# 2002–03 FA Premier League

The 2002–03 FA Premier League (known as the FA Barclaycard Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 11th season of the Premier League, the top division in English football. The first matches were played on 17 August 2002 and the last were played on 11 May 2003.
Manchester United ended the campaign as champions for the eighth time in eleven years – an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact that defending champions Arsenal had been in the lead by eight points on 2 March. After defeating Birmingham at the start of the season, Arsenal equalled a top-flight record of fourteen straight wins but failed to extend it in their next game at West Ham United, being held to a 2–2 draw. They remained unbeaten for 30 Premier League games, 23 of which were played away, until late October, and scored in a record 55 consecutive league games, beating the previous record of 47 set by Chesterfield during the 1930-31 Third Division North season. This run ended at Old Trafford on 7 December 2002, when Manchester United won 2–0. Arsenal then threw away a priceless lead against Bolton Wanderers and finally surrendered the title with a 3–2 home defeat to Leeds United in their antepenultimate game of the season, a result that also saved Leeds from relegation. Newcastle United and Chelsea were the remaining Champions League qualifiers, at the expense of Liverpool who had to settle for the UEFA Cup; they would be joined in Europe by Blackburn Rovers for a second successive season, along with Southampton who were back in Europe for the first time since 1984.
At the bottom end of the table, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland were relegated to the Football League First Division; West Ham's 42 points from a 38-game season was a record for a relegated team. Promoted to replace them were 2002–03 Football League First Division champions Portsmouth, runners-up Leicester City, and play-off winner Wolverhampton Wanderers.

## Teams

Twenty teams competed in the league – the top seventeen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the First Division. The promoted teams were Manchester City (immediately returning after a season's absence), West Bromwich Albion, and Birmingham City (both teams returning to the top flight after a sixteen-year absence). This was also both West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City's first season in the Premier League. They replaced Ipswich Town (relegated to the First Division after two seasons in the top flight), Derby County, and Leicester City (both teams relegated after a six-year presence).

### Stadiums and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Arsenal | London (Highbury) | Arsenal Stadium | 38,419 |
| Aston Villa | Birmingham (Aston) | Villa Park | 42,573 |
| Birmingham City | Birmingham (Bordesley) | St Andrew's | 30,009 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Blackburn | Ewood Park | 31,367 |
| Bolton Wanderers | Bolton | Reebok Stadium | 28,723 |
| Charlton Athletic | London (Charlton) | The Valley | 27,111 |
| Chelsea | London (Fulham) | Stamford Bridge | 42,055 |
| Everton | Liverpool (Walton) | Goodison Park | 40,569 |
| Fulham | London (Shepherd's Bush) | Loftus Road | 19,148 |
| Leeds United | Leeds | Elland Road | 40,242 |
| Liverpool | Liverpool (Anfield) | Anfield | 45,522 |
| Manchester City | Manchester (Moss Side) | Maine Road | 35,150 |
| Manchester United | Manchester (Old Trafford) | Old Trafford | 68,174 |
| Middlesbrough | Middlesbrough | Riverside Stadium | 35,049 |
| Newcastle United | Newcastle upon Tyne | St James' Park | 52,387 |
| Southampton | Southampton | St Mary's Stadium | 32,689 |
| Sunderland | Sunderland | Stadium of Light | 49,000 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | London (Tottenham) | White Hart Lane | 36,240 |
| West Bromwich Albion | West Bromwich | The Hawthorns | 28,003 |
| West Ham United | London (Upton Park) | Boleyn Ground | 35,647 |
* ↑ Fulham temporarily relocated to Loftus Road (home stadium of Queens Park Rangers) after Craven Cottage was in need of a refurbishment.
* ↑ This was Manchester City's last season at Maine Road as they were scheduled to relocate to the 48,000 seater City of Manchester Stadium.

