Is the gap between the Prem and the Championship larger than ever?

While many are focusing on the top of the Premier League at the moment, where Liverpool lead, Chelsea and Arsenal trail, and seven points separate a tight table between fifth and fourteenth, the relegation battle has ended up looking just as intriguing. While Southampton have almost certainly been vanquished with only six points from 18 matches, five points separate 19th-place Ipswich from 15th-place Everton. However, the bottom three are Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton, the same three teams who were promoted from the Championship last season. If those three are relegated, it will mark only the third time in the history of the Premier League that the three promoted sides are relegated, but the second in a row. So, is the Premier League separating further from the Championship and the rest of English football every season, or have the teams who have been promoted just been unlucky/terrible?

Revenue/Financial Benefits:

The Premier League is a dream for all clubs in England, and those who are able to make it are rewarded with extremely lucrative broadcasting, sponsorship, and commercial opportunities to finance the club. Teams who arrive in the Premier League often find themselves outmatched by the clubs who have been there for years, mostly because the longer a club remains in the league, the longer they have to reap the financial benefits and sign top talent. For example, when Luton Town arrived last season, their team was mostly Championship or League One quality players, and even the aid of Premier League financials couldn’t save a late push for safety. Premier League clubs earn about 300 million pounds a season compared to 66 million for those who were recently relegated to the Championship and 22 million for those who weren’t. Premier League talent is often higher than 22 or even 66 million pounds, especially with prices for elite strikers inflating at record high speed, showcasing that newly promoted clubs don’t have access to the players required to stay up. In 2021-22, Burnley finished 18th with 35 points, only being sent down to the Championship on Matchday 38. In 2023-24, they finished in 19th with 24 points, relegated on the penultimate matchday. Leicester City has a storied history in the Premier League, including multiple trips to Europe and a league title, but was relegated in 18th place on 34 points, one off of Everton in 2022-23. A season later, after winning the Championship title, they are on pace for only 29 points and relegation. It is clear that a season in the Championship makes a difference, as the revenue is nowhere near the Premier League’s even with a parachute.

Finding Talent:

More clubs in the Premier League are looking for young and cheap talent to develop for a profit, which is a problem for teams in the Championship. Many second-tier clubs have to scout for talent and take risks because they can’t afford those already established as the world’s best. Players from lower leagues in Europe, South America, and all over the world flocked to the Championship. Now, with teams like Brighton and Brentford promoted and safe in the Premier League, the former Championship-exclusive strategy has leaked into the top flight. Every transfer window, it becomes more common to see Premier League clubs poach talent that is close to signing for a Championship team than not. Jarrod Bowen, James Madison, Jack Grealish, and Ivan Toney all headed to clubs who were Premier League-bound or established in the top flight.

It’s safe to say that the gap between the two divisions is widening, due to the abilities to find, pay for, and develop talent that Premier League clubs have. However, it is safe to say that some of the teams who have come up have been historically bad, so it may not just be for that reason. Sheffield United allowed a record 104 goals on the way to 16 points, the third-worst total in league history. Nottingham Forest only achieved 32 points last season, the lowest points total ever for a surviving team. Southampton are on pace for about 13 points this season, which would be the second-worst total in history behind Derby County.