Premier League: What happens if two teams finish with the same points and goal difference? Is there a play-off?
Updated 13/05/2026 at 21:59 GMT+1
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The Premier League title race looks set to go down to the wire, with Arsenal and Manchester City fighting to finish first.
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Arsenal remain in control of the battle for the title, with City two points behind the leaders following Wednesday's 3-0 win against Crystal Palace.
City's 3-3 draw against Everton on May 4 meant Pep Guardiola's side would be hoping for an Arsenal slip-up if they are to pull back level on points, or even go ahead of The Gunners.
But - thanks to a seismic VAR call in Arsenal's 1-0 win over West Ham United at the weekend - that has yet to materialise.
Should Mikel Arteta's side drop points against Burnley or Palace in their final two matches, City would be allowed a route back into title contention.
And there's little to separate the two teams in terms of goal difference, with City marginally ahead at +43, with Arsenal holding a +42 difference.
The two teams are not far away in terms of goals scored, too: Arsenal have 68 and City have 75.
There is still plenty of football to be played, but the current predicament does beg the question: what happens if two teams finish with the same points and goal difference?
Here is everything you need to know ahead of what promises to be a tense run-in.
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How are league positions decided if two teams have the same goal difference?
If two teams finish the Premier League season with the same number of points, then the team with the superior goal difference will finish higher in the table.
However, if teams have the same number of points and the same goal difference, then the side which has scored more goals will take the higher spot.
In the unlikely event that the two teams still can't be split, the side with the superior head-to-head record has the advantage.
If that is not enough, then the two teams would be separated by away goals in their head-to-head matches.
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What if the teams still can't be separated?
If two teams are fighting for the title, a spot in Europe or Premier League survival, and they are still on an entirely level footing, then there is one final way to split them.
In that scenario, the two sides will contest a one-off play-off game at a neutral venue to decide who finishes higher.
This has never happened before in the Premier League, but there is a first time for everything.
However, there will not be a play-off game for the league title this season after City sealed a crucial win at the Etihad Stadium over Arsenal.
A play-off decider could have been on the cards if both teams drew 1-1 last month, given it was the same scoreline in the reverse fixture in September.
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