Premier League rule change confirmed ahead of 2019/2020 season
Premier League
By
Mirror
| Jul 16, 2019
The Premier League have announced a change to the way they will decide where teams who end the season level on points will finish in the table.
A head-to-head rule is being introduced which means that if clubs finish level on points in the competition for important places, such as the title, Champions League qualification or relegation, their record in head-to-head matches will be used to separate them.
In previous seasons, teams involved in these specific battles who finished with the same points total, goal difference and number of goals scored would be pitted against each other in a playoff.
That is now far less likely, however, as in 2019/20 the team who have collected the most points in the head-to-head duels between the sides lying level on points, goal difference and number of goals scored will take the highest finishing position, while the team with the fewest will take the lowest place.
If clubs still cannot be separated, which would be highly unlikely, the team who scored the most goals away from home in the head-to-head matches will get the highest position.
Only if the clubs remain level in the table after this will a playoff be arranged, at a neutral ground, with the format, timing and venue determined by the Premier League Board.
There are a few other Premier League firsts coming up in the new season.
Norwich City's Onel Hernandez will become the first Cuban player to take part in the Premier League, there will be a first-ever mid-season break when each club have two weeks off in match week 26 and, of course, VAR will be used for the first time in England's top tier.
There will also be eight fixtures that have never taken place in the Premier League before, including the opening day clash between Bournemouth and Sheffield United and Aston Villa against Brighton amongst others.