Why did Arsenal need to beat Liverpool by 2 goals in 1989?

Question

Why wouldn't any win over Liverpool provide enough points to win the League that year? I'm trying to get familiar with the scoring/points/rankings of the Premier League.

Answer 1

because a win for arsenal would have levelled the points but arsenal needed to win by two or more to give them the goal difference to take them above the scousers. the order of rank goes:

points

goal difference

goals scored

edit: if two teams finish top (1st and 2nd) and they both have the same points, goal difference and goals scored, a play-off game (one off) is played between the two to decide the champions. the same goes for relegation and european qualification (the winning teams either stays in the league or qualifies for europe, etc.)

hope this helped with your understanding of the Premier League!

deano: i'm a lad m8, just for future reference :)

Answer 2

the lad/lass above is right but to try and make it sound more  simple

if two teams finish level on points the title is decided on goal diference

if the G/D is the same it is then decided on who scored the most goals

if arsenal had won 0v1 the G/D would of been the same so being as liverpool had scored more goals they would of won the title..

so basically arsenal had to win by 2 clear goals to win the league on G/D..  and they did ..