2013–14 Premier League


The 2013–14 Premier League was the 22nd season of the Premier League, the top-flight English professional league for men's football clubs. The fixtures were announced on 19 June 2013. The season started on Saturday 17 August 2013, and concluded on Sunday 11 May 2014.
On the final day of the season, Manchester City won the Premier League with a 2–0 victory over West Ham United, finishing with 86 points. Liverpool had looked on course to win the title with two weeks to go, but a loss and a draw in two of their last three matches, combined with Manchester City winning their final five league matches, ultimately meant they finished in second place with 84 points. Chelsea finished third and Arsenal, who led the table for the longest period, finished fourth. Manchester United had a disappointing season attempting to defend their title and ended up seventh, a then-joint worst performance for Premier League holders. Norwich City, Fulham, and Cardiff City finished in the bottom three and were relegated to the Football League Championship.
Luis Suárez was the top scorer with 31 goals, and was also named Player of the Season. Goalkeepers Wojciech Szczęsny of Arsenal and Petr Čech of Chelsea led the league with 16 clean sheets each. Tony Pulis of Crystal Palace won the Manager of the Season award.

Season summary

The 380 fixtures for the 2013–14 Premier League season were announced on 19 June 2013. The television broadcast rights were given two-to-three weeks later. The season started on Saturday 17 August 2013, and concluded on Sunday 11 May 2014. During the 2013–14 season, the Premier League used goal-line technology for the first time.
During the 2013–14 season, first place changed hands 25 times, compared to just four times during the 2012–13 season. That represented the most lead changes since the 2001–02 season – which had 29, the most ever. The championship was not decided until the final day of play for just the seventh time in league history. Manchester City won the league with a 2–0 victory over West Ham United on the final day, finishing with 86 points. In total, Manchester City led the league just 14 days throughout the season en route to their second championship in the last three seasons. The club scored 102 goals, one short of the record, while also conceding the second fewest goals in the league.
With two weeks to go, Liverpool looked on course to win the championship before they had a loss and a draw in two of their final three games. The team ended up in second place with 84 points. Chelsea came third, while perennial power and 2013 champions Manchester United had a disappointing season under new manager David Moyes and finished seventh. It was their first finish outside the top four in Premier League history, their worst finish overall since 1989–90, and the first time they had not qualified for European football in 25 years. Southampton's eighth-place finish and Everton's 72 points were club records.
Sunderland became only the second team in the Premier League era to avoid relegation having been bottom of the table on Christmas Day. Defeat at home to Everton on 12 April left Gus Poyet's side bottom of the table, seven points from safety. The club's 'great escape' began with a draw away at eventual champions Manchester City, followed by a run of four wins, including remarkable away victories at Chelsea and Manchester United. The side's survival was confirmed by a 2–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on 7 May. Norwich City, Fulham, and Cardiff City were the bottom three teams and were relegated to the Football League Championship.
Two teams scored more than 100 goals for the first time in league history. The feat had only once been achieved before – by Chelsea in 2009–10. Luis Suárez won the golden boot for most goals with 31, ahead of teammate Daniel Sturridge who came second with 21 goals. Wojciech Szczęsny of Arsenal and Petr Čech of Chelsea led the league with 16 clean sheets each. In a game against Southampton, Asmir Begović became just the fifth goalkeeper in league history to score. Begovic's goal was also the fastest of the season, occurring just 12 seconds into the game. Mile Jedinak had the most tackles with 133. Chelsea manager José Mourinho lost a home game for the first time in his Premier League career, losing to Sunderland and ending a run of 77-straight home games unbeaten, stretching over two stints as Chelsea manager.

Teams

Twenty teams competed in the league – the top seventeen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the Championship. The promoted teams were Cardiff City, Hull City and Crystal Palace, returning to the top flight after absences of fifty-one, three and eight years respectively. This was also Cardiff City's first season in the Premier League. They replaced Wigan Athletic, Reading and Queens Park Rangers, who were relegated after spending eight, one and two years in the top flight respectively.

