A Sportsish Guide to the Premier League

The Premier League has kicked off!

The 2024-25 English soccer season has kicked off, bringing us the glitz, glamour, and greatness of the Premier League once again. It's star-studded with the world's top players, iconic coaches, big-time sponsors, and breathtaking stadiums. Whether you're a seasoned fan or a newcomer, get ready for the ultimate scoop on this year's Premier League. Stay tuned for all the action, drama, and excitement coming your way!

How Does It Work?

There are 20 teams total in the league from all across England. Throughout the season, each team plays each other twice- once at home and once away. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and zero for a loss. The team with the most points at the end of the season are the Premier League champions.

Who Are The Best Teams?

Manchester City have won the title for the last four years in a row. Last season, their main rivals were Arsenal who came second, and Liverpool who came third. Alongside them, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur are usually their biggest competitors, and they make up the “Big 6” teams.

Every year, the top four teams qualify for the Champions League, and the bottom three teams get relegated which means they move into the league below Premier, the EFL championship, for the next season. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League is essentially a tournament for the best teams in Europe, including the Premier League in England, La Liga in Spain, Serie A in Italy, and more. Those games happen alongside the normal Premier League games and consist of a group stage and subsequent knockout rounds.

How Long Does it Last?

The competition will finish on May 25th, 2025. The games usually occur on the weekends in the afternoon, or occasionally during the week in the evenings.

What Players Should I Look Out For?

Some of the greatest players at the moment play in the Premier League, so there are too many to name. However, Man City has Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rodri, and Kevin De Bruyne among others. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are at Arsenal, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold play for Liverpool, Cole Palmer plays for Chelsea, and Bruno Fernandes is captain of Man United. These are definitely names you want to be adding to your Fantasy Football teams.

In terms of American players, goalkeeper Matt Turner is part of the Nottingham Forest squad, Chris Richards plays for Crystal Palace, and Antonee Robinson is a defender for Fulham.

What Are Transfer Windows?

The transfer windows are two periods of time when clubs are allowed to sign new players, release players, and send players to other teams on loan. We are right in the middle of the main transfer window which will close on August 30th - this period allows teams to make changes to their squads at the beginning of the season. There is a second transfer window from January 1st to February 3rd, 2025 in the middle of the season, but the bulk of the changes are happening now.

Teams are also allowed to send players out on loan to another team, typically for a season or two. For example, Conor Gallagher has spent most of his career playing for Chelsea, but he has spent time on loan at a few other clubs between 2019 and 2022 before returning to Chelsea.

Where Do The Teams Play?

Each team has its own home stadium, and the stadiums with the largest capacity include Manchester United’s Old Trafford, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and Liverpool’s Anfield. Wembley Stadium is the largest and most famous in England, but it is not home to a specific club team- it usually hosts international matches and tournament finals.

Happy Premier League!