Chelsea won the 2004/05 Premier League. They finished on 95 points, 12 ahead of Arsenal, and it was the club's first Premier League title.
How the season ended
The season ran from 14 August 2004 to 15 May 2005. There were 20 clubs, each playing 38 matches, for a total of 380 matches and 975 goals, an average of 2.57 per match.
At the top, Chelsea finished clear of the field. The top four were Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton, while the bottom three were Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Southampton.
Premier League 2004/05 final table
The official final table is below.
| Pos | Club | Played | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 38 | +57 | 95 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 38 | +51 | 83 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 38 | +32 | 77 |
| 4 | Everton | 38 | -1 | 61 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 38 | +11 | 58 |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 38 | +5 | 58 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 38 | +7 | 55 |
| 8 | Manchester City | 38 | +8 | 52 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | +6 | 52 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 38 | -7 | 47 |
| 11 | Charlton Athletic | 38 | -16 | 46 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 38 | -6 | 45 |
| 13 | Fulham | 38 | -8 | 44 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 38 | -10 | 44 |
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | -11 | 42 |
| 16 | Portsmouth | 38 | -16 | 39 |
| 17 | West Bromwich Albion | 38 | -25 | 34 |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 38 | -21 | 33 |
| 19 | Norwich City | 38 | -35 | 33 |
| 20 | Southampton | 38 | -21 | 32 |
Why Chelsea were the champions
The headline fact is simple, but the scale of the season matters too. Chelsea went through their 38 league matches with 29 wins, 8 draws and 1 defeat, which explains both the title and the gap back to second place.
They also set the tone with their defending. Chelsea conceded only 15 goals, the fewest by any club in a Premier League season from 1992/93 to 2025/26, and their 95 points stood as a Premier League record until Manchester City reached 100 in 2017/18.
Season awards and key leaders
The main individual honours and statistical leaders are listed here.
| Award | Winner | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot | Thierry Henry (Arsenal) | 25 goals |
| Golden Glove | Petr Cech (Chelsea) | 24 clean sheets |
| Most assists | Frank Lampard | 18 assists |
| Player of the Season | Frank Lampard (Chelsea) | - |
| Manager of the Season | José Mourinho (Chelsea) | - |
The honours were split: Arsenal had the top scorer in Thierry Henry, but Chelsea collected the title, the Player of the Season award, the Manager of the Season award and the Golden Glove.
Frank Lampard also led the league for assists. The Playmaker award was not yet part of the Premier League's award list at that time; it was introduced in 2017/18.
FAQ
Who got relegated from the Premier League in 2004/05?
Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Southampton finished in the bottom three and went down. Crystal Palace and Norwich City were both promoted into the division for that season and went straight back down.
Who was the top scorer in the Premier League in 2004/05?
Thierry Henry of Arsenal won the Golden Boot with 25 goals. That was the official top-scorer award for the season.
Who won the Premier League in 2005?
The title that ended in May 2005 was won by Chelsea. In official season terms, that is the 2004/05 Premier League.
Which teams were promoted into the Premier League for 2004/05?
West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Norwich City came up for the season. West Bromwich Albion stayed in the league, while Crystal Palace and Norwich City were relegated.