Clubs used the new financial backing they had received from BSkyB to make big signings. Blackburn paid a British record £3.3 million to Southampton for Alan Shearer. Elsewhere David Rocastle left Arsenal for Leeds, Dean Saunders joined Villa from Liverpool and Teddy Sheringham moved from Nottingham Forest to Tottenham, all for £2 million or more.
It was Sheringham who scored the first Televised goal of the Premier League era for Nottingham Forest, less then a week later he joined Tottenham. Along with the sale of Des Walker, Forest began to struggle and their fall from grace had begun.
Premier League Fixtures
Manchester United had not won a League title for 26 years but Alex Ferguson was determined to bring success to Old Trafford. Aston Villa were the early season front runners but Norwich City had soon caught up to them and led the League at Christmas.
Villas form began to dip drastically and United had soon caught up with them. In the final weeks Villa had crumbled and were out of contention with three games to go after a 1-0 loss to Oldham Athletic.
Norwich had serious problems at the back as highlighted in the fact that despite being top at Christmas they still had a negative goal difference. Norwich finished the season in third place one point above Blackburn Rovers.
It was Manchester United who took the crown as the first ever Premier League champions with a 10 point gap between themselves and Aston Villa, who came in second place, two points above Norwich.
At the other end of the League, Nottingham Forest and Brian Clough's illustrious spell had came to an end. Finishing bottom of the league, Clough stepped down after 18 years as manager. He had secured one League Title, two European Cups and four League Cups in his time with Forest.
Joining Forest in relegation were Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace. With Newcastle United, West Ham United and Swindon Town gaining promotion.
Teddy Sheringham finished as the top goalscorer, while Aston Villa defender Paul McGrath was named PFA player of the year. Paul Ince and Alan Shearer came in at 2nd and 3rd place, Ryan Giggs picked up the young player of the year award.
| | HOME | | AWAY | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Man Utd | 42 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 39 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 28 | 17 | +36 | 84 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 24 | +17 | 74 |
| 3 | Norwich | 42 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 31 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 30 | 46 | -4 | 72 |
| 4 | Blackburn | 42 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 38 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 30 | 28 | +22 | 71 |
| 5 | QPR | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 41 | 32 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 23 | +8 | 63 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 42 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 41 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 21 | 37 | +7 | 59 |
| 7 | Sheff Wed | 42 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 34 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 25 | +4 | 59 |
| 8 | Tottenham | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 41 | -6 | 59 |
| 9 | Man City | 42 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 25 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 26 | +5 | 57 |
| 10 | Arsenal | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 18 | +2 | 56 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 42 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 32 | -3 | 56 |
| 12 | Wimbledon | 42 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 32 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 24 | 32 | +1 | 54 |
| 13 | Everton | 42 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 27 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 27 | 28 | -2 | 53 |
| 14 | Sheff Utd | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 33 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 34 | +1 | 52 |
| 15 | Coventry | 42 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 28 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 29 | -5 | 52 |
| 16 | Ipswich | 42 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 29 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 33 | -5 | 52 |
| 17 | Leeds | 42 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 40 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 45 | -5 | 51 |
| 18 | Southampton | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 40 | -7 | 50 |
| 19 | Oldham | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 43 | 30 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 20 | 44 | -11 | 49 |
| 20 | C Palace | 42 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 27 | 25 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 36 | -13 | 49 |
| 21 | Middlesbro | 42 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 33 | 27 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 21 | 48 | -21 | 44 |
| 22 | Nottm Forest | 42 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 25 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 24 | 37 | -21 | 40 |
Source: DSG
