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.
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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:
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. £20million striker Didier Drogba had a reasonable first season but was relatively disappointing in comparison with less expensively signed players.
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 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. The next two teams achieved UEFA Cup qualification—Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough, due to the bizzare circumstances where the top three had been in the FA/League Cup UEFA Cup slots, and Liverpool's entry into the Champions League.
On June 9th, UEFA gave the green light to allow Liverpool to defend their Champions League title, forfieting the Liverpool UEFA Cup slot given to the fifth placed team.
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.
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, were demolished 6-0 at Fulham. 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 equalized to consign the Eagles to The Championship. West Brom became the first team in Premiership history to survive after being bottom of the table at Christmas.
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
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P = Games Played; W = Games Won; D = Games Drawn; L = Games Lost; F = Goals For; A = Goals Against; Pts = Points
See also
| FA Premier League seasons | ||
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1992-93 |
1993-94 |
1994-95 |
1995-96 |
1996-97 |
1997-98 |
1998-99 | ||
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League competitions |
Cup competitions | |
| FA Premier League | FA Cup | |
| The Football League (Champ, 1, 2) | England (men) | League Cup |
| Football Conference (Nat, N, S) | FA Community Shield | |
| Northern Premier League (Prem, 1) | (women) | Football League Trophy |
| Southern League (Prem, 1W, 1E) | List of clubs | FA Trophy |
| Isthmian League (Prem, 1, 2) | FA Vase | |
| English football league system | Records | FA NLS Cup |
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