The season began on 13 August 2011 and ended on 13 May 2012 with Manchester City sealing their third league title – their first since 1968 – with a 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers on the final day.

Championship winners Queens Park Rangers and runners-up Norwich City gained automatic promotion whilst Swansea City gained promotion through the Football League Championship play-offs beating Reading 4–2 in May 2011, becoming the first non-English team to play in the Premier League.

Going into the final matches, which were played simultaneously, City were top of the league, ahead of Manchester United on goal difference, while level on 86 points.

Shortly after, Joey Barton of QPR was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez; on his way off the pitch, he kicked Sergio Agüero, attempted to headbutt Vincent Kompany and squared up to Mario Balotelli.

However, from late February onward their season collapsed, starting with a 5–2 defeat to local rivals Arsenal, whom they had been 10 points ahead of before the game, and just four wins in their last 13 games condemned Tottenham to finishing a point below Arsenal, who finished third to join Manchester City and Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League,[7] Arsenal completed a strong recovery from a disastrous start to the season including their 8–2 defeat at Manchester United in August.

[9] At the bottom of the league, Wolverhampton Wanderers were the first to be relegated on 22 April, following a 2–0 loss to eventual champions Manchester City.

On the final day of the season, Bolton Wanderers needed a win against Stoke City, and for QPR to lose to guarantee their survival.

However, they failed to beat Stoke, drawing 2–2, and were relegated, with QPR avoiding the drop, despite losing to Manchester City.

Liverpool's Luis Suárez was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra and was given an eight-match ban.

They replaced Birmingham City, Blackpool and West Ham United, who were relegated to the Championship after their top-flight spells of two, one and six years respectively.

[72] The other nominees were; Sergio Aguero, Scott Parker, David Silva, Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney.

The Premier League Golden Glove award was won by Joe Hart of Manchester City, who achieved 17 clean sheets.