FA Premier League 2004-05

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The 2004/05 season of the FA Premier League began in August 2004 and ended in May 2005. Chelsea F.C. became champions on 30 April 2005.

Promoted teams

These teams were promoted from the First Division at the start of the season:

• Norwich City (First Division Champion)
• West Bromwich Albion (automatic)
• Crystal Palace (playoff winner)

Relegated teams

These teams were relegated to the Football League Championship at the end of the season:

• Crystal Palace
• Norwich City
• Southampton

Chelsea's title success

Chelsea completed their first season under the management of José Mourinho with only their second league title, and their first in 50 years. The success was completed with a Premiership record of 95 points (29 wins, 8 draws and 1 defeat) and a unique defensive record of just 15 league goals conceded. Key players in this triumph were goalkeeper Petr Cech, midfielders Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele, defender John Terry and striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Also in contention

Although Chelsea led the Premiership virtually all season long, they faced stiff competition from eventual runners-up Arsenal and third-placed Manchester United—who also achieved Champions League qualification. The title seemed to be heading towards Highbury once again, after they continued their unbeaten streak to 49 matches and leading the Premiership by five points and eleven points clear of Manchester United. However on 24 October Arsenal's unbeaten run ended at 49 when they controversially lost to Manchester United at Old Trafford with a scoreline of Manchester United 2 - 0 Arsenal. Arsenal's form then dropped dramatically as Chelsea continued in great form and Manchester United kickstarted their campaign, at one stage going into second position after defeating Arsenal 4 - 2 at Highbury on 1 February (their first team to do so since Leeds in 2003). However with Chelsea steamrolling the league with their powerful albeit defensive style, United's form collapsed after drawing at home to Blackburn and being defeated by Norwich City; this allowed Arsenal to pass United, taking second place.

The fourth Champions League place went to Everton, who had been among the relegation favourites after the early season sale of striker Wayne Rooney (PFA Young Player of the Year) to Manchester United. Fifth-placed Liverpool would normally have qualified for the UEFA Cup, but eventually were allowed by UEFA to defend their Champions League title, despite finishing outside the top four. The next two teams, Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough, achieved UEFA Cup qualification due to the bizarre circumstances where both FA Cup finalists and the League Cup winner all qualified for the Champions League via their league position. Liverpool's entry into the Champions League did not affect either Blackburn Rovers or Boro's UEFA Cup entry.

On June 9, UEFA gave the green light to allow Liverpool to defend their Champions League title, forfeiting the Liverpool UEFA Cup slot given to the fifth placed team. They had to enter in the first qualifying round, where they defeated Welsh league champs TNS in a two-legged home-and-away series to get to the second qualifying round of the competition. Before the start of the 2005-06 league season, Liverpool would also win their second-round tie against Lithuanian champions FBK Kaunas.

The relegation dog fight

The relegation battle was one of the most dramatic in English history. In each of the last three weekends of the season, the team that was bottom of the table at the start of the weekend finished it outside the drop zone. The final round of the season on 15 May started with West Bromwich Albion on the bottom, Southampton and Crystal Palace one point clear, and Norwich City in the last safe spot and two points from the bottom. For the first time since the advent of the current Premier League in 1992-1993, no club was assured of relegation going into the final day. The final matchday was publicised by Sky Sports as 'Survival Sunday', with accompanying promotional material advertising the last matchday like a title fight or epic movie blockbuster.

West Brom, who had been bottom of the table and eight points from safety at Christmas, did their part by defeating Portsmouth at home 2-0. Norwich, the only side to have their fate completely in their own hands, lost 6-0 at Fulham and went down. Southampton lost 2-1 at home to Manchester United. Palace, away to Charlton, were leading 2-1 in the second half and eight minutes from safety, but the Addicks' Jonathan Fortune equalised to consign the Eagles to The Championship. Thus, West Brom stayed up, and changed history, becoming the first club in Premiership history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas.

At the end of 90 minutes in all 4 matches, Sky cameras focused on West Brom's ground, The Hawthorns, as confirmation of other results began to filter through. Once the realisation dawned on the players and fans that survival had been achieved, a mass pitch invasion was sparked, with huge celebrations. The Portsmouth fans in the away end of the ground joined in the celebrations and party atmosphere—as through losing 2-0 to West Brom, they had 'helped' relegate arch-rivals Southampton. Also, the defeat itself mattered little to Portsmouth, as they would be unable to improve on their 16th position due to 15th-placed Blackburn Rovers' greater points tally.

Going down...

18th place in the final Premiership table went to Crystal Palace, who drew 2-2 with Charlton Athletic on the final day of the season after being eight minutes away from safety. This made way for West Bromwich Albion's Premiership survival. 19th place went to Norwich City, whose fate was confirmed by a 6-0 hammering at Fulham on the final day—a result which underlined the frailty of their defence, which had leaked 77 goals in 38 Premiership games. Bottom place went to Southampton, who lost 2-1 at home to Manchester United and were relegated after 27 years in the top flight.

...Coming up

Sunderland, who finished top of the 2004-05 Coca-Cola League Championship, were the first team to secure promotion to the Premiership for the 2005-06 season. The second promotion place was secured on the final day of the season by Championship runners-up Wigan Athletic, in only their 27th season of league football. The third promotion place went to West Ham United, who defeated Preston North End in the Championship playoff final.

Final league table

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points;

Top goal scorers

Results

• August 2004
• September 2004
• October 2004
• November 2004
• December 2004
• January 2005
• February 2005
• March 2005
• April 2005
• May 2005

See also

• 2004-05 in English football

fr:Championnat d'Angleterre de football FA Premier League 2004-05