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| Arsenal | Arsène Wenger | Patrick Vieira | Nike | O2 |
| Aston Villa | Graham Taylor | Steve Staunton | Diadora | Rover Company |
| Birmingham City | Steve Bruce | Jeff Kenna | Le Coq Sportif | Phones4U |
| Blackburn Rovers | Graeme Souness | Garry Flitcroft | Kappa | AMD Processors |
| Bolton Wanderers | Sam Allardyce | Guðni Bergsson | Reebok | Reebok |
| Charlton Athletic | Alan Curbishley | Graham Stuart | Le Coq Sportif | All Sport |
| Chelsea | Claudio Ranieri | Marcel Desailly | Umbro | Fly Emirates |
| Everton | David Moyes | David Weir | Puma | Kejian |
| Fulham | Chris Coleman | Andy Melville | Adidas | Betfair |
| Leeds United | Peter Reid | Dominic Matteo | Nike | Strongbow |
| Liverpool | Gérard Houllier | Sami Hyypiä | Reebok | Carlsberg |
| Manchester City | Kevin Keegan | Ali Benarbia | Le Coq Sportif | First Advice |
| Manchester United | Sir Alex Ferguson | Roy Keane | Nike | Vodafone |
| Middlesbrough | Steve McClaren | Gareth Southgate | Erreà | Dial-a-Phone |
| Newcastle United | Sir Bobby Robson | Alan Shearer | Adidas | NTL |
| Southampton | Gordon Strachan | Jason Dodd | Saints | Friends Provident |
| Sunderland | Mick McCarthy | Michael Gray | Nike | Reg Vardy |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Glenn Hoddle | Teddy Sheringham | Kappa | Thomson |
| West Bromwich Albion | Gary Megson | Sean Gregan | The Baggies (by club) | West Bromwich Building Society |
| West Ham United | Trevor Brooking (caretaker) | Joe Cole | Fila | Dr. Martens |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Leeds United | David O'Leary | Sacked | 27 June 2002 | Pre-season | Terry Venables | 8 July 2002 |
| Sunderland | Peter Reid | Sacked | 7 October 2002 | 17th | Howard Wilkinson | 10 October 2002 |
| Sunderland | Howard Wilkinson | Sacked | 10 March 2003 | 20th | Mick McCarthy | 12 March 2003 |
| Leeds United | Terry Venables | Sacked | 21 March 2003 | 15th | Peter Reid | 21 March 2003 |
| Fulham | Jean Tigana | Sacked | 17 April 2003 | 15th | Chris Coleman (caretaker) | 17 April 2003 |
| West Ham United | Glenn Roeder | Illness | 22 April 2003 | 18th | Trevor Brooking (caretaker) | 25 April 2003 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Manchester United (C) | 38 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 74 | 34 | +40 | 83 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Arsenal | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 85 | 42 | +43 | 78 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 38 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 63 | 48 | +15 | 69 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 68 | 38 | +30 | 67 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 5 | Liverpool | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 64 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 60 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 7 | Everton | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 48 | 49 | −1 | 59 | |
| 8 | Southampton | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 43 | 46 | −3 | 52 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 9 | Manchester City | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 47 | 54 | −7 | 51 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup qualifying round |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 51 | 62 | −11 | 50 | |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 49 | |
| 12 | Charlton Athletic | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 45 | 56 | −11 | 49 | |
| 13 | Birmingham City | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 41 | 49 | −8 | 48 | |
| 14 | Fulham | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 48 | |
| 15 | Leeds United | 38 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 58 | 57 | +1 | 47 | |
| 16 | Aston Villa | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 45 | |
| 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 51 | −10 | 44 | |
| 18 | West Ham United (R) | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 42 | 59 | −17 | 42 | Relegation to Football League First Division |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion (R) | 38 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 29 | 65 | −36 | 26 | Relegation to Football League First Division |
| 20 | Sunderland (R) | 38 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 21 | 65 | −44 | 19 | Relegation to Football League First Division |
* ↑ Since Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Cup via the league, their place in the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners reverted to the league and was awarded to Blackburn Rovers as the highest-placed team not already qualified for European competitions.
* ↑ Since Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their place in the UEFA Cup as FA Cup winners went to Southampton, who were the FA Cup runners-up.
* ↑ Manchester City qualified as the highest-ranked team not already qualified for European competitions of Premiership Fair Play League by The Football Association, the top association among UEFA Fair Play ranking winners.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ARS | AVL | BIR | BLB | BOL | CHA | CHE | EVE | FUL | LEE | LIV | MCI | MUN | MID | NEW | SOU | SUN | TOT | WBA | WHU |
| Arsenal | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 5–2 | 3–1 |
| Aston Villa | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 |
| Birmingham City | 0–4 | 3–0 | — | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Charlton Athletic | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–6 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 |
| Chelsea | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 |
| Everton | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Fulham | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 |
| Leeds United | 1–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | — | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Liverpool | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| Manchester City | 1–5 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | — | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 |
| Manchester United | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 5–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 |
| Middlesbrough | 0–2 | 2–5 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 |
| Newcastle United | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–6 | 2–0 | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 |
| Southampton | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Sunderland | 0–4 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | — | 1–2 |
| West Ham United | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–4 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | — |

