The2013–14 Premier League (known as theBarclays Premier League for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd season of thePremier League, the top-flight English professional league for men'sfootball clubs, and the 115th season of top-flight English football overall. The fixtures were announced on 19 June 2013. The season started on Saturday 17 August 2013, and concluded on Sunday 11 May 2014.
On the final day of the season,Manchester City sealed their fourth league title and second Premier League title with a 2–0 victory overWest Ham United, finishing with 86 points.Liverpool had looked on course to win the title with two weeks to go, but a loss and a draw in two of their last three matches, combined with Manchester City winning their final five league matches, ultimately meant they finished in second place with 84 points.Chelsea finished third andArsenal, who led the table for the longest period, finished fourth. For the third time in four seasons, the top-seven places were dominated by the so-called ‘Big Six’ clubs (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City,Manchester United andTottenham Hotspur) andEverton.
Manchester United's first season followingSir Alex Ferguson's departure ended in disappointment, as the defending champions would finish 7th, tying the record for the worst title defence with the1994–95 championsBlackburn Rovers. At the time, it was also their worst finish in the Premier League era.
Luis Suárez was the top scorer with 31 goals, and was also named Player of the Season. GoalkeepersWojciech Szczęsny of Arsenal andPetr Čech of Chelsea led the league with 16 clean sheets each.Tony Pulis of Crystal Palace won the Manager of the Season award.
The 380 fixtures for the 2013–14 Premier League season were announced on 19 June 2013. The television broadcast rights were given two-to-three weeks later. The season started on Saturday 17 August 2013, and concluded on Sunday 11 May 2014.[4] During the 2013–14 season, the Premier League usedgoal-line technology for the first time.[5]
During the 2013–14 season, first place changed hands 25 times, compared to just four times during the 2012–13 season. That represented the most lead changes since the 2001–02 season – which had 29, the most ever. The championship was not decided until the final day of play for just the seventh time in league history.[6] Manchester City won the league with a 2–0 victory over West Ham United on the final day, finishing with 86 points.[7] In total, Manchester City led the league just 14 days throughout the season en route to their second championship in the last three seasons. The club scored 102 goals, one short of the record, while also conceding the second fewest goals in the league.[6]
With two weeks to go, Liverpool looked on course to win the championship before they had a loss and a draw in two of their final three games.[8] The team ended up in second place with 84 points. Chelsea came third, while perennial power and 2013 champions Manchester United had a disappointing season under new managerDavid Moyes (who was sacked in April) and finished seventh.[6] It was their first finish outside the top four in Premier League history, their worst finish overall since 1989–90, and the first time they had not qualified for European football in 25 years.[9] Southampton's eighth-place finish and Everton's 72 points were club records.
Sunderland became only the second team in the Premier League era to avoid relegation having been bottom of the table on Christmas Day.[6] Defeat at home to Everton on 12 April left Gus Poyet's side bottom of the table, seven points from safety (albeit with two games in hand). The club's 'great escape'[10] began with a draw away at eventual champions Manchester City, followed by a run of four wins, including remarkable away victories at Chelsea and Manchester United. Their 2–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on 7 May confirmed their top flight status for next season. Four days earlier, Cardiff City and Fulham were both relegated to theFootball League Championship, after losses away atNewcastle andStoke City, respectively. On the final day of the season, Norwich were relegated after losing toArsenal.
Two teams (Manchester City and Liverpool) scored more than 100 goals for the first time in Premier League history. The feat had only once been achieved before – by Chelsea in 2009–10.Luis Suárez won the golden boot for most goals with 31, ahead of teammateDaniel Sturridge who came second with 21 goals.Wojciech Szczęsny of Arsenal andPetr Čech of Chelsea led the league with 16 clean sheets each. In a game against Southampton,Asmir Begović became just the fifth goalkeeper in league history to score.[6] Begovic's goal was also the fastest of the season, occurring just 12 seconds into the game.[11]Mile Jedinak had the most tackles with 133. Chelsea managerJosé Mourinho lost a home game for the first time in his Premier League career, losing toSunderland and ending a run of 77-straight home games unbeaten, stretching over two stints as Chelsea manager.[6]
Twenty teams competed in the league – the top seventeen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from theChampionship. The promoted teams wereCardiff City,Hull City andCrystal Palace, returning to the top flight after absences of fifty-one, three and eight years respectively. This was also Cardiff City's first season in the Premier League. They replacedWigan Athletic,Reading andQueens Park Rangers, who were relegated to theChampionship after spending eight, one and two years in the top flight respectively.
Source:Barclays Premier League Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champion, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).[79] (C) Champions;(R) Relegated Notes: