Premier League: What happens if two teams finish with the same points and goal difference? Is there an endgame?

The Premier League title race is heating up and several teams are still in the running.

At the time of writing, defending champions Manchester City have struggled in recent weeks, allowing a resurgent Chelsea and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal into the hunt, with 19-time winners Liverpool leading the way.

Arne Slot’s side may have built a healthy cushion between themselves and the chasing pack, but the current gap couldn’t be closer between second and third.

Nothing can separate The Gunners in second and Enzo Maresca’s Blues in third.

The two London clubs have the same points total and overall goal difference. They have also scored and conceded the same number of goals at this stage of the campaign.

There is still a long way to go this season, but the current predicament begs the question: what happens if two teams finish with the same points and goal difference?

Here’s everything you need to know after a closely contested start to 2024/25.

If two teams finish the Premier League season with the same number of points, the team with the superior goal difference will finish higher in the table.

However, if teams have the same number of points and the same goal difference, the side that has scored more goals will take the highest place.

In the unlikely event that the two teams still cannot be split, the side with the superior head-to-head record has the advantage.

If that’s not enough, the two teams will be separated by away goals in their head-to-head matches.

If two teams are fighting for the title, a place in Europe or Premier League survival, and they are still perfectly level, then there is one final way to split them.

In that scenario, the two sides will compete for a one-off play-off match at a neutral venue to decide who finishes higher.

It has never happened before in the Premier League, but there is a first time for everything.