## Overall

* Most wins – Manchester United (25)
* Fewest wins – Sunderland (4)
* Most draws – Bolton Wanderers (14)
* Fewest draws – Leeds United (5)
* Most losses – Sunderland (27)
* Fewest losses – Manchester United (5)
* Most goals scored – Arsenal (85)
* Fewest goals scored – Sunderland (21)
* Most goals conceded – West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland (65)
* Fewest goals conceded – Manchester United (34)

## Season statistics
### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Michael Ricketts for Bolton Wanderers against Fulham (17 August 2002)
* Last goal of the season: Mark Viduka for Leeds United against Aston Villa (11 May 2003)

### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United | 25 |
| 2 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal | 24 |
| 3 | James Beattie | Southampton | 23 |
| 4 | Mark Viduka | Leeds United | 20 |
| 5 | Michael Owen | Liverpool | 19 |
| 6 | Alan Shearer | Newcastle United | 17 |
| 7 | Nicolas Anelka | Manchester City | 15 |
| 8 | Gianfranco Zola | Chelsea | 14 |
| 8 | Robert Pires | Arsenal | 14 |
| 8 | Harry Kewell | Leeds United | 14 |
| 8 | Paul Scholes | Manchester United | 14 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Michael Owen | Liverpool | Manchester City | 3–0 | 28 September 2002 |
| James Beattie | Southampton | Fulham | 4–2 | 27 October 2002 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United | Newcastle United | 5–3 | 23 November 2002 |
| Robbie Keane | Tottenham Hotspur | Everton | 4–3 | 12 January 2003 |
| Thierry Henry | Arsenal | West Ham United | 3–1 | 27 January 2003 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United | Fulham | 3–0 | 22 March 2003 |
| Mark Viduka | Leeds United | Charlton Athletic | 6–1 | 5 April 2003 |
| Paul Scholes | Manchester United | Newcastle United | 6–2 | 12 April 2003 |
| Michael Owen$^4$ | Liverpool | West Bromwich Albion | 6–0 | 26 April 2003 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United | Charlton Athletic | 4–1 | 3 May 2003 |
| Jermaine Pennant | Arsenal | Southampton | 6–1 | 7 May 2003 |
| Robert Pires | Arsenal | Southampton | 6–1 | 7 May 2003 |
| Freddie Ljungberg | Arsenal | Sunderland | 4–0 | 11 May 2003 |
* $^4$ Player scored 4 goals

### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Michael Ricketts for Bolton Wanderers against Fulham (17 August 2002)
* Fastest goal of the season:
* Largest winning margin: 6 goals
** West Bromwich Albion 0–6 Liverpool (26 April 2003)
* Highest scoring game: 8 goals
** Manchester United 5–3 Newcastle United (23 November 2002)
** Newcastle United 2–6 Manchester United (12 April 2003)
* Most goals scored in a match by a losing team: 3 goals
** West Ham United 3–4 Leeds United (10 November 2002)
** Manchester United 5–3 Newcastle United (23 November 2002)
** Bolton Wanderers 4–3 Newcastle United (26 December 2002)
** Tottenham Hotspur 4–3 Everton (12 January 2003)

### Clean sheets

* Most clean sheets: 15
** Blackburn Rovers
* Fewest clean sheets: 5
** Tottenham Hotspur

### Discipline

* Worst overall disciplinary record (1 pt per yellow card, 3 pts per red card):
* Best overall disciplinary record:
* Most yellow cards (club):
* Most yellow cards (player): 13 – Iván Campo (Bolton Wanderers)
* Most red cards (club):
* Most red card (player): 3
** Franck Queudrue (Middlesbrough)
* Most fouls (player):

## Awards
### Monthly awards

| Month | Manager of the Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month |
| Month | Manager | Club | Player | Club |
| August | Glenn Hoddle | Tottenham Hotspur | Sylvain Wiltord | Arsenal |
| September | Arsène Wenger | Arsenal | Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
| October | Gérard Houllier | Liverpool | Gianfranco Zola | Chelsea |
| November | David Moyes | Everton | James Beattie | Southampton |
| December | Gordon Strachan | Southampton | Alan Shearer | Newcastle United |
| January | Sir Bobby Robson | Newcastle United | Paul Scholes | Manchester United |
| February | Alan Curbishley | Charlton Athletic | Robert Pires | Arsenal |
| March | Glenn Roeder | West Ham United | Steven Gerrard | Liverpool |
| April | Sir Alex Ferguson | Manchester United | Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United |

### Annual awards
#### PFA Players' Player of the Year

The PFA Players' Player of the Year award for 2003 was won by Thierry Henry of Arsenal. This was the Frenchman's first award of the season and he beat off competition from the previous winner Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, in alphabetical order, was as follows:
| Player | Team |
| James Beattie | Southampton |
| Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | Manchester United |
| Paul Scholes | Manchester United |
| Alan Shearer | Newcastle United |
| Gianfranco Zola | Chelsea |

#### PFA Young Player of the Year

The PFA Young Player of the Year award was won by Jermaine Jenas of Newcastle United. Wayne Rooney was voted runner-up, and John O'Shea finished third in one of his first full seasons as a United player.
The shortlist for the award was as follows:
| Player | Team |
| Craig Bellamy | Newcastle United |
| Jermain Defoe | West Ham United |
| Jermaine Jenas | Newcastle United |
| John O'Shea | Manchester United |
| Scott Parker | Charlton Athletic |
| Wayne Rooney | Everton |

#### PFA Team of the Year

| Goalkeeper: | Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers) |
| Defence: | Stephen Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), William Gallas (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal) |
| Midfield: | Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United), Robert Pires (Arsenal) |
| Attack: | Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) |

#### Premier League Manager of the Year

The Premier League Manager of the Year award was won by Sir Alex Ferguson for winning his eighth title and regaining the league after a superb second half to the season, involving an 18-match unbeaten run.

#### Premier League Player of the Year

The Premier League Player of the Year award was given to Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose form, creativity and goals all helped Manchester United regain the league from Arsenal.

#### Premier League Golden Boot

The Premier League Golden Boot award was also won by Ruud van Nistelrooy who scored 25 goals in 38 league matches and 44 in all competitions. He also equalled his record of eight goals in eight successive matches at the beginning of the season, a milestone he had reached the previous season. Van Nistelrooy finished one goal ahead of Arsenal's Thierry Henry while James Beattie managed 23 league goals for Southampton.

