them.

The three teams finishing at the bottom of the Premier League table (positions 18th, 19th, and 20th) are relegated to the EFL Championship. They are replaced by the Championship winners, runners-up, and the winner of the Championship Play-Off Final.

Premier League fixtures run from August to May. Each team plays 38 matches (home and away against every other team). Matches are typically held on Saturday 3pm, but many are moved for TV broadcasting to Sunday, Monday, Friday, or other Saturday kick-off times.

If teams are level on points, the following tiebreakers apply in order: 1) Goal difference, 2) Goals scored, 3) Head-to-head points, 4) Head-to-head goal difference, 5) Play-off match. If still tied for the title, a playoff match is held.

Premier League teams can name up to 9 substitutes on the bench. Teams are allowed to make 5 substitutions per match, but these must be made in a maximum of 3 stoppages (plus half-time). This rule was made permanent from the 2023-24 season onwards.

The top 4 teams in the Premier League qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Additionally, if the Champions League or Europa League winner is an English club that finishes outside the top 4, they also receive a Champions League spot.

European qualification from the Premier League: 5th place goes to the Europa League, and positions 6th-7th (depending on cup winners) qualify for the Conference League. The FA Cup winner and League Cup winner also receive European spots.

VAR (Video Assistant Referee) reviews key match decisions including goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. The on-field referee makes the final decision after reviewing footage on the pitchside monitor if needed. VAR can only intervene if there is a "clear and obvious error".

VAR can only review four categories: 1) Goals (including offside and fouls in buildup), 2) Penalty decisions (awarding or overturning), 3) Direct red cards (not second yellows), and 4) Mistaken identity (wrong player cautioned).

The Premier League has two transfer windows: Summer (typically from early June to August 31st) and Winter/January (from January 1st to February 3rd). Clubs can only register new players during these periods for competitive matches.

The Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) limit clubs to losses of £105 million over a rolling three-year period. Clubs breaching these rules can face points deductions, transfer bans, or other sanctions.

Premier League prize money includes: Equal Share (50% distributed equally), Merit Payment (25% based on final league position), and Facility Fees (25% based on TV appearances). Even the 20th-placed team receives over £100 million!

The Premier League was founded on February 20, 1992, and the first season (1992-93) began on August 15, 1992. The founding clubs broke away from the Football League First Division to take advantage of a lucrative television rights deal with Sky Sports.

Manchester United holds the record with 13 Premier League titles. Manchester City has won 8 titles (including 4 consecutive from 2020-2024), Chelsea has won 5, Arsenal 3, Liverpool 1, Leicester City 1, and Blackburn Rovers 1.

Premier League matches are broadcast by various networks depending on your location. In the UK, Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime have rights. In the US, NBC/Peacock broadcasts matches. Use FootyChat to discuss matches in real-time with fans worldwide!

Visit footychat.app/premier-league to find live chat rooms for every Premier League match. You can also join dedicated team channels for Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, and all 20 clubs!