Well 'first place' in the PL isn't a competition, at least not the last few years with Man City going full beast mode and I say this as not much of a PL fan either but with the way overseas soccer is structured, there is more to the season than just first or nothing...the Champions League spots are big money and prestige (although aside from Newcastle and their new money it's almost always the same six teams competing for that too), the Europa/Conference league spots are basically NIT and CBI-level of importance. Avoiding relegation is also its own prize, monetarily and otherwise...just ask Everton and their fans storming the pitch two years in a row over finishing 17th lol
It is a shame the Leicester fairy tale is well and truly over but they were always on a knife's edge, they were nearly relegated the season before winning the PL and even flirted with relegation for like 2/3 of the season after the PL. At least they had some other pretty decent years and won an FA Cup but could never quite get back into the Champions League. It just goes to show once again how unlikely their title was.