English Premier League Soccer

The Premier League was formed in 1992 following the decision by the clubs in the Football League First Division to breakaway from that league administration, in existence since 1888, in order to receive a greater share of the increasingly lucrative television rights deal. The Premiership, as it is often referred to, has since become the most watched league in the world.

This season, 2008-9, combined revenues of the 20 clubs is expected to be around £2 billion. The English Premier League is ranked first first in the UEFA rankings of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last five-years, ahead of Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A.

The season consists of each club playing 38 games - each club plays the twice, once at 'home' and once 'away' and the league champion is decided by the team that collects the most points - three for a win and one for a draw - over the season.

Although a total of 42 different teams have competed in the Premiership, only four have actually managed to win it - Manchester United, Blackburn, Arsenal and Chelsea. Surprisingly the club that holds the most English League titles, Liverpool, has never won the Premier League!

It's all very well knowing all the stats and info about the past, but history is unfolding daily right before our eyes in the English Premier League.

In order to keep up on the latest news and opinion we longer need the chap pictured on the right. We have the internet!

For news, analysis and opinion on what's going on in English football be sure to pay a visit to -

English Premier League.org

Here's a recent feature (updated weekly):

Premier League Weekend 18th-19th October

Middlesborough 0 - 5 Chelsea

Chelsea battered 'Boro at the Riverside to continue their fine start to the season and leave manager Scolari purring with delight. Salomon Kalou opened the scoring, but despite their total dominance...
Read more

Quote of the day:

We all love a bit of gossip, don't we? Here are the latest newspaper stories and rumours from the Premier League (updated daily);

Manchester United are battling Real Madrid for the signature of 18-year-old Brazilian Douglas Costa. (News of the World)

Liverpool will face a mutiny of their top stars, led by Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano, if manager Rafael Benitez leaves the club. (News of the World)

Portsmouth are considering offloading striker David Nugent to Bolton in January. (News of the World)

Arsenal look set to sign midfielder Yaya Toure, brother of Gunners defender Toure. (News of the World)

Tottenham want to sign Reading striker Kevin Doyle. (News of the World)

Wigan manager Steve Bruce is worried he will not be able to stop strikers Amr Zaki and Emile Heskey from leaving the club. (News of the World)

Blackburn want Racing Genk defender Eric Matoukou. (News of the World)

Manchester City players are living in fear that their jobs will be taken by big-money imports brought in by the club's new owners. (News of the World)

Meanwhile, City boss Mark Hughes has said there is no chance of him signing Brazilian striker Ronaldo. (Various)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is set for fresh talks over a £3m-a-year contract extension. (News of the World)

Hull manager Phil Brown wants to sign Newcastle striker Alan Smith initially on loan. (News of the World)

Sheffield United right-back Kyle Naughton, 19, is attracting the attention of Manchester City and Arsenal. (Sunday Express)

Wolves and Sheffield United are leading the chase for Aston Villa midfielder Wayne Routledge. (News of the World)

Coventry will slash their asking price for Michael Mifsud from £1.5m to £750,000, which will alert Norwich and Crystal Palace. (News of the World)

Doncaster are ready to loan out striker Darren Byfield, with MK Dons and Millwall keen. (News of the World)
Manchester United's top brass have been discussing the possibility of bringing Jose Mourinho to the club to replace manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of next season. (News of the World)

QPR have made Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson their top choice to replace Iain Dowie. (News of the World)

But Rangers chiefs Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone are fighting Lakshmi Mittal to appoint Terry Venables as manager instead. (Mail on Sunday)

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has turned up the heat ahead of Sunday's clash with Liverpool by insisting the Reds will never be considered great until they end the long wait for the Premier League title. (News of the World)

West Ham striker Craig Bellamy says new boss Gianfranco Zola has transformed the club since he took over and claims he is already a better player under the Italian's influence. (News of the World)

New Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre believes the current crop of young Gunners can go on to be better than the youngsters that achieved so much success at his old club Manchester United. (News of the World)

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney faces the threat of an FA charge for kissing the badge on his shirt during the 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday. (Mail on Sunday)

And Newcastle's Joey Barton could be in the same position after he also kissed his club badge in response to provocation at Sunderland. (Sunday Express)

England manager Fabio Capello is believed to have been unimpressed by David Bentley's attitude when the Tottenham player was called into the national squad, and an FA source says the midfielder is unlikely to get another chance. (News of the World)

David Beckham has revealed he is joining AC Milan on loan from LA Galaxy purely to save his England career. (Various)

Former prime minister Tony Blair will be asked to help lead England's floundering bid to host the 2018 World Cup. (Mail on Sunday)

Uefa president Michel Platini has claimed England will never win the World Cup as long as the Premier League is dominated by foreign players. (The Observer)

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has become an official ambassador for Mercedes and they are considering using him to promote their luxury cars. (News of the World)

Chelsea have instigated a comprehensive financial audit of club expenditure in a cost-cutting exercise as the financial crisis begins to bit at the highest-spending club in football. (The Observer)

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear has earned £277 per minute since taking the reins at the club - despite having yet to guide them to a win. (News of the World)



For news, analysis and opinion on what's going on in English football be sure to pay a visit to -

English Premier League.org

Goals are the lifeblood of the game, but whether they are spectacular screamers from 30 yards, or tap-ins from three, they all count the same! Who are the strikers that have had the fans on their feet most often?

All-time top scorers in the Premier League
(Premier League goals only)

1 Alan Shearer 260 (pictured right)

2 Andrew Cole 187

3 Thierry Henry 174

4 Robbie Fowler* 161

5 Les Ferdinand 150

6 Teddy Sheringham 147

7 Michael Owen* 138

8 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 128

9 Dwight Yorke 123

10 Ian Wright 113

Correct as of 7 September 2008
* denotes players still playing in Premier League