Stadiums and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
ArsenalLondon Emirates Stadium
Aston VillaBirminghamVilla Park
Cardiff CityCardiffCardiff City Stadium
ChelseaLondon Stamford Bridge
Crystal PalaceLondon Selhurst Park
EvertonLiverpool Goodison Park
FulhamLondon Craven Cottage
Hull CityKingston upon HullKC Stadium
LiverpoolLiverpool Anfield
Manchester CityManchesterCity of Manchester Stadium
Manchester UnitedOld TraffordOld Trafford
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle upon TyneSt James' Park
Norwich CityNorwichCarrow Road
SouthamptonSouthamptonSt Mary's Stadium
Stoke CityStoke-on-TrentBritannia Stadium
SunderlandSunderlandStadium of Light
Swansea CitySwanseaLiberty Stadium
Tottenham HotspurLondon White Hart Lane
West Bromwich AlbionWest BromwichThe Hawthorns
West Ham UnitedLondon Boleyn Ground

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Liverpool


A record 10 managers left their position mid-season during the 2013–14 campaign.
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Everton End of contract19 May 2013Pre-season 5 June 2013
Manchester City End of caretaker period19 May 2013Pre-season 14 June 2013
Stoke City Mutual consent21 May 2013Pre-season 30 May 2013
Chelsea End of contract27 May 2013Pre-season 3 June 2013
Manchester United Retired1 July 2013Pre-season 1 July 2013
Sunderland Sacked22 September 201320th 8 October 2013
Crystal Palace Mutual consent23 October 201319th 23 November 2013
Fulham Sacked1 December 201318th 1 December 2013
West Bromwich Albion Sacked14 December 201316th 9 January 2014
Tottenham Hotspur Mutual consent16 December 20137th 16 December 2013
Cardiff City Sacked27 December 201316th 2 January 2014
Swansea City Sacked4 February 201412th 4 February 2014
Fulham Sacked14 February 201420th 14 February 2014
Norwich City Sacked6 April 201417th 6 April 2014
Manchester United Sacked22 April 20147th
22 April 2014
Manchester United End of caretaker spell19 May 20147th 19 May 2014

League table

Results

Season statistics

Scoring

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
LiverpoolWest Bromwich Albion4–126 10 2013
4LiverpoolNorwich City5–104 12 2013
SunderlandFulham4–111 01 2014
ChelseaManchester United3–119 01 2014
ChelseaNewcastle United3–008 02 2014
ChelseaFulham3–101 03 2014
Manchester CityFulham5–022 03 2014
LiverpoolCardiff City6–322 03 2014

4 Player scored four goals

Clean sheets

Player

Club

Player

Monthly awards

Annual awards

Premier League Manager of the season

won the Premier League Manager of the Season award.

Premier League Player of the season

The Premier League Player of the Season was awarded to Luis Suárez.

PFA Players' Player of the Year

The PFA Players' Player of the Year was awarded to Luis Suárez.

PFA Team of the Year

PFA Young Player of the Year

The PFA Young Player of the Year was also awarded to Eden Hazard.

FWA Footballer of the Year

The FWA Footballer of the Year was also awarded to Luis Suárez.

Premier League Golden Glove

The Premier League Golden Glove award was won by Petr Čech of Chelsea and Wojciech Szczęsny of Arsenal.

Premier League Fair Play League

The Premier League Fair Play League was topped by Liverpool.

Average attendances

ClubAverage attendance
Manchester United75,207
Arsenal60,013
Newcastle United50,395
Manchester City47,075
Liverpool44,671
Chelsea41,482
Sunderland41,090
Everton37,732
Aston Villa36,081
Tottenham Hotspur35,808
West Ham United34,197
Southampton30,212
Cardiff City27,430
Norwich City26,805
Stoke City26,137
West Bromwich Albion25,194
Fulham24,977
Crystal Palace24,375
Hull City24,117
Swansea City20,407