By CRAIG HOPE
Published: 13:00 EDT, 25 May 2025 | Updated: 13:13 EDT, 25 May 2025
50,000 Newcastle fans at St James' Park may each go and deliver a hand-written letter to Ruben Amorim before they head home tonight.
For it was Manchester United's 2-0 win over Aston Villa that secured the Magpies Champions League football, despite them losing 1-0 to Everton today.
Newcastle will play in Europe's elite club competition next season as their goal difference was enough to secure them a fifth-place finish in the Premier League.
Carlos Alcaraz's 65th-minute winner had Eddie Howe's side staring down the barrel of Europa League football for a while in the second half, before Amad Diallo opened the scoring at Old Trafford.
Christian Eriksen added a second, which consigned Villa to defeat and a sixth-place finish behind Newcastle.
Newcastle were able to secure Champions League football despite their 1-0 defeat by Everton
Loan star Carlos Alcaraz headed home in the 65th minute to score the only goal of the game
Man United's 2-0 win over Aston Villa meant Newcastle finished fifth place on goal difference
MATCH FACTS
Newcastle (3-4-2-1): Pope; Schar, Botman (Trippier 63'), Burn; Murphy (Wilson 70'), Guimaraes, Tonali, Livramento; Barnes (Osula 88'), Gordon (Willock 46'), Isak
Subs unused: Dubravka (Gk), Krafth, Lascelles, Miley, Longstaff
Booked: Schar
Manager: Eddie Howe
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Young, O'Brien, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye; Harrison, Alcaraz (Doucoure 76'), Ndiaye (McNeil 76'); Beto (Calvert-Lewin 88')
Subs unused: Begovic (Gk), Virginia (Gk), Welch, Patterson, Chermiti, Broja
Goals: Alcaraz 65'
Booked: Gueye, Mykolenko, McNeil, Moyes
Manager: David Moyes
Referee: Tony Harrington