#### Premier League Golden Gloves

The Premier League Golden Gloves award was given to Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who proved vital in their quest for UEFA Champions League football. He kept twelve clean sheets – the most in the season – and only conceded 35 goals. Viewers of ITV's On the Ball voted Cudicini, ahead of Southampton keeper Antti Niemi, and Blackburn Rovers' Brad Friedel.

#### Goal of the Season

The annual award was won by a wonder goal from Thierry Henry against Tottenham Hotspur, on 16 November 2002, voted by viewers of ITV's The Premiership.
   Henry – chance for a break out, Wiltord to his right, Bergkamp to his left...they'll do well to catch up with Thierry Henry though...he's drifted away from Carr – HENRY! What a fabulous solo goal by Thierry Henry. A long distance goal followed by a long distance celebration...and Arsenal are back in the goalscoring business, after their midweek blank. Henry's been short of a goal or two just recently...but look at the confidence as he breaks from inside his own half, shrugging off Etherington, stepping away from Carr and from King...and picking his spot – he had options...but he had eyes for only one thing – the back of Kasey Keller's net. Thierry Henry moves into double figures for the season.
The French striker picked up the ball from his side of the pitch and ran almost 30 yards (27 m), twisting and turning the Spurs defence to unleash a thunderous shot. In celebration, he ran the distance of the whole pitch and skidded in front of the Spurs faithful. The goal proved important as it helped them regain their position at the top of the Premiership from Liverpool.

#### Premier League Fair Play Award

The Premier League Fair Play Award was won by Manchester United.
| Pos | Club | Games played | Red/Yellow cards | Positive play | Respect toward opponents | Respect toward referee | Behaviour of team officials | Points | Score | Average |
| 1 | Manchester United | 38 | 332 | 325 | 223 | 226 | 206 | 1312 | 328.00 | 8.63 |
| 2 | Newcastle United | 38 | 325 | 318 | 217 | 218 | 200 | 1278 | 319.50 | 8.41 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 38 | 314 | 306 | 213 | 221 | 200 | 1254 | 313.50 | 8.25 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 38 | 324 | 301 | 224 | 225 | 180 | 1254 | 313.50 | 8.25 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 38 | 310 | 288 | 224 | 231 | 194 | 1247 | 311.75 | 8.20 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 38 | 315 | 319 | 214 | 212 | 180 | 1240 | 310.00 | 8.16 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 38 | 318 | 290 | 224 | 229 | 173 | 1234 | 308.50 | 8.12 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 307 | 292 | 219 | 222 | 178 | 1218 | 304.50 | 8.01 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 38 | 304 | 283 | 212 | 218 | 201 | 1218 | 304.50 | 8.01 |
| 10 | Everton | 38 | 304 | 293 | 217 | 214 | 185 | 1213 | 303.25 | 7.98 |
| 11 | Sunderland | 38 | 314 | 255 | 220 | 226 | 196 | 1211 | 302.75 | 7.97 |
| 12 | Fulham | 38 | 304 | 284 | 203 | 211 | 203 | 1205 | 301.25 | 7.93 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 38 | 304 | 290 | 206 | 210 | 194 | 1204 | 301.00 | 7.92 |
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 38 | 316 | 273 | 219 | 214 | 181 | 1203 | 300.75 | 7.91 |
| 15 | Southampton | 38 | 323 | 282 | 221 | 220 | 154 | 1200 | 300.00 | 7.89 |
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 309 | 291 | 215 | 207 | 174 | 1196 | 299.00 | 7.87 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 38 | 298 | 281 | 211 | 212 | 191 | 1193 | 298.25 | 7.85 |
| 18 | Charlton Athletic | 38 | 316 | 270 | 210 | 214 | 177 | 1187 | 296.75 | 7.81 |
| 19 | Bolton Wanderers | 38 | 299 | 279 | 218 | 217 | 161 | 1174 | 293.50 | 7.72 |
| 20 | Birmingham City | 38 | 295 | 271 | 201 | 213 | 179 | 1159 | 289.75 | 7.63 |