Football League First Division 1971/72
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Derby County | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 69 | 33 | 2.091 | 58 | Champions ♦EC |
| 2nd | Leeds United | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 73 | 31 | 2.355 | 57 | Runners Up ♦ECWC |
| 3rd | Liverpool | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 64 | 30 | 2.133 | 57 | ♦UC |
| 4th | Manchester City | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 77 | 45 | 1.711 | 57 | ♦UC |
| 5th | Arsenal | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 58 | 40 | 1.450 | 52 | - |
| 6th | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 63 | 42 | 1.500 | 51 | ♦UC |
| 7th | Chelsea | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 58 | 49 | 1.184 | 48 | - |
| 8th | Manchester United | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 69 | 61 | 1.131 | 48 | - |
| 9th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 57 | 1.140 | 47 | - |
| 10th | Sheffield United | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 61 | 60 | 1.017 | 46 | - |
| 11th | Newcastle United | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 49 | 52 | 0.942 | 41 | - |
| 12th | Leicester City | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 41 | 46 | 0.891 | 39 | - |
| 13th | Ipswich Town | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 39 | 53 | 0.736 | 36 | - |
| 14th | West Ham United | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 47 | 51 | 0.922 | 36 | - |
| 15th | Everton | 42 | 9 | 18 | 15 | 37 | 48 | 0.771 | 36 | - |
| 16th | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 54 | 0.778 | 35 | - |
| 17th | Stoke City | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 39 | 56 | 0.696 | 35 | ♦UC |
| 18th | Coventry City | 42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 44 | 67 | 0.657 | 33 | - |
| 19th | Southampton | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 52 | 80 | 0.650 | 31 | - |
| 20th | Crystal Palace | 42 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 39 | 65 | 0.600 | 29 | - |
| 21st | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 47 | 81 | 0.580 | 25 | ▼Relegated |
| 22nd | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 27 | 59 | 0.458 | 25 | ▼Relegated |
|
End of Season Notes |
| ♦ Derby County finished as Football League First Division Champions (1st Time) |
| ♦ Leeds United finished as Football League First Division Runners Up |
| ▼Nottingham Forest were Relegated to the Football League Second Division |
| ▼Huddersfield Town were Relegated to the Football League Second Division |
| ▲Norwich City were Promoted from the Football League Second Division |
| ▲Birmingham City were Promoted from the Football League Second Division |