Premier League clubs are ranked by points, then goal difference and then goals scored. A win earns three points, a draw one and a defeat none. Use the official league table for current positions; this guide explains how to read it, rather than presenting an old snapshot as today's standings.
What do the table columns mean?
P or Pl means matches played. W, D and L are wins, draws and losses. GF is goals scored, GA is goals conceded, GD is goal difference and Pts is points. Goal difference is goals scored minus goals conceded: fifteen scored and nine conceded gives a GD of +6.
For a simple example, three wins, one draw and two defeats are six matches played and ten points: three times three, plus one. This is a worked example, not a result or points total for a real club.
Why can a lower goal difference rank higher?
Points come first. A club with ten points and a +2 goal difference ranks above one with nine points and a +8 goal difference. Only when points are equal do you compare goal difference; if that is also equal, compare goals scored.
The league's separate final-title tie-break explanation goes further if those measures still leave the title unresolved: head-to-head points, head-to-head away goals, then a play-off. Do not assume those extra stages explain every temporary mid-season table position.
What does a game in hand mean?
A club has a game in hand relative to another when it has completed one fewer match. That is a chance to earn points later, not three points already added. Compare games played alongside points before judging how large a lead really is.
The 2026/27 competition has twenty clubs, with each playing thirty-eight league matches. A fixture list shows what is scheduled; the standings show the record of matches played. They answer different questions.
Where should I check the current EPL table?
Open the official Premier League table linked below and confirm the season. Check whether a display is a live-match table or a completed-match snapshot, and look for its update time. Search previews and old screenshots can show a different stage of the season.
For following matches from Ethiopia, use the separate Premier League fixture guide on this site to check kick-off dates and East Africa Time. A league position does not tell you which service carries the next game.
Quick answers
How many points does a Premier League win earn?
Three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat.
What does GD mean in the EPL table?
Goal difference: goals scored minus goals conceded. Points rank first, then goal difference, then goals scored.
Does a game in hand mean three extra points?
No. It means one fewer completed match relative to another club; the points depend on the result when that match is played.
