Premier League 2011-12 Season Review: Format and Rules

A Premier League season review is a reading of the table, not just a list of results. The 2011-12 season review follows the same structure as every Premier League season since 1995/96: 20 clubs, 38 matches each, 380 matches total, and a fixed order for breaking ties.

The mechanism: how the table is sorted

The format is a double round-robin. Twenty clubs means each club plays the other 19 clubs twice, once at home and once away. That is 38 matches per club and 380 matches in the full season. Three points go to the winner of a match, one point goes to each side in a draw, and a loss earns no points. That points total is the first and most important sorting layer of the table.

When clubs finish level on points, goal difference is the second layer. Goals scored is the third. Head-to-head record is the fourth. If the teams still cannot be separated and the position decides the title, relegation or European qualification, a play-off at a neutral venue may be used. This is the last tiebreaker, not a standard part of the season.

The same table decides relegation. The bottom three clubs are relegated to the Championship. Three clubs come up in their place: two automatic promotion places and one play-off winner. A season review is therefore structured around one table that sorts everyone, from the title winner all the way down.

History: how the Premier League reached 20 clubs

The league that appears in the 2011-12 review was founded on 20 February 1992 as the FA Premier League. It was created when First Division clubs broke away to negotiate their own broadcast deals. That is the origin of the modern competition, and it explains why the Premier League controls its own commercial arrangements.

The first Premier League season, 1992/93, had 22 clubs. The competition was later reduced to 20 clubs in 1995/96, and that is the format the 2011-12 season used. Every 2011-12 review is therefore a review of the modern 20-club format. The reduction also explains the 38-match schedule. With 20 clubs, a home-and-away season is exactly 38 games.

Squad rules: who can play in those 38 matches

A table also depends on who is eligible to play. Each club names a 25-player squad list for players over the age of 21. At least 8 of those 25 must be homegrown. Homegrown does not mean English; it means trained in England or Wales for three years before turning 21. Players under 21 are not counted against the 25, so young players can be added without removing anyone from the list.

Substitutions follow their own rule. Five substitutions are allowed per match, but they must be made in a maximum of three windows plus half-time. A double substitution is one window, and a triple substitution is also one window. The limit is on the number of pauses in play, not the number of players changed in a pause. This matters when reviews mention tactical changes; the rulebook shapes how many changes a manager can make at once.

European qualification and how places pass down

Finishing high in the table carries a clear reward. In the typical structure, the top four clubs qualify for the Champions League league phase. Fifth place and the FA Cup winner qualify for the Europa League. The League Cup winner goes to the Conference League play-off. Additional Champions League places can be earned through UEFA coefficient performance.

The pass-down rule is the part people miss. If a cup winner has already qualified through its league position, the European place does not disappear. It passes down to the next eligible club. This matters in reviews that list both league finishes and cup results, because the two lists do not always match.

Common confusions and edge cases

The most common error in reading a season review is using head-to-head before the earlier tiebreakers. Head-to-head is fourth in the order. Points, goal difference and goals scored all come before it. A team can win both league meetings against a rival and still finish behind them because the earlier tiebreakers settled the table first.

Homegrown is also widely misunderstood. A homegrown player is not necessarily English. The rule is based on training, not nationality. A player qualifies as homegrown if they were trained in England or Wales for three years before turning 21. This is why the 25-player list has an 8-homegrown minimum rather than an eight-English minimum.

Fantasy football scoring is a separate system, and it is easy to confuse with real league scoring. In FPL, a goal is worth 6 points for a goalkeeper or defender, 5 for a midfielder and 4 for a forward. An assist is worth 3. A clean sheet is worth 4 for a goalkeeper or defender and 1 for a midfielder. None of that changes the actual table; the real table still uses three points for a win and one for a draw.

Reading the 2011-12 Premier League season review is easier when the underlying rules are clear. The 20-club format, the tiebreaker order, squad limits and European qualification structure are the frame holding the results together.

FAQ

How many games did each team play in the 2011-12 Premier League?

Each club played 38 matches, one home and one away against every other club. With 20 clubs, that made 380 matches in total.

What happens if teams finish level on points in the Premier League?

Points are the first tiebreaker. Goal difference comes next, then goals scored, then head-to-head record. If the teams still cannot be separated and the position decides the title, relegation or European qualification, a play-off at a neutral venue may be used.

How many teams are relegated from the Premier League?

The bottom three clubs are relegated to the Championship. Three clubs come up in their place: two automatic promotions and one play-off winner.

What does homegrown mean in Premier League squad rules?

A homegrown player is a player trained in England or Wales for three years before turning 21. At least 8 of the 25 over-21 squad players must meet that condition. Under-21 players do not count against the 25.

Key takeaways

• The 2011-12 Premier League season review uses the 20-club, 38-match format that has been in place since 1995/96.
• Three points for a win starts the sorting; goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head follow in that order.
• The bottom three are relegated to the Championship, and three clubs are promoted in their place.
• A squad list has 25 players over 21, with at least 8 homegrown players, and under-21 players are exempt.
• European places follow a fixed order and pass down when cup winners have already qualified through league position.