The curtain came down on another Premier League campaign on Sunday, May 19th, as season 2023/24 reached its conclusion.
The campaign was another in the English top flight that produced some stunning games, goals and, at times, controversy, both on and off the pitch. Here is a rundown of important issues from the campaign, you can see a record of all the EPL results here:
Manchester City crowned champions once again
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City once again asserted their dominance, sealing their fourth straight Premier League top-flight on the final day of the campaign with a commanding 3-1 home win over West Ham.
The title was historic, as no team has ever won four straight English top-flight titles in the league’s 135-year history.
The men from Manchester were the top goalscorers in the division, scoring 96 goals, while only second-place Arsenal conceded fewer Premier League goals.
The triumph means that City has now claimed ten top-flight English titles. Only city rivals Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal have been crowned as English champions on more occasions.
For a second straight season, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal finished as Premier League runners-up. However, the Gunners produced a valiant effort, and the gap between the north London team and City was just two points.
They will undoubtedly be back stronger next season to stake a claim for their first top-flight title in two decades. However, they will once again have to compete with the City juggernaut.
For much of the season, Liverpool looked like realistic title contenders in Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign in charge of the Merseyside giants.
However, in the end, they faded with late-season defeats against Crystal Palace at home and a 2-0 loss at city rivals Everton, ending their interest in the title, as their highly-rated boss bided an emotional farewell from the club.
The Reds at least finished third place to return to the Champions League in season 2024/25 under Dutch head coach Arne Slot, who had previously enjoyed success at Feyenoord.
Aston Villa completed the top four, enjoying an excellent campaign. Spanish boss Unai Emery guided the Villans to qualification for European football’s elite competition.
Villa have not featured in the Champions League since it was known as the European Cup in 1982/83.
It was an immense achievement, considering that the Midlands outfit was closer to the relegation zone than the top four when Emery arrived at the club in October 2022.
Who else will be playing in Europe next season?
While Villa took the last Champions League spot, Tottenham finished in fifth place, two points behind the Villans in the race for the top four.
The north London club will play in the Europa League next season, which will feel like a consolation prize for a team that has produced regular top-four finishes in the last decade.
Despite enjoying a rollercoaster season, big-spending Chelsea finished sixth place, claiming a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs.
The Blues finished the season in strong form, winning their last five Premier League games, including a 5-0 hammering of West Ham at Stamford Bridge.
The late-season form hinted that Mauricio Pochettino’s exciting young squad may have much more to offer in season 2024/25.
Which clubs suffered relegation?
The fight for survival was made more complicated by the fact that Everton and Nottingham Forest were both hit with point deductions.
The Toffees eventually received two deductions amounting to eight points, while Forest received a four-point deduction.
However, in the end, the points deductions mattered little to how the relegation battle unfolded, as the three promoted teams Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United all returned to the Championship.
It was the first time since season 1997/98 that all three promoted teams have been relegated back to the Championship.
Sheffield United finished bottom of the table, having collected just 16 points in their 38 Premier League games and recording just three victories all season. Their points tally was the joint-third lowest of any team in the Premier League era.
Luton were pre-season favourites to suffer relegation. However, the Hatters put up a brave fight, and their fate was mathematically sealed on the final day of the Premier League campaign.
Burnley mounted something of a revival from March until early May, losing just once in seven Premier League games. However, the Clarets lost their final three games of the league campaign against Newcastle, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, a run that sealed their fate.
Haaland takes Golden Boot once again
A familiar name was at the top of the Premier League goal charts, as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland won the league’s Golden Boot for a second straight campaign.
The former Dortmund forward didn’t quite match his 2022/23 goal tally of 34, but scoring 27 goals in his 33 top-flight appearances was still an impressive return.
The runner-up in the Golden Boot race was Haaland’s former City teammate Cole Palmer, who enjoyed an excellent debut campaign with Chelsea producing a highly creditable 22 goals.
Newcastle forward Alexander Isak deserves credit for his 21 top-flight goals. Meanwhile, England international Phil Foden produced a career-high 19 goals in the English top flight.
Raya takes the Golden Glove award
Arsenal’s excellent defensive record helped David Raya claim the division’s Golden Glove award for the season. The Spaniard on loan from Brentford kept 16 clean sheets.
England number one Jordan Pickford picked up 13 clean sheets, the second-best in the league, in an Everton team with the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League.
Summary of the season
In short, the 2023/24 Premier League campaign produced few surprises. Manchester City won the top-flight title, so it was business as usual at the top, while Arsenal mounted a challenge to the champions.
As expected, the promoted teams struggled at the bottom of the Premier League, and if it were not for points deductions for Everton and Forest, their relegations would have been confirmed far earlier in the season.
The biggest surprise of the campaign was arguably Aston Villa’s fourth-place finish and clinching a Champions League spot.
The season was another full of controversy and drama. We can only hope that season 2024/25 can produce more excitement and thrills.
What is your best memory from Premier League season 2023/24?