Premier League season: 2001-2002

The 2001-02 Premier League season was the tenth season of the competition and the first under new sponsorship from Barclaycard.Winners of the previous season, Manchester United would battle with Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United for the FA Barclaycard Premiership title.Newcastle had set the pace at the start of the season and confirmed themselves as genuine title contenders following back-to-back away wins at Arsenal and Leeds.Leeds had topped the table at Christmas prior to the defeat against Newcastle.Liverpool who were 11 points clear of Man United, lost form after a late Danny Murphy penalty secured all 3 points for Liverpool against United.After losing to Tottenham, Liverpool were almost out of the race, with Newcastle and Leeds having also fallen out of contention.Arsenal having moved within 3 points of a second Premier League title under Arsene Wenger following a win at Bolton meant the title would be decided at Old Trafford.They went into the game having lifted the FA Cup four days earlier with a 2-0 win over rivals Chelsea.Only needing a draw to secure the title, Arsenal went to Old Trafford and emerged victorious after Sylvain Wiltord scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win.Liverpool finished second after ending the season with a 5-0 win over relegated Ipswich Town.Newly promoted Fulham, Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers made it the only time in the history of the Premier League that all 3 newly promoted clubs survived.Joining Ipswich, who had finished fifth the previous year, were Derby County and Leicester City.Leicester were playing their final season at 111-year-old Filbert Street before starting life at the new Walkers Stadium.Manchester City returned to the top flight alongside Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.Blackburn Rovers were also victorious in the League Cup.Graeme Souness' side were 2-1 winners against Tottenham Hotspur.Final League TablePosClubPldWDLGFGAGDPtsComments1Arsenal38269379364387UEFA Champions League 2002–03 First group stage2Liverpool382486673037803Manchester United38245987454277UEFA Champions League 2002–03 Third qualifying round4Newcastle United382189745222715Leeds United381812853371666UEFA Cup 2002–03 First round6Chelsea3817138663828647West Ham United38158154857−9538Aston Villa381214124647−1502002 UEFA Intertoto Cup Third round9Tottenham Hotspur38148164953−45010Blackburn Rovers381210165551446UEFA Cup 2002–03 First round11Southampton38129174654−84512Middlesbrough38129173547−124513Fulham381014143644−8442002 UEFA Intertoto Cup Second round14Charlton Athletic381014143849−114415Everton381110174557−124316Bolton Wanderers38913164462−184017Sunderland381010182951−224018Ipswich Town3899204164−2336Relegation to Football League First Division 2002–0319Derby County3886243363−303020Leicester City38513203064−3428Top GoalscorersRankScorerClubGoals1Thierry HenryArsenal242Jimmy Floyd HasselbainkChelsea23Ruud van NistelrooyManchester United23Alan ShearerNewcastle United235Michael OwenLiverpool196Ole Gunnar SolskjærManchester United177Robbie FowlerLiverpool/Leeds158Eiður GuðjohnsenChelsea14Marian PaharsSouthampton1410Andrew ColeManchester United/Blackburn Rovers13Games Of The SeasonJuan Sebastian Veron scores against Tottenham during a 5-3 win:Manchester United vs Tottenham - First Half:Second Half:Charlton Athletic vs West Ham United:

Source: DSG