Premier League gap narrows; clubs qualify for Champions League
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 18, 2026, 7:09 AM
Last updated Aug 18, 2026
The Premier League saw a notable reduction in the gap between the top and bottom teams last season, falling from 44 points in 2024-25 to just 26 points, the smallest margin in 23 years. This change reflects a more competitive league, with Aston Villa qualifying for the Champions League by finishing seventh and Liverpool achieving a fifth-place finish with only 60 points, the lowest points total for that position in 19 years. Bournemouth and Sunderland also secured spots in European competition, marking significant achievements for both clubs.
- •Premier League gap between top four and bottom three is now 26 points.
- •Aston Villa qualified for the Champions League finishing seventh.
- •Liverpool's fifth-place finish came with only 60 points.
- •Bournemouth and Sunderland qualified for European competition.
- •This marks the smallest points gap since 2002-03.
- 7:09 AMYahoo Sports — Is gap between Champions League and Championship getting smaller?
"Last season, the Premier League was arguably more competitive than it has been for years. While the 65 points between champions Arsenal and bottom side Wolves was around the average for a 38-game season (63), a real revolution took place in mid-table. Since the league was reduced to 20 teams in 1995-96, the gap between the top four and the bottom three – between what has often been the Champions League and the Championship – had been increasing as the seasons went by, with the 'bigger' clubs profiting from their European adventures and the extra money they earned by regularly finishing higher in the table.
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