FA Premier League 2004-05

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.

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 title seemed to be heading towards Highbury once again, after they continued their winning streak to 49 matches and leading the Premiership by five points and eleven points clear of Manchester United. However on 24 October Arsenal's unbeaten run stalled at 49 when they were defeated by Manchester United at Old Trafford with a scoreline of 2-0, this was however controversial due to the severe physicality of the match and a dubious penalty award to United. Arsenal's form then dropped dramatically as Chelsea continued in great form and Manchester United kickstarted their campaign, at one stage going into second position after defeating Arsenal 4-2 at Highbury (their first team to do so since Leeds in 2003). However with Chelsea steamrolling the league with their powerful albeit defensive style, United's form collapsed aftre drawing at home to Blackburn and being defeated by Norwich City; this allowed Arsenal to cruise past United into second place.

Related Topics:
Arsenal - Manchester United - 24 October

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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. Fifth-placed Liverpool would normally have qualified for the UEFA Cup, but eventually were allowed by UEFA to defend their Champions League title, despite finishing outside the top four. The next two teams, Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough, achieved UEFA Cup qualification due to the bizarre circumstances where both FA Cup finalists and the League Cup winner all qualified for the Champions League via their league position. Liverpool's entry into the Champions League did not affect either Bolton's or Boro's UEFA Cup entry.

Related Topics:
Everton - Wayne Rooney - Liverpool - Bolton Wanderers - Middlesbrough

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On June 9, UEFA gave the green light to allow Liverpool to defend their Champions League title, forfeiting the Liverpool UEFA Cup slot given to the fifth placed team. They had to enter in the first qualifying round, where they defeated Welsh league champs TNS in a two-legged home-and-away series to get to the second qualifying round of the competition. Before the start of the 2005-06 league season, Liverpool would also win their second-round tie against Lithuanian champions FBK Kaunas.

Related Topics:
June 9 - Welsh league - TNS - Lithuania - FBK Kaunas

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