Manchester City and Arsenal are tracking toward the same amount of points, and the Premier League could see tiebreakers required to decide its 2025-26 title winner.
MORE — Current Premier League table; Latest standings
Wow.
City have beaten Arsenal and after beating Burnley they have now erased a nine-point deficit. Arsenal have moved back in front on wins but Man City hold the power to keep pace.
MORE — Mikel Arteta reaction | Pep Guardiola reaction
So what’s the order for tiebreakers and who holds the advantage?
Below are all the details you need when it comes to the Premier League 2025-26 tiebreaker rules.
What are the Premier League tiebreaker rules? How are things decided after goal difference?
Each position in the Premier League table is decided by the following tiebreakers if teams finish on the same number of points.
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Team who collected the most points in head-to-head series
- Away goals scored in head-to-head games
If teams could not be separated by the above criteria and they are fighting for the title, European spots or relegation, a one-off play-off game at a neutral ground will be scheduled to decide who finishes higher.
But that won’t happen this year.
How does the Premier League head-to-head tiebreaker work?
The team who collected the most points in head-to-head games will finish higher. If teams are level after that the team who scored the most away goals in head-to-head games will finish higher. If teams are level after that then a one-off playoff game will be needed.
Who has the tiebreaker advantage between Arsenal and Manchester City?
Should Man City and Arsenal finish level on points and goal difference (City are six points back and four goals behind on GD but have two more games left to play).
Arsenal held Man City 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium in September but Man City beat Arsenal 2-1 on April 19 to win the season series with the Gunners. If goal difference and goals scored are equal, City will win the title.
Has Premier League title ever been decided by goal difference?
Yes. Once. The famous 2011-12 season, when Sergio Aguero scored a winner on the final day of the season for Manchester City in the 94th minute against QPR, was the only time the title has been decided on goal difference. Manchester City and Manchester United both finished the season on 89 points but City had a goal difference of +64 and United were on +56.
