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How every Premier League season would have finished after gameweek 29: 2002-03

How every PL season would have finished after gameweek 29: 2002-03
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Given the current uncertainty over the resumption of the Premier League, Sports Mole takes a look at how the 2002-03 season would have ended after gameweek 29.

With the coronavirus pandemic having brought a halt to the Premier League campaign, Liverpool have been left waiting to find out whether they will be given the chance to end their 30-year wait for a league title.

However, many of the 20 clubs in England's top flight face an anxious wait over their own positions, whether that be to do with European qualification or potential relegation to the Championship.

Of course, the current global crisis has caught everyone off guard, resulting in frequent meetings being held between the powers-that-be at their respective organisations. However, it naturally raises the question of what would have happened in years gone by had the Premier League been ended after gameweek 29?

In early March of the 2002-03 campaign, defending champions Arsenal held a five-point advantage over Manchester United, realistically leaving the Gunners seven victories from nine games off a second top-flight crown in succession.

However, despite a respectable return of 15 points, Arsenal ended the campaign five points adrift of United, who recorded eight wins and a draw from their final nine outings.

While Newcastle United successfully held on to third place, Everton missed out on Champions League qualification after dropping from fourth to seventh, a consequence of only picking up 10 points.

Chelsea benefitted by earning a spot in European football's premier competition courtesy of a last-day triumph over nearest challengers Liverpool, who had to settle for a place in the UEFA Cup.

Blackburn Rovers also edged out Everton for sixth courtesy of a 17-point return, with Charlton Athletic also viewed as the biggest losers over the concluding fixtures after dropping from seventh to 12th.

Despite their resurgence under Sir Trevor Brooking, a period which saw seven points come from the final three matches, West Ham United failed to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The Hammers reached a record-breaking 42 points, the highest points total for a relegated team in the Premier League, but West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland remained cut adrift at the bottom.

While the Baggies and Black Cats were only five and seven points from safety after gameweek 29, they ended the campaign as many as 18 and 25 points away from avoiding a return to the second tier.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
11Bournemouth34129134960-1145